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America.Rides.Maps
last year
Last day. Early start to catch the ferry.
Last day. Early start to catch the ferry.
America.Rides.Maps
last year
today has been quite the day. it started off. cool and windy and wet. One of the writers thought he had lost his passport which caused a bit of a panic this morning. but it was found and we moved on.
leaving Ushuaya we rode out of town 10 miles or so and then turned off at an overlook. I snapped a quick photo and noticed a steep rocky path leaning down into the gorge below. as I returned from the photo, civil riders were already going down it. The guide told us it was an optional thing to do but everyone was going and well. I'm part of everyone so down we went. The trail was rough. steep muddy rocky and quite a challenge. getting to the bottom we wondered if we were going to have to go back up it, as that would have been something unfortunate to put it. it mildly. but the trail continued on along a lake and got progressively easier as it went until we returned to the road.
we grabbed coffee at a small roadside cafe and then proceeded another 10 miles or so before we came to another dirt road. return on to it and for about 200 km. enjoyed some really nice writing on a fairly decent road. along the way we saw condors, will not go, horses, sheep, and stopped for a brief break at what was an abandoned camp of some sort. The huge concrete buildings were all in ruins. we were surprised to see four little foxes come out to greet us wearily looking for handouts. they were pretty cute.
we continued on the dirt roads until we finally connected to the highway which would lead us to the border. this time we were held up on the Argentine side for a couple of hours while some sort of problem was worked out. none of us really understood. quite what was going on but it did finally get sorted.
The big thing today though was the wind. it was surreal. blowing at between 40 and 50 mph. it made riding quite a effort. Big trucks were blowing around, and every time one passed you. it was like a punch in the face. The bikes are leaning sharply as we weaved along with each passing gust. it was cold but the sun was out and the sky was blue so it could have been worse.
we are back in Cerro Sombrero tonight. though this time we are in a hostile instead of our hotel. The hostel is connected to the hotel but not quite as nice as the hotel was. we had dinner at the same on-site restaurant and are all pretty tired after the days effort.
Tomorrow is our last day on the road and it will be a long one. we need to continue north to reach the ferry again which will take us across the Magellan channel and then we will go back through the border once more and re-enter Argentina. from there, we make a long slog on the highway to El Calafate our starting point.
it's an early start tomorrow with hopes to catch the first ferry if it is running with these wins. Time to get some sleep.
leaving Ushuaya we rode out of town 10 miles or so and then turned off at an overlook. I snapped a quick photo and noticed a steep rocky path leaning down into the gorge below. as I returned from the photo, civil riders were already going down it. The guide told us it was an optional thing to do but everyone was going and well. I'm part of everyone so down we went. The trail was rough. steep muddy rocky and quite a challenge. getting to the bottom we wondered if we were going to have to go back up it, as that would have been something unfortunate to put it. it mildly. but the trail continued on along a lake and got progressively easier as it went until we returned to the road.
we grabbed coffee at a small roadside cafe and then proceeded another 10 miles or so before we came to another dirt road. return on to it and for about 200 km. enjoyed some really nice writing on a fairly decent road. along the way we saw condors, will not go, horses, sheep, and stopped for a brief break at what was an abandoned camp of some sort. The huge concrete buildings were all in ruins. we were surprised to see four little foxes come out to greet us wearily looking for handouts. they were pretty cute.
we continued on the dirt roads until we finally connected to the highway which would lead us to the border. this time we were held up on the Argentine side for a couple of hours while some sort of problem was worked out. none of us really understood. quite what was going on but it did finally get sorted.
The big thing today though was the wind. it was surreal. blowing at between 40 and 50 mph. it made riding quite a effort. Big trucks were blowing around, and every time one passed you. it was like a punch in the face. The bikes are leaning sharply as we weaved along with each passing gust. it was cold but the sun was out and the sky was blue so it could have been worse.
we are back in Cerro Sombrero tonight. though this time we are in a hostile instead of our hotel. The hostel is connected to the hotel but not quite as nice as the hotel was. we had dinner at the same on-site restaurant and are all pretty tired after the days effort.
Tomorrow is our last day on the road and it will be a long one. we need to continue north to reach the ferry again which will take us across the Magellan channel and then we will go back through the border once more and re-enter Argentina. from there, we make a long slog on the highway to El Calafate our starting point.
it's an early start tomorrow with hopes to catch the first ferry if it is running with these wins. Time to get some sleep.
America.Rides.Maps
last year
oh it's 538 in the afternoon. we still have a ways to go to get to our hotel and we are hung up at the border. there is always something. I can't. quite figure out what's going on now but here we sit.
America.Rides.Maps
last year
we have stopped for a break alongside a lake with an abandoned camp for a quick rest stop. and we're being entertained by a family of young foxes. pretty cool. Long run down. a long dirt road is we're heading for the border with Chile.
America.Rides.Maps
last year
I survived. Coffee and fried bread now.
I survived. Coffee and fried bread now.
America.Rides.Maps
last year
Fuck! Steep, Rocky, slick mud, wht have I done?
Fuck! Steep, Rocky, slick mud, wht have I done?
America.Rides.Maps
last year
the red sky this morning fortells of what is to come. today. we head north onto some dirt roads here and there though we do have a long way to cover as we go back into Chile to Cerro Sombrero tonight. it is cooler this morning. again, there are sheets of rain passing through between moments of bright sunshine , and the wind is already really howling. The forecast calls for rain until about noon and then high winds for the rest of the day. the gusts can be brutal. You're constantly on a lean while riding.
The diversions off road are reported to be nice. The worst of the day will be the border crossing again into Chile. it's much easier leaving the country then getting in. we all have to check in through immigration and customs, do the paperwork to import the bikes, then go through the whole process again more or less when the van comes through and the business has to check through. everything comes out of the van to be scanned and inspected, there are bike inspections, it just takes a while. if there is a big line at the border, it really drags on. then you leave Argentina, ride a mile or so, and the process repeats to enter Chile, customs, immigration, import, etc , etc, etc.
we have long days ahead.
The diversions off road are reported to be nice. The worst of the day will be the border crossing again into Chile. it's much easier leaving the country then getting in. we all have to check in through immigration and customs, do the paperwork to import the bikes, then go through the whole process again more or less when the van comes through and the business has to check through. everything comes out of the van to be scanned and inspected, there are bike inspections, it just takes a while. if there is a big line at the border, it really drags on. then you leave Argentina, ride a mile or so, and the process repeats to enter Chile, customs, immigration, import, etc , etc, etc.
we have long days ahead.