23rd of December – Valparaiso to Mendoza 450km, 10 hours
« Back to journal
« Back to journal
Early wake up, packing and leaving. While packing sorting out things which are too much or superfluous. We did this at home a couple of times and now again we have too many things?? Now we HAVE to sort out, no choice. The dispensable stuff stays at Martina & Enzo’s place. Let’s see when we will come back from Patagonia.
The chain of the motorbike has too much tension (because of the luggage:-) and I pull the wheel more in. All this stuff which should have been done before…but when the nice couples from Thüringen left, they had the same hassle with all their luggage. Sibylle came back from the motorbike and said, please take this tomato because I don’t find a spot anymore to fit it in. :-)
Today we will cross over the Andes to Mendoza. That was a recommendation from the Irish guy who was two years on the road in North and South America. Going down to Patagonia on the Argentinian side and coming up on the Chilean side.
On the Argentinian side the Andes become more spectacular and even a glimpse on the Aconcagua is possible. Border crossing and customs takes an hour, everywhere nice and friendly people, chaotic as they are :-)
In Uspallata my GPS guides me on a gravel road. The presetting I choose was the fastest way to Mendoza and not avoiding gravel roads. Well, that is what we got. The first 30km went well but then strong corrugation and some sandy parts were hard to tackle with 2 persons and the luggage. Puuh.
At one point I stopped and released some air out of the tires. Better. The landscape spectacular and no people at all. Instead birds and loose Lamas...or Alpacas? I cannot distinguish yet. The gravel down the mountain on the other side is good but it is a long, long way down the mountain and the time flies. 105 km offroad, which take us 2.5 hours.
At around 9 pm we arrive thru the (poor) back door of Mendoza. The city center crowed with shoppers and strollers. Every 100 m one has to stop in front of a red light. The heat is on…boah. At least 35°C. Soaked we arrive at the chosen hostal, friendly reception. The roads crowed with people. We eat something on the street and go back to sleep.
The chain of the motorbike has too much tension (because of the luggage:-) and I pull the wheel more in. All this stuff which should have been done before…but when the nice couples from Thüringen left, they had the same hassle with all their luggage. Sibylle came back from the motorbike and said, please take this tomato because I don’t find a spot anymore to fit it in. :-)
Today we will cross over the Andes to Mendoza. That was a recommendation from the Irish guy who was two years on the road in North and South America. Going down to Patagonia on the Argentinian side and coming up on the Chilean side.
On the Argentinian side the Andes become more spectacular and even a glimpse on the Aconcagua is possible. Border crossