UgaTuga - www.ugatuga.com

Ugatuga is back!! Lake Leman Crossing - June 2011

2011-06-02T05:15:00.003+02:00

Hi! This time the plan is very simple... As we're currently living in Geneva we've decided we wanted to get involved with this amazing surrounding nature. We've already played around in the mountain so we've decided that the next challenge should be in the water. And water in Geneva means Lake Leman!!
So, the idea was born and this time we've changed the motor engines by a more natural vehicle to move around... a kayak!!

So, we will be crossing the Lake Leman in its length, from Villeneuve in the East to Geneva in South West. Around 90 Km of pure paddling, in 3 days. Initial plan (did we have one?!?) was to sleep in a sleeping bag, with no tent, in the margins of the lake, just with the sky above us... But weather forecast changed quickly and from nice sunny days... Seems we will have 3 days of rain and thunderstorms!!! And that looks... Even more challenging!! :) With such a bad weather, we'll be more lazy and sleeping under a roof!! So, we've improvised some nice last-minute booking accommodation by the lake. What a luxury!!

To keep the same Ugatuga spirit from last challenges in Africa and South America, we will contribute to Operation Smile, a NGO that provides free reconstructive surgery to children and young adults suffering from facial deformities. We will contribute ourselves with 200 GBP and try to duplicate this value trough a matching program that exists in the company we work, reaching 400 GBP. Any other contribution will be made directly to OperationSmile.org through JustGiving.com.

We hope to spend amazing moments and get to the finish line (meaning Geneva famous jet) with a smile in our face and the feeling of mission accomplished!!

Thanks and ENJOY!Some photos will follow next week..

Ugatuga Team
www.ugatuga.com

Ciudad del Este & Return to Madrid - 15-08-2010

2010-08-17T04:22:00.003+02:00

Flight back home: Iguaçu-Sao Paulo-Madrid

In Ciudad del Este we bought some "cool" watches...

VIDEO: Extreme boat trip to the inside of Iguaçu Falls - 14-08-2010

2010-08-17T04:07:00.004+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L65EkCCbBSQ

VIDEO - "Garganta del Diablo" - 14-08-2010

2010-08-17T04:07:00.002+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unBrec2efK4

Puerto de Iguazu (argentinian side) - 14-08-2010

2010-08-17T04:06:00.009+02:00

Boat "wet" trip

"Garganta del Diablo": a U-shaped, 82-meter-high, 150-meter-wide and 700-meter-long , is the most impressive of all, and marks the border between Argentina and Brazil.

Two thirds of the falls are within Argentine territory.

VIDEO - Iguaçu Falls 13-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:50:00.000+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gchj4Q79qf0

Foz do Iguaçu (brazilian side) - 13 08-2010

2010-08-17T03:49:00.007+02:00

VIDEO: Iguaçu falls view from the sky - Heli flight - 13-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:40:00.002+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IEHRbc7T8c

Iguaçu Falls: Heli flight - 13-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:39:00.004+02:00

Iguaçu Falls: 275 falls along 2.7 kilometers of the Iguazu River. Divided between Brazil and Argentina with Paraguay just at the corner.

13th August: Sancho's Birthday!! What a better way than celebrate it with an Heli flight!! :)

Crossing to Argentina without the mototaxis - 11-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:32:00.004+02:00

Taking our bags from the mototaxis.

Other teams taking local transportation to Argentina.

We've took a night BUS to Salta, in Argentina, in order to get a flight the next day to Iguaçu.

Flight Salta-Buenos Aires-Iguaçu

Trying to cross at the Argentinian border - 11-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:21:00.003+02:00

We've tryed to cross to Argentina but the mototaxi papers were not valid.

We were only 1.200 Km (asfalt road) away from Asuncion-Paraguay, after completing 1.750Km since Cuzco.

As the head of custom told us that was imposoble to cross without a Fax from Peru (that could take a couple of days) we've decided to left the mototaxis behind, in a local church and advise The Adventurists to get them back after. At least 10 more teams made the same as they were also short on time to take the flight back home.

Father Jonny will take care of all the mototaxis until someone from the organization will take them to Asuncion.

Villazon bolivian border - 11-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:15:00.002+02:00

At the bolivian / argentinian border there is a local "black trading market". The trucks unload the merchant outside of the official custom and workers carry the bags to the other side, avoiding paying custom taxes.

Our morning ritual: packing all the stuff in the mototaxis.

THE END.. 11-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:12:00.001+02:00

(original post made on the 11th August)

Hello dear friends!!

Sorry for not posting in the last days. Everything is OK.

We finally crossed the border to Bolivia some days ago and we entered into a new world... The phone never worked again, no Internet available in any place (only in La Paz, that we've crossed almost non-stopping), almost no asfalt roads...

The last days were really intense, waking-up very early, driving a lot in the most poorest roads (meaning non-asfalt with a lot of sand, pushing the motos, high mountains), lots of breaks in the motos (and crazy fixings, using a lot of tape!), driving at night to recover some time, some stress with road bloks and no petroil available at the stations (we had to buy it from the locals paying much more than the normal price and even so very (very!) hard to find!

