2025 - 2026 Tip to Tip Highlights

Hi, my name is Mark Silver.

I live in the north east corner of Utah in Browns Park. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y859kk...

In 2025 I decided that It would be fun to ride a motorcycle to the southern tip of Argentina.

So, On October 24th 2025 I headed out, with little confidence that I would make it. But, I had six weeks to do something and thought I might be able to at least get somewhere in Mexico, or at least to the border with Mexico.

I felt like I wanted to ride to Argentina, but it seemed too far fetched to be possible. And, I did not want to disappoint anyone so I kind of kept my plans close to my chest.

This is my DR650 motorcycle. I bought it new for the trip and rode it to Canada in September on a test ride. It seemed like a good idea and…honestly it was.

I headed out and visited friends along the way.

Here are some highlights:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rCJh...

Browns Park UT, Vernal, Fruita CO, Powderhorn, Mosca, Roswell NM, Marfa TX, McDonald Observatory, El Paso, Marfa, Alpine Oct 24 - Oct 31

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DKja...

Worlds smallest Buc-ee's, Eagle Pass, Laredo, Tampico, Tamaulipas MX, Heroica Veracruz, Catemaco Nov 1 - Nov 6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/z4PA...

Catemaco, Comalcalco, Campeche, Edzna (ruin), Uxmal (ruin), Chichen Itza, Bacalar Nov 7 - Nov 13

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YbwM...

Bacalar, Palenque, Comitan de Dominguez, Huehuetenango Guatemala, Guatemala City, Miravalle El Salvador Nov 14 - Nov 19

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yGrs...

Miravalle, Zacatecoluca, Somotillo Nicaragua, La Villa de Operadoras, La Cueva de El Grifo Loco, San Jacinto, Managua, Granada, Liberia Costa Rica Nov 20 - Nov 25

https://photos.app.goo.gl/745w...

Coco Costa Rica,Montezuma, Santa Teresa, Santo Domingo Nov 27 - Dec 4

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QEcZ...

Playa Blanca, Cahuita Costa Rica; Punta Cahuita, Guabito Panama, David, Colon, Dec 6 - Dec 10

The first leg was 4,900 miles (7,900 KM) from my Utah home to Panama City, Panama.

At this point, I was only 7 weeks into a 6 week task. I did not feel that far behind. And…I no longer cared about returning to work or the 6 week expectation.

It really felt like I was in a good grove. The Central American border crossings were bad, but not that bad and they always worked out.

From Panama City Panama I flew my motorcycle, the 'Dragon', down to Bogota Columbia, and rode 7,000 KM to Santiago.

The flight is necessary because it is not possible to drive through the Darrian Gap.

In Columbia I met a bunch of really nice people, had great food and still felt like I needed to be in a bit of a hurry. But the reason for hurrying had changed. Instead of wanting to get back to work, I realized that if I made it to the southern end of the word, I might be able to head north.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ef1G...

Panama City, Panama; Bogota Colombia, Dec 11 - Dec 17

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VW9Q...

Ibaque Colombia; La Union; Mocoa, Putumayo, Narino, La Paz Ecuador Dec 18 - Dec 25

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cWeH...

Ibara Ecuador, Cotacachi, Laguna de Cuicocha, Quito, Laguna de Quilotoa, Guayaquil; Vichayito Peru Dec 25 - Dec 31

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cq5V...

Morrope, Peru; Chiclayo, Lambayeque, Huacho, Chancay, Lima, Jan 1 - Jan 6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xoip...

Palpa Peru, Nazca Lines, Chala, Arequipa, Puno, Eros, Tacna Jan 8 - Jan 14

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WhRb...

Chile, Tarapaca Giant, Iquique, Antofagasta, Caldera, La Serena, Choapa Los Vilos, Santiago Jan 15 - Jan 24

https://photos.app.goo.gl/uv1Z...

Los Villos, Santiago, (Sue and I tour) Jan 22 - Jan 28

But, honestly, if you ride to Chile, you absolutely need to take a few extra weeks and ride the Carretera Austral to Vila O'Higgins. This is an epic motorcycle ride.

