Previously, after leaving Salta we headed towards the Bolivian border to see some spectacular mountain scenery and historic towns.
We were tempted to continue on to Bolivia with our new found touring mate Robert but our return flight out of Buenos Aires pulled us back.
We headed south east across Argentina through the Chaco region and the Impenetrables. It meant a couple of weeks of riding along dead flat, dead straight Route 16. Very hot and humid plus some headwinds to boot...very good for our character.
Soon enough we were back in the eastern part of Argentina and in the big river area. We camped by rivers with sandy beaches and headed south crossing into Uruguay for Christmas and a bit of a change.
Finally we stopped in Colonia (Uruguay) with it´s lovely historic buildings and touristy kind of persona. From here it was a short hop on the ferry across to Buenos Aires and the end of our trip.
We packed our bikes away(not sure if sad or happy) and sorted ourselves out for our exit from Argentina after 3 months here.
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After getting rained on heavily in southern Chile we decided to bus north to Mendoza in northern Argentina.
A fresh change with sunny skies every day and quiet roads.
The road north from Mendoza travels through arid lands with open landscapes skirting alongside the Andes. We were soon into cactus country featuring the amazing Candelabra Cactus in abundance.
We teamed up with Rob, an English cyclist who has been 2 years on the road riding around the world.
We have seen some amazing mountain scenery and rock formations plus lots of interesting villages and adobe houses.
We´ve arrived in Salta for a couple of days rest (after some very strenuous climbing and rough roads) before heading up towards the Bolivian border and then turning around and heading back towards Buenos Aires.
For photos check out our Ed´s Facebook site
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Just arrived at Puerto Vales in Chile after a frozen crossing of the Chilean border.
Since our last entry we´ve done the 7 lakes tour, a scenic and mountainous tour of alpine lakes and snow capped peaks.
We´ve checked out Bariloche, a heavily developed lakeside town that supports skiing and other outdoor activities.
Then our crossing to Chile coincided with a nasty spell of weather with continuous rain then snow resulting in a freezing experience where we had to seek shelter in a shed and camp so we could thaw out.
Now settled for a couple of days in a hostel on Puerto Vales in Chile, a wonderful old house from the 1930s.
7 Lakes Route (San Martin to Bariloche)
7 Lakes Route (San Martin to Bariloche)
7 Lakes Route (San Martin to Bariloche)
7 Lakes Route (San Martin to Bariloche)
Belgian couple (Gattian and Celine) going our way for a day or so.
Nearing Bariloche
Mothers´Memorial to their missing children who disappeared during the previous regime´s rule before democracy.
Chocolate Box houses typical of Bariloche
Gaye on Victoria Island (a large island within an alpine lake off the shores of Bariloche)
Gaye and Cecilia(Researcher from Bariloche Uni)doing some forestry field work on Victoria Island.
Gaye and Puchi(Researcher from Bariloche Uni) in our National Park lodgings on Victoria Island.
Crossing the Andes from Argentina to Chile. Washed out one day and snowed on the next.
A chilly welcome from Chile as we cross the border.
A bleak day on the bike. We had to bail out and find shelter eventually as we started to freeze.
Gaye melting snow for our dinner in our tin shed. The tin shed looked to be a garage for a snow plough and luckily was empty.
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