We've crossed amazing places, experienced a lot of different sensations, interacted with many locals (I would say we almost become one of them, slept in their houses, have been invited to celebrate and participate in the local parties and parades), we even gave some TV interviews and attracted curiosity wherever we've been. Some high points were the Yuni salar, the Bolivian clifs (hard but very funny driving with lots of adrenalin!!). I can't post now any photos or videos (very slow connection..) but will do when posible (real cool photos and driving videos will come...!!!)

Well, we've finally made it to the boarder of Argentina yesterday night and were planning to cross it this morning. We were pushing hard these last days in order to get to Asuncion on schedule (meaning we would have to make 1200 Km in two and a half days). BUT... again, admin issues appeard. The papers from the mototaxis that we have are not good for the argentinian custom! After intensive talkings with police and the head of the custom there was no chance we could cross the border today (the new papers could take a couple of days that we don´t have any more (if we want to catch the flight back home on time, and we really do).

So, Ugatuga (and 10 more teams) decided to leave the mototaxis behind and grab a bus to our destination. We've made almost 1.800 amazing Km and spent a real good time in the last days. But the paperworks don't allow us to do it on the planned schedule. :( So, being flexible (as always on this trip), quick adapt to uncertain issues and quick (and some tough) real time decisions. Makes part of this challenge. Beside from not being able to get the mototaxis to Asuncion as planned the feeling is very good (as we've made the best part of the trip and these 2 and half days would be only asfalt roads only driving, driving and more driving!). We've left the motos at the boarder town of Villazon (bolivian side), in a local church (so, yep... our lovely mototaxis are now "in God's hands..."!) and the guys from The Adventurists (the "disorganiors") will hopefully pick them up in the following weeks and give us our deposit back (or part of it).

So, that's it. We, and the other 20 guys that made it to here made a special "arrival" party (meaning some beers at the border!!) and we will now try to get to Iguazu to take our flight back home (in fact, we will have some more time to actually make some activities there).

I will keep you updated, hopefully with some nice photos on the next post!

Have fun!

Beijinhos e abracinhos,

Lena & Goncalo
Ugatuga team

VIDEO - Cool riding in the mountains - 10-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:11:00.000+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWqCwhaxn7s

On our way to Tupisa V - 10-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:10:00.001+02:00

Another chain problem...

Bolivian "Grand Canyon" mountains...

On our way to Tupisa IV - 10-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:03:00.002+02:00

We had to buy (it was not easy!) fuel in the "black market" because of the road blocks all the south villages were missing petrol. The only solution was to find some fuel with the locals!

VIDEO Pushing the Mototaxi on uphill - 10-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:02:00.000+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU3H16LtpdM

On our way to Tupisa III - 10-08-2010

2010-08-17T03:01:00.000+02:00

On our way to Tupisa II - 10-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:57:00.003+02:00

Justyna & The Andes

Mountain riding to Tupisa - 10-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:55:00.000+02:00

Hole in Ugatuga tire - 10-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:51:00.004+02:00

VIDEO: Mototaxis at night - 09-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:49:00.001+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bp0PwMS3Q4

Getting dark - 09-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:48:00.000+02:00

On our way to Atocha 09-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:46:00.001+02:00

Again, broken chain...

Fixing the mototaxi - 09-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:41:00.003+02:00

Uyuni and heading to Atocha - 09-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:32:00.003+02:00

Washing the motos and taking out the corrosive salt.

Never was so shining!

After discussing if we should put the motos in some trucks and thereafter spare the motos from the approaching poor condition roads... We finally head again on our way. But 5m after, we've broken the chain on our way to Atocha.

Salt Hotel and Uyuni fixings - 09-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:24:00.002+02:00

Salt Hotel

Morning quick moto fixings: tighten all the screws and puting tape on our broken-not-any-more-welded exhaust. I've also tighten too much the finish moto exhaust screw and broke it.. :S

Profesional help in Uyuni.

Cleaning the air filter..

Salt Hotel - 09-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:17:00.002+02:00

www.hosteldesal.com

Uyuni Salar - Night arrival to the salt hotel! 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T02:03:00.004+02:00

After an epic night driving through the Uyuni Salar we've finally reached civilization!! We've stopped at the first lights we've saw and... what a surprise: we were at the amazing Salt Hotel!!and some five more teams were also there (they've arrived a little earlier but also at night!). We've really made a special "arrival" beer celebration with everybody! Not only we've made it out of the salar but we've reached one of the most spectacular hotels in the world! All made with salt! A special reward (and we really in need for some confort! the previous night was spent in that very humild "school" in the middle of nowhere...)

