Salt flats and the Dakar races were on the “must see” list in the country of Bolivia!
The Dakar rally races moved from Africa to parts of Chile, Argentina, and the salt flats of Bolivia. I decided against the guided tour, I’d be riding the Iron Horse!
Cruising over the salt flats on the Iron Horse was amazing. I backed off at 110 mph. Didn’t want to show up anyone in the time trials! A lake of salt 3 to 5′ thick as far as you can see in every direction. There was even an entire hotel made of salt. Every January the world tunes in to the Dakar races on the salt flats. They race at over 200 miles an hour! I was happy with my 110 mph time trial. If you’re in the area, I’d highly recommend you give it a go, by whatever means.
Right after the salt flats, I was heading for the border of Argentina. I was following my buddy Ian from England. We were stopped by the highway police for speeding. Well, we had just been on the salt flats! After looking at our passports they only wanted me to pay the fine! How could that be?! I was following Ian.
Turns out Ian showed them this badge from twenty years earlier when he was a mall cop in London. Ian’s new law enforcement friends were impressed and welcomed him into the brotherhood. Hugs and high fives all around.
Meanwhile I’m being held at gun point by their new radar gun. After the hugging stopped they wanted $200 from me! They would escort me to the nearest ATM. Ian talked them into taking $20 “for the children” and offered to take custody of the “speeding” American.