So, I rode another 2,250 KM to Vila O'Higgins, Chile along the Carretera Austral.

[ See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... for details. ]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fHQj...

Constitucion, Llico, Villa los Heroes, Puerto Montt (met Marcos), Ferry to Chaiten Jan 30 - Feb 5

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Tqfz...

Caleta Gonzalo Chile, Puerto Cisnes, Via Amengual, Coyhaique, Puerto Murta (met Jimmy) Puerto Rio Tranquilo, Marble Caves, Confluence Rio Baker and Neff, ferry from Puerto Yungay to Rio Bravo, Villa O'Higgins, Feb 5 Feb 12

It was getting a bit late in the fall by this time, but no matter.

In a reoccurring theme, the end of the road in Chile and Argentina is rarely the end of the road. So, when you get to Villa O'Higgins, you really need to run down the road to Lago O'Higgins to say you really have done the trip.

But, once you make it to the end of the road, it is time to head to Ushuaia. But, it sure would make sense to visit the National Parks in Southern Argentina on the way.

So, I followed the Chile trip with another 2,200 KM through several National Parks in Argentina.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MHJu...

Villa O'Higgins Chile, Lago O'Higgins, Tortel, Puerto Bertrand, Chile Chico; Argentina; Paso Roballo, Lago Posadas, Bajo Caracoles, Gobernador Gregores, Tres Lagos, Fitz Roy, El Chalten, Feb 11 - Feb 17

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mRTM...

El Calafate, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Glaciar Perito Moreno, Puerto Natales Chile, Punta Arenas, Feb 18 Feb 25

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EQc8...

Punta Arenas, ferry to Porvenir, Reserva Natural Pinguino Rey, Pampa Gaunaco, Tierra del Fuego, Caletta Maria, Timaukei, Parque Karukinka Pamp Guanaco, Fiesta Campesina del Ovejero, Cerro Sombrero, Rodeo, Rio Grande, Cabo Domingo, Ushuaia, Bahia Lapataia, Puerto Almanza Feb 26 - March 6

This is me at the Perito Moreno Glaciar in Argentina. By the time I got here, I had developed a bit more self confidence. There was no question that I would reach the goal.

Ending up in Porvenir on Tierra del Fuego. And of course a 1,200 KM round-about trip to Ushuaia, Argentina via Cerro Sombrero, Chile (to see a rodeo) and then down the coast.

I guess this is the picture I rode down here for!

If only I had gotten here a few months earlier it would have been warmer and not raining. But, I made it!

Now, I had a decision to make: ride home or fly back. I guess there was no reason to force the decision so I headed north to visit a buddy in Bahia Blanca and continued on.

That makes a 3,600 KM ride up to Buenos Aries.

March 6 [ https://photos.app.goo.gl/dEgJ... ] Argentina!

March 19 [ https://photos.app.goo.gl/hbca... ] Argentina 2

But, in a classic lack of planning….

I ran out of blank pages in my passport! On my last entry into Argentina I was informed that I had enough pages for two more border crossings and then I would need a new passport. No exceptions. This forced a decision to return to the USA and get another passport.

But I realized that if I flew the bike back, I might be home in time to ride to the Northern tip of Alaska in July.

So, I flew back (and shipped the Dragon) to Denver and rode another 510 KM home.

March 30 [ https://photos.app.goo.gl/JAdw... ] Getting Back

Which led up to an obvious next step. 4,000 miles and 5 weeks up to Prudhoe Bay Alaska from Browns Park Utah. And back!

14 June 2026 20 June Week 1 https://photos.app.goo.gl/tmeF...

21 June 27 June Week 2 https://photos.app.goo.gl/GeqC...

28 June 4 July Week 3 https://photos.app.goo.gl/dg6D...

5 July 11 July Week 4 https://photos.app.goo.gl/yNVS...

12 July 18 July Week 5 https://photos.app.goo.gl/9J8R...

But first we need to swim in The Artic Ocean!

And, yes I went all the way in!

“Luck is believing you are Lucky”.

I believe I am lucky!

Be safe and test your luck,

Mark