VIDEO: Uyuni Salar - Mototaxi Sunk - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:28:00.002+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XTD0h4vN5U

Uyuni Salar - Night epic riding! - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:27:00.004+02:00

We were driving South East direction using our compass. This was the direction we saw in the map to get to Uyuni village and that we've confirmed with the only people we saw when entering the salt lake. Luckily, 90Km after, we would achieve Uyuni. We were unable to find any jeep tracks so we had to guide ourselves with the compass (leaving our own marks, "snowboard powder kind of feeling"!). The sand road that we've faced before entering the salar had slow us a lot and we should only have less than 3 hours of light left. No mistakes were allowed if we wanted to reach Uyuni at daylight. Temperatures at night reach -40º and we sure wouldn't want to camp there...

Sun was getting down too much quickly...

and...

Sunk Ugatuga Mototaxi!!!

Driving around 50Km/h the mototaxi suddenly stopped and we were sunk. :( One of the pieces that we had installed in order to hold the chain in case it droped was tottally damaged and the moto wasn't moving anymore. After a very quick manual fixing (hitting strongly that piece on a "portuguese way of fixing") the moto was able to move again! It was now getting dark and we didn't saw any sight of civilization. Pablo wanted to walk in the direction of the mountains and camp there. This was the less risky option but would imply freezing night temperatures. We've decided to give it a try and drive away from the sunk area and straight to the West (meaning to the center of the desert) in order to be able to cross the supposed jeep tracks that we had never saw before. If we find them we could eventually get to Uyuni, avoiding camping with the freezing temperatures of the lake. If not... we would be in a stressfull situation. It was now completly dark and we only saw what the moto lamps were able to lighten. After 10Kms and anxious night driving we've finally found the jeep tracks and, with the help of the compass, decided to follow them in direction of some small lights we saw in the distance (who know's if 10 or 50 Kms away!). We even tried to follow some moving lights that we saw faraway (maybe some other jeeps?!) but our full speed was simply useless. Then, lucky we've crossed a moto that was stopped with fuel problems and confirmed we were in the right direction: 1h driving to get to Uyuni!! Tough news (the freezing temperatures would mean one other discomfort driving!) but reliefing ones!...

Uyuni Salar II - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:23:00.002+02:00

Uyuni Salar II - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:19:00.002+02:00

"Never (really NEVER) stay outside of the jeep trails!" - Lonely Planet statement...

hummmm... what trails?!?!?!

Germans & their flag

Uyuni Salar I - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:17:00.000+02:00

VIDEO - Uyuni Salar MOTOTAXI SHOW - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:14:00.000+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkVmcQZ8Mdk

VIDEO - Ugatuga riding the Uyuni Salar - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:13:00.001+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6ddTaeac4w

VIDEO Uyuni Salar 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:12:00.000+02:00

Sancho changing Mototaxis at the Uyuni salar!

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_923CEXGb9E

VIDEO: Uyuni Salar explanation - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:10:00.001+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm-M4W-Qxec

Entering the Uyuni Salar - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:08:00.003+02:00

Uyuni Salar: with its 12,000 km ², is the largest salt desert in the world. It is located 3,650 meters up in Bolivia's Altiplano, in the Cordillera de los Andes.

Uuuuhhhhuuuuuu!!! Finally in!

"where's your jeep"? Locals were really surprised on our luxury vehicles to cross the Salar...

The Uyuni Salar contains 10 billion tons of salt, of which 25,000 tons are extracted every year.

Heading to the Uyuny Salar II - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T01:04:00.002+02:00

finding our own route...

Was it a pig?... On the entrance of the salar, a sign of good luck?!?!

Lamas on the way

VIDEO Desert riding 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T00:25:00.000+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hoMK5a6MaQ

VIDEO Water crossing - Sancho 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T00:24:00.000+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Bli4i4m6w

Heading to the Uyuny Salar I - 08-08-2010

2010-08-17T00:22:00.003+02:00

The "school" where we've stayed last night! Some of us were lucky to sleep in very thin straw beds (the others directly on the floor!) :)

The inside of the shool room where we've slept. In the morning we bought some bread to the locals to thank for their hospitality.

5 motos, 9 riders travelling together! Spanish, american, english, portuguese, finish... an international team!

sand and more sand!! :)

VIDEO: Crossing a cemetery - 08-08-2010

2010-08-16T23:49:00.001+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS3gP40pahk

VIDEO - Sand Crossing 180º view - 07-08-2010

2010-08-16T23:48:00.001+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYavLnyfB5E

VIDEO: Sand crossing - 07-08-2010

2010-08-16T23:47:00.002+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMktZIhWBZU

On our way to Salinas VI - 07-08-2010

2010-08-16T23:46:00.002+02:00

Lena undercovered!

Long uphills!! The passenger had to get out and help pushing the mototaxi!

... and with lots of sand! A few Kms turned to be some hours of pushing!

Suddenly became dark and I've started to feel very ill, with a huge back pane and feeling some cramps on my stomach. Justyna had already thrown up and wasn't feeling any better. We've stopped in a small village to find some place to sleep but there were only two habitants living there (a woman that only spoke quechua and her father-in-law) and they've recomend us to go to next village (7Km away) that had an old school and we might had the chance to sleep there. Those 7Km, with a lot of sand... meant another 1/2 hour of pain! :S

On our way to Salinas V - 07-08-2010

2010-08-16T23:44:00.003+02:00

sand & dust!

