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Father, son fulfil documentary dream

Jacinta CantatoreHarvey-Waroona Reporter
Andy and Toby Richardson take in the spectacular sights in Peru.
Camera IconAndy and Toby Richardson take in the spectacular sights in Peru. Credit: supplied

A father and son duo with a love of motorcycles have returned from the trip of a lifetime to the middle of the Atacama Desert in Peru.

Roelands riders Andy and Toby Richardson travelled more than 5000km by motorbike to film a documentary about following the Dakar Rally.

“The best part was meeting, riding and camping with guys from all walks of life, different nationalities and all with a common interest and bond,” Andy said.

“We had only just met these guys from Ecuador and when I got a puncture they insisted in stopping and helping me, even though it meant they would miss part of the Dakar.”

Andy said the worst part was to witnesses the level of poverty on the main highways and throughout the bigger cities.

“Even though the regional areas are equally as poor, they were much nicer places to go to,” Andy said.

Toby said he enjoyed how far the trip pushed him out of his comfort zone.

“It was a real challenge having to find new ways of communicating with people and not knowing where we’d camp, but that was what made it fun,” Toby said.

“We would just head off the road into a random part of the Atacama Desert or up the Andes, until we found a sheltered place to set up camp.”

He said the vulnerability of travelling by bike through the desert meant when the pair met fellow photographers along the road, people dropped social pretences and shared resources to make the trip easier for each other.

The pair have a few smaller trips planned for this year but for now they are focused on finishing the documentary which will be available on the popular Adventure Spec YouTube channel next month.

“It has been great to fulfil a dream and now realise that all the other dreams that lurk in the back of the mind are now possible and that this is just the start,” Andy said.

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