MegaMel - See MegaMel videos on YouTube.com

I decided to celebrate my 70th by going to the Monster Energy $1M Supercross in Las Vegas. It didn't make sense to me to make that trip for a one day race so I expanded it into a 24 day southwest tour. My first big stop was at the Dinosaur National Monument.

Rode the DR650 70 miles on one of the best MC roads ever. Rode another 25 miles on dirt down the Echo Park road.

Hiked on "sidewalk in the sky" to overlook (2.2 miles).

The road to Echo Park is in the bottom of the slot canyon.

The next big stop was "Nine Mile Canyon". It contains some of the best and most Indian rock art in the U.S.

Could not believe how much oil and gas well drilling is going on there. If you want to work, they have a job for you.

Yeah Baby! This is Bonneville! Don't miss it!

I did a couple of 50 mile rides out in the desert around Wendover. Fun! Didn't see anyone else out there. I pulled out the tube here to fix a thorn flat.

Having fun with wildlife!

Saw lot's of wild Mustangs on my desert rides.

Next stop, Great Basin National Park.

Climbed Wheeler Peak (13,000 feet Elev.).

After a couple of R&R days in Las Vegas, I arrived at Trevor's house in Monrovia for some Mtn. Biking, dart throwing, motorcycle riding, going to Grandkids sports, and hangin' at the backyard "resort".

Trev and I rode our MC's to the AMA Flat Track championship race at Pomona.

Street tacos in Monrovia.

Thea produced some great art for my 70th BDay.

Fun 75 mile ride across the Mojave National Preserve.

Then it was, back to Vegas for R&R. Finally made it to the $1M Supercross race. Here, I'm heading up to Turtlehead Peak in the Red Rock National Preserve outside Vegas.

That's the trail, straight ahead.

Sam Boyd Stadium

Last stop - Colorado National Monument. 45 miles of trails.

My campsite.

I hiked and Mtn. biked.

Trevor discoved the "Hippy Hot Springs" in Durango but I had not been there. Stopped on my way home and loved them. A "Must Do" on your bucket list.

Hoosier Pass - My last night of the trip.

Sandie and I decided to celebrate our 50th anniversary with a trip to South America. We left 2/4/12 and returned 4/5/12 after covering the entire length of Chile, a swing thru Argentina, and the last week in Peru with daughter Traci. We traveled by bus and stayed in hostels. A great trip!

First stop was Santiago, Chile. This dinner was around $3.

Walking aorund Santiago

First fries, meat on top, then lay a fried egg on top. Vertical food, right?

Heading south to Chillan, we spent a few days in a ski area. This was a fun hot springs.

Our ski lodge hostel was below this overlook. A fun hike!

A completo! Hot dog with lot's of toppings.

We enjoyed Lake Villarica.

Lot's of people climbed the Volcano.

This "hostel" was a really nice small hotel. From here, we took the 800 mile ferry ride thru fiords, islands, glaciers, from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales. Four days on the boat.

Fares - Per person - Less is better, right? We paid $420 including passage, bunk, and all meals.

The route - We visited Torres del Paine national park after the boat ride.

On the boat.

Hang out with the Captain anytime.

Cruising up close to this glacier was exciting.

End of the boat ride.

Going hiking in Torres del Paine N.P.

The lodge we bunked in is on the left.

We hiked three days (3, 15, and 12 miles) returning each night to sleep in the lodge.

This big snowslide came down while we watched.

Lot of ice! Grey Glacier

We hiked the two left side routes of the famous "W" trails.

Only way to get to our lodge.

Crossing the Straits of Magellan by ferry was fun.

A top goal for me was to make it to Tierra del Fuego.

We visited Ushuaia, the last stop on the continent.

Parilla's - BBQ places are popular.

Typical of the buses we rode.

Most hostels organize fun activities like these.

Penguins at Punta Valdes.

Seal Lions and Elephant Seals.

We had a lot of fun strolling around Mendoza, Argentina.

Switchbacks on the way over the Andes from Mendoza to Santiago.

We loved our time in Valparaiso, Chile. Now we're heading north from Santiago.

A lot of Valparaiso sits high above the ocean and several really old cable-cars are in use.

Entry to cable-car.

Hostel owners, Renee and Carolina.

Most fun horseback ride I've ever done. Riding beaches and dunes and racing continuously.

After ride BBQ.

Chile and Peru both claim the rights to making Pisco. It's alcohol distilled from fermented grapes. The most famous drink made from it is the Pisco Sour. We toured a couple of distilleries.

We rode bikes to the oldest distillery in Chile (old days Pic below).

San Pedro de Atacama (in the Atacama desert) was one of our favorite places. Note the snowboards being used for riding the dunes.

Hostel Wi-Fi area.

Nightlife in San Pedro.

Sandie was a bit nervous getting off the bus here after dark.

Salt flats, villages, and high lakes tour day.

13,000' lakes with 20,000' volcanos.

Eiffel design church in Arica, Chile.

We did some "kickin" at this beach for a couple of days.

We arrived alive in Puno, Peru after a harrowing bus ride over the Andes. We were at 15K' for three hours on nothing but switchbacks. There were many parades going while we were there.