Justyna & Sancho covered with dust!

On our way to Salinas IV - 07-08-2010

2010-08-16T23:41:00.003+02:00

Long Kms with no cars...

Lamas in the middle of the road.

lots and lots of dust!! :)

On our way to Salinas III - 07-08-2010

2010-08-16T22:59:00.002+02:00

Because of the road blocks there was no supply of petroil. We were heading to Uyuni salar and with only half fuel tanks. :S

Some quick repairs before leaving...

VIDEO eating Lama food 07-08-2010

2010-08-15T05:00:00.001+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_qwaG1OrfE

On our way to Salinas II - 07-08-2010

2010-08-15T04:58:00.001+02:00

Lama food...

Fixing the bikes after lunch

On our way to Salinas - 07-08-2010

2010-08-15T04:54:00.002+02:00

Missing home...

Nice "terraza" on our way to Salinas

VIDEO Asfalt Riding - 07-08-2010

2010-08-15T04:53:00.000+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVFsM11_yUs

VIDEO Bolivian policeman trying our mototaxi 07-08-2010

2010-08-15T04:52:00.001+02:00

He fall in love with our mototaxi and asked to give a ride... and he almost crashed our mototaxi!!! :)

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkbY4ZbCKbI

Oruro 07-08-2010

2010-08-15T04:47:00.002+02:00

View from our hotel room

Bolivian police trying our mototaxi... almost crashed to a wall!! :)

Oruru parade

Oruro 06-08-2010

2010-08-15T04:44:00.000+02:00

VIDEO: Mototaxi Bolivian TV Interview - 05-08-2010

2010-08-15T04:43:00.001+02:00

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFn6NEqFGFo

La Paz - 05-08-2010

2010-08-15T04:41:00.001+02:00

We were traveling now with 5 mototaxis

La Paz - national holiday party

Guaqui national party! 05-08-2010

2010-08-15T04:37:00.001+02:00

VIDEO Mototaxi Parade 05-08-2010

2010-08-05T23:04:00.000+02:00

We were invited to participate in the national holiday celebrations!

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnOfMcW5Lss

Fiesta Bolivia 05-08-2010

2010-08-05T23:03:00.000+02:00

We've crossed the border to the Bolivian side and were very well received! A national party had just started!..

Check the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yAsBa9HAE8

Crossing Bolivian border II - 05-08-2010

2010-08-05T23:01:00.000+02:00

some more papers at Bolivian side..

Bolivia!!!

Crossing Bolivian Border - 05-08-2010

2010-08-05T23:00:00.000+02:00

Custom police checking the papers / motos.

The desired papers were OK! :)

DIARY

2010-08-05T20:42:00.003+02:00

Hi! We've decided to make a diary with all the bullets points of this amazing trip! This will be for our own memory but you are more than welcome to go through it, so let's begin:

DAY 1 - 28-07-2010
- Check-in Madrid to Lisbon with a very friendly girl
- Arrival in Portugal: Sancho's backpack was lost! We then realized that the friendly girl has never put the reference ticket in the baggage!
- Sorting out things: at Lisbon Airport they had no idea (breake of light) and from Lena's parents home a lot of phone calls. Big help of Federico who wass nearly deported trying to recover the bag (entering in ONLY PASSENGERS AREA)
- Evaluating options: a) Sharing of Gonçalo's clothes; b) finding the luggage on time on next day morning flight; c) Sancho dressing Lena's father underwear (kindly offered by him)
- He found the luggage and we went to have a "bitoque" dinner to celebrated.

DAY 2 - 29-07-2010
- Things getting better: no delay on the morning flight from Lisbon to Madrid
- Arrival on time to search the luggage with the ticket number that Federico had managed to find for us.
- LUGGAGE FOUND!!! hugging celebration!...
- Before boarding Goncalo's had a haircut and everybody took a nice chair massage to relax from stress.
- On passport control bberry lost but at the end we managed to get it back.
- Flight from Madrid to Lima OK except little kid stepping Sancho's balls while he was sleeping. Gonçalo slept all flight, Helena read some books...
- First plan of the route "on the fly" with Lonely Planet basic maps
- Arrival to Lima and picking up the luggages
- Nice criollo dinner at Miraflores with antichucos (res heart), tamales, inca kola and other stuff we can not remember..tremendously good meat.

DAY 3 - 30-07-2010
- We woke up early, actually receptionist woke us up 40 minutes earlier.
- Took a taxi to Airport.
- When check-in we realized we forgot the tent (recently bought for this trip), but we forgot it the day before on Lima airport. We never managed to find it.
- After check in, anxious to meet Justyna...Sancho's new partner that we never met and agreed to meet in Cuzco just via e-mail.
- Arrival in Cuzco landing between Ande's peaks...nice view.
- Taxi to San Jeronimo's Hotel...lost in the surroundings of Cuzco
- Arrival to hotel and asking at Reception for Justyna...she already arrived
- Sancho waiting on the stairs on his knees to welcome her.
- First contact with our mototaxis...really a piece of art :)
- Training session with the motos practising jumping out and emergency situations, meeting people and gathering with our last partner Pablo, another spanish.
- Starting to feel altitud headaches...no worries motivation is very high!
- Lunch at Plaza de Armas with our first of many lomo saltados to come...also trying coca tea to minimize altitute problems.
- Loads of calls to organize next day trip to Matchu Pitchu...bad luck! We will have to be satisfied with Sancho's faked picture from Matchu Pitchu on the board's
at airport at Cuzco :(
- Dinner at pizzeria with black bear Cusqueña.
- Sleeping at emergency room at Lokis youth hostel...(very recommended). The reservation made day before never worked out. Also partying on Lokis bar with live music.

DAY 4 - 31-07-2010
- Waking up early, shower, breakfast, internet and going out to prepare logistics for the trip.
- We bought everything: helmets (not too much to choose because peruvian heads are extra large), tent lost, plastic bags, chains, cables, ...
- Most of us were to San Jeronimo for fine tune the last issue for our launch next day. In the meantime Sancho sad about Matchu Pichu decided to go for the City Tour on inca's culture ... better than nothing.
- Big Party at San Jeronimos Plaza with locals. They prepare a live concert only for us. Helena jumping on stage ...we felt like stars. We even had fireworks!!!!....and came back with Police pick up while drinking... no problems on that in Peru...
- At reception Goncalo "borrowed" some nice plants to decorate his mototaxi...to manage that Sancho was distracting the security ...mission completed!!!!!!!!

(to be continued...)

VIDEO Ugatuga at the Bolivian border - 04-08-2010

2010-08-05T15:58:00.002+02:00

This was yesterday. We didn't made it to Bolivia at the end. If everything with the papers goes well we should cross in a few hours... hopefully! ;)

check the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gii-ALrmzJM

VIDEO Mototaxi Ugatuga in Peru - 03-08-2010

2010-08-05T15:54:00.000+02:00

Check the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt0y3kMWISw

:( Still at the boarder... 04-08-2010

2010-08-05T04:34:00.004+02:00

Yesterday we've tried to cross to Bolivia in Copacabana border but the custom officers denied us and we've decided to try on Desaguadero border (where we've met more teams). We've made 100 additional Kms and slept in Desaguadero hoping to cross this morning.

Today we've spent the day in Desaguadero (Peru side of the boarder) with the motos in a line waiting for some papers, in order to be able to cross to Bolivia.

In the afternoon they've sent us all to a place to weight the motos and more paperwork...

No luck today. We expect that tomorrow everything will be sorted out. We're having now less days to get to Assuncion on time :(

We will do our best! ;)

More updates tomorrow.

Lena & Gonçalo

VIDEO - Driving the Mototaxi! 03-08-2010

2010-08-04T16:43:00.005+02:00

Feel the adrenalin from driving a piece of vehicle that can envy any of GP moto owners! :D
(I've tried before to go uphill but that was simply imposible.. ehehe) This video is on the way down. ENJOY!

Video available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTF4M3QSH8g

10 facts from the last days...

2010-08-04T15:20:00.005+02:00

It seems I have some time now while the boarder doesn´t open.. I will try to resume some facts of the last days:

1) We've made 600Km in the last 3 days! Yep, we have to increase the average in order to get to Asuncion on time! :S
2) Problems we had already:
- our moto: the screw that is holding the moto exhaust disapeard (we listened the noise of it falling in the floor but never found it again..) FIXED; no battery, no fuel indicator
. Pablo's moto: hole in the front tyre FIXED; broke the exhaust screw, broken speed/Km's indicator
- Sancho & Justyna moto: broken chain FIXED
3) Altitude: We are always above the 3.000m and in the last two days around 4.000m high. It's kind of cold (this morning -13º!) but gets better around luch time. Always sunny!
4) Injuries: nothing so far! But Sancho is now with a conjunctivitis (hard to drive..)
5) Top Speed: 70Km (yesterday and going down with wind from behind, we never managed to reach it again..); Average speed: 35Km/h (perhaps a little higher yesterday, with no mountains)
6) Animals: a lot! and always near the road! Lamas, Alpacas, dogs, dunkies, pigs, chikens, horses... concentration is always high ;)
7) Wake up: 5:30 a.m. (normally at bed around 22h)
8) Average € we spend to sleep: 3 eur! (hotels that are the state of the art! very fashion... eheh)
9) Average of hours driving per day: I would say around 7 h (because there is always something to fix!! eheh)
10) Team motivation: VERY HIIGGGGGGGH! :D

"see you" tomorrow (hopefully in Bolivia!)

Thanks for all your comments!! it keeps the motivation always "at full speed"! ;)

beijinhos e abracinhos!
Lena & Gonçalo

Desaguadero photos 04-08-2010

2010-08-04T15:13:00.002+02:00

YES! We do miss our kids a lot! So, we tend to take any opportunitty to play with the local kids.. Beto (the kid on the photo) wanted a ride on our mototaxi.. :D

Bye bye Peru!... (is it gonna be today?!?!...)

Bolivia, so close and so far... :)

Mototaxis waiting to cross the boarder. We usually travel in small groups but we got all together here at the border for crossing.

"Locutorio"... this is the place where I'm writing right now!

at the Bolivian boarder... 04-08-2010

2010-08-04T15:06:00.002+02:00

Here we are in Desaguadero, a lost town in the middle of knowhere, where everything moves around boarder business. We are now waiting for the boarder to open.

Sancho, last night, having his soop and also two more from the girls.

Dinner in Desaguadero

our 5***** hostal...

This morning (-13º!) packing all the stuff in the motos (a morning ritual...)

Desaguadero

Almost in Bolivia... 03-08-2010

2010-08-04T04:53:00.002+02:00

Today we hit the boarder of Bolivia but the custom officers didn't let us leave Peru with the bikes... (missing somekind of papers...) so we had to make100Km more and we are now in Desaguadero Border. Tomorrow morning we will try it again! ;)

It's real cold here now! bbbrbrbrrrrrrrrr :D

Lena & Gonçalo

Photos III, 03-08-2010

2010-08-04T04:51:00.002+02:00

Gonçalo, Lena, Justyna, Sancho & Pablo

Photos II, 03-08-2010

2010-08-04T04:49:00.001+02:00

Our restaurant in Puno

"Are we there yet...?!?"

"Where should we go from here?!?!..."

Photos 03-08-2010

2010-08-04T04:47:00.000+02:00

Titicaca Lake

Puno

Our restaurant in Puno

Photos IV, 02/03-08-2010

2010-08-04T04:43:00.002+02:00

Pablo (Taxitaxi team) and Justyna & Sancho (Yupi team) in the back

Our 5***** hostal!... It's good that thje photo doesn't offer the smell of the room... :)

Ugatuga Mototaxi & Titicaca Lake (the highest in the world!)

PhotosIII, 02-08-2010

2010-08-04T04:40:00.003+02:00

4.338m altitude, on our way to Puno.

Gomçalo & Sancho

Gonçalo & Lena

Our loved Ugatuga mototaxi!!! a piece of art! :D

Photos II, 02-08-2010

2010-08-04T04:36:00.001+02:00

4.338m altitude!!! Freezing... and the motos also noticed the temperatures!

The team!!! Pablo, Justyna, Sancho, Lena and Gonçalo

Photos 02-08-2010

2010-08-04T04:32:00.002+02:00

a very special call from the office!...

Fixing the bikes...

Fixed!!!

We're in Puno! 03-08-2010

2010-08-03T15:52:00.002+02:00

We broke a lot of things yesterday on the 3 bikes. After some repairs we had to sleep in Juliaca as it got dark..

Everything going well and we will try to cross to Bolivia today (we are in Lake Titicaca now, in Puno, 9 a.m.).

Cheers!
Lena & Gonçalo

Lena testing the mototaxi before departure - 31-07-2010

2010-08-02T12:47:00.000+02:00

Check the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdB1QwbOgUM

After decorating the mototaxi for the challenge - 30-07-2010

2010-08-02T12:43:00.001+02:00

Check the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_bxtWpZabY

VIDEO from first day in the Mototaxi - 01-08-2010

2010-08-02T05:49:00.001+02:00

Check the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_gnRlJ2pY0

Photos IV - 01-08-2010

2010-08-02T04:41:00.002+02:00

Photos III - 01-08-2010

2010-08-02T04:35:00.004+02:00

Photos II - 01-08-2010

2010-08-02T04:32:00.003+02:00

Photos from first day. Cuzco - Sicuani 150Km

2010-08-02T04:24:00.002+02:00

Hello! Today was the first day and we've made 150 Km in about... 4 hours!!!

The Mototaxi runs a little slowlier than we've expected... :) an average of 35 Km /h!

It's going to be hard to get to Asunción on time... Tomorrow we wake up at 5:30 and be beating the road at 6:00! :)

Before living Cuzco we had a nice party yesterday night with the locals at Plaza de Armas, in San Jeronimo - Cuzco, with firework and local dancing! Today the local witchdoctors gave us a good luck session with all the Inca rituals, before departing!

Enjoy the photos!

Lena & Gonçalo

We're in Cuzco! and alredy with our mototaxis!

2010-07-31T15:34:00.004+02:00

Olá!! Hola! Hello!

Here we are now in Cuzco, Peru! So, a first introduction on the teams that will be travelling together:

THE TEAMS
- Ugatuga: Lena & Gonçalo (yep, that's us!)
- Yuppy: Sancho (spanish friend from the office) and Justyna (Polish friend that just joined the team after her team mate had to pull out of the challenge). Sancho was before with a mutual friend (Helena) that also had to pull out (but is with us virtually!!)
- Taxi Taxi: Pablo (a spanish participant that we've met. He will be joining forces with us and we will be travelling together on the same route). Last minute: we invited a Peruan guy with amazing mechanich skills, that will be joining the taxitxi team! (this will be our man when we - for sure - will break the mototaxi in pieces...)

THE ROUTE
We have looked to the maps yesterday (not very detailed ones, just the Lonely Planet maps) and it seems that we will be heading to Puno (Lago Titicaca), then La Paz (Bolivia), take the dangeroust road in the world near La Paz, then heading to Uyuni Salar and then full speed (meaning 50Km / hour...) to Paraguay. We are aiming to be in Asuncion (Paraguay) on the night of 12th August and then heading to Iguazu Falls in Brazil for a resting day and flight back home on the 15th. But distances are not what they seem to be on the maps and everybody that we speak to is saying that is almost imposible to be in Asuncion so earlier! oohhhhhhh It seams the average speed per hour in the Bolivian Andes is only 20 to 30Km/h and this means 10 hours to complete only 300 Km... and we have a total of 4.000Km! Let's see what we can do! ;)

FIRST CONTACT WITH THE MOTOTAXI
Yesterday was our first day in Cuzco and we had our first contact with our lovely Mototaxi! This is a piece of art! but with no power.... :D We tested the bikes and they of course had all the kind of issues (no batteries, went down of power, etc) but generally are in good shape! We've tested yesterday a small uphill (just from the parking of the hotel to reception) and... Helena had to pull out in order for the Mototaxi to move! ehehe It seems it can only handle one person going up! (and we hadn't even put our bags on the bike!). well, it would be FUN for sure!...
Lena and myself were testing the bike and now feel very confortable with its driving (Lena is a PRO!). We even tested an "emergency jump out" of the bike while in movement! just in case... The breakes seem much better than I've expected (at least that is a good new! eheh)

Tomorrow will be the departure official day and we will be making a lot of Kms per day! Today we are buying helmets and supplies for the bike and we will have a big party with all the other teams at night.

That's it for now. We will be putting some photos and videos on the following posts (ups, I've forgot the camera in the hostal).

We already had our small moments of stress before arriving to Peru, when Sancho's bag was lost on Madrid's airport. We've lost two times the nobiles (but have found them after!) we've already lost out tent in Lima's airport (we must buy a new one today...) and some other small details... :D

Enjoy!
Lena & Gonçalo

Mototaxi challenge in South America is just about to start!...

2010-07-25T18:29:00.004+02:00

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahoy!!! :)

Mototaxi challenge in South America is just about to start!...
We will departure to Peru on 29th July and start this epic journey on 1st August!

This is the plan: travel from Cuzco, in Peru, to Asunción, in Paraguay in a kind of a moto sofa, typically used in Peru as a taxi in the cities. We will travel around 4.000Km in two weeks, with no kind of support, through Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Some of the highlights of the trip: Machu Pichu, the most dangerous road in world... The largest salt lake and Iguazu Waterfalls!!

To keep the same Ugatuga spirit from last challenge in Africa, we will raise funds for Operation Smile, a NGO that provides free reconstructive surgery to children and young adults suffering from facial deformities. We aim to raise 1.200 €, that will change the lives of 7 children. Please Help us help them!

We hope to spend amazing days, meet extraordinary people, experience the magic mountains of the Andes and, at the same time, to contribute to a better life for some children.

We will try to update this BLOG during the trip with some photos and surprising experiences!!

But, better than us... Let's try to explain you this challenge on the organizer's own words:

... from The Adventurists web site:

" Take the smallest and least practical vehicle available in an entire continent, squeeze up to three uncomfortable Adventurists and throw it all at some of the most ridiculous and least hospitable terrain on our good earth. From the driest desert in the world, to the most dangerous road in the world, to the biggest rainforest in the world the Mototaxi Junket is rarefied adventure in it's finest form - completely stupid.

There's no guarantee of making it to the finish, and of course there is no back-up, just how you want it - otherwise it wouldn't be an adventure. The finish party is two weeks after the start but how long it takes you depends on how much get lost and stuck in the middle of nowhere.

The machine of choice is the humble Mototaxi. Invented in Peru and not really perfected anywhere. Built from a motorbike and a few bits of pipe these hardy little ferrets are designed for pootling around the back streets of cities. Which makes them perfect for dirt tracks, waist high mud, salt flats, the Andes and sand dunes.

There's no such thing as a route on the Junket. Just a place to start and a place to arrive covered in mud, oil and missing the odd body part. What happens in between, how you get covered in mud, where you loose the body part are your own choices to make. Ahh the true joys of adventure! "

... we hope that the next update will be written from South America! Thanks for your support! :D

VIDEO - Summary of the UgaTuga trip

2010-02-18T03:24:00.003+01:00

We would like to give a big big THANK YOU to all of you that got involved with the UgaTuga project!

To our families, friends, coleagues and the almost 900 "fans" of UgaTuga club in Facebook!

It wouldn't mean the same doing this trip without all your support and entushiasm.

and... do you want to know the latest news?!? UgaTuga project is still ALIVE, even after the trip!

We are still in contact with the NGOs that we've met (in Portugal & in The Gambia) and full support their amazing work! We keep on promoting their activities and help them by raising funds, essencial for the continuity of their projects. Meaning, allowing them to real make a difference with the local communities. A special mention to the NGOs we've met in The Gambia as they are dedicating their lives for giving their time to the locals, without asking nothing in return. They are the real heroes. We've been there. We saw their work and the huge impact they are doing there. Our sincere THANK YOU for sharing your energy with us. And for allowing us to promote your work within our friends, to be a bridge between these two different realities and be able to make a small contribution to your projects.

1) Terra dos Sonhos: www.terradossonhos.org
Frederico Fezas Vital and his team in Portugal.
Delivering dreams to children with chronic and terminal diseases.

2) La Sonrisa de Africa: www.lasonrisadeafrica.org
Luis del Nota (and his wife Maria) in Banjul / Cristina & Natalia in Pamplona
Currently supporting more than 350 kids, allowing them to go to school everyday providing uniforms, school material, daily food and treatment for small injuries. And of corse, care and attention!

3) Los Niños de Kerrgallo: http://elcolordelapapaya.blogspot.com/
Gustavo Ahmed
Helping the kids in the orphanage to be self-independent and proving them the confidence to take control of their lives (currently building a school and a new well, facilitating health support and teaching how to plant a garden in orden they can be self independent).

4) Riverboat Doctors Inernational: www.rdi-ev.de/1-1-home.html
Henke and Henry in Buniadu village.
please see the VIDEO (in spanish) presenting the clinic they've launched in Buniadu
http://mensajerosxgambia.ning.com/video/hospital-de-buniadu-1
These two germans are dedicating their lives and founded a clinic that is providing free medical care to more than 50 people daily (mostly children) in a village where there are no resources.

5) Mensajeros x Gambia: http://mensajerosxgambia.ning.com
David
Spreading the word in Spain of the local projects in The Gambia. He is helping raising funds for the mentioned projects and founded a NGO that aims to bring to The Gambia medicines through the tourists that visit the country.

To all of you, our sincere THANK YOU!

We now leave you with a summary VIDEO of the UGATUGA project. Enjoy it!

and... We'll be back shortly!!! :D

Ugaaaaaaaaatuuuuuuuuuga!

Gonçalo & Jorge
www.ugatuga.com

THE END - Home sweet Home! - 20-01-2010

2010-01-20T03:22:00.001+01:00

Leaving Banjul. At the airport. 19-01-2010

Home, Sweet HOME! 20-01-2010

Banjul - Sunset at the beach - 18-01-2010

2010-01-18T03:20:00.001+01:00

Back to Banjul - 17-01-2010

2010-01-17T03:13:00.003+01:00

After severall days in the inland we tought we also diserved a typical turistic relaxing day at the beach!

While some of us were looking for some activity!...

Others prefered just to RELAX!

This photo represents a very common situation in The Gambia. Women travelling alone and meeting their local "boyfriends" (just for that week of corse!).

Bitang Bolong Lodge II - 17-01-2010

2010-01-17T03:00:00.002+01:00

Bitang Bolong has very nice river views but... doesn't have particularly very good rooms...
These were our "suites"! They had a shower device, a lamp in the top... but nothing really worked! :) When we've asked for the shower...

NO problem! He ran and brought a jerry can full of water! (the yellow one in the photo!) :)

and for the lamp... didn't worked but he gave us an alternative solution! In The Gambia style! :D

This was the mosque just outside of the lodge.
So... at 6 a.m. it was the best time to call (very loudly) the faithful to go for the first praying of the day!... aahhhhhhhhhhrrr I prefer the cock singing in the morning! ;)

Bitang Bolong Lodge - 16-01-2010

2010-01-16T23:59:00.002+01:00

Outside Bitang Bolong Lodge - speaking with locals - 16-01-2010

2010-01-16T23:59:00.000+01:00

On our way to Bitang Bolong Lodge - 16-01-2010

2010-01-16T23:58:00.000+01:00

Tendaba Camp II - 15-01-2010

2010-01-15T23:57:00.000+01:00

Tendaba Camp - 15-01-2010

2010-01-15T23:56:00.000+01:00

Tendaba Camp!

A paradise for... BIRD WATCHERS!! (a kind of human specie that spends hours and hours looking to the sky or trees and smile when they catch a bird on their fancy (and expensive) camera lents or binoculous! The conversations we were able to listen were simply hirarious! We even made some conversation with them and pretend to be bird watcher beginners!... :)

Our suites! Here we finally had one room for each of us! (because it was the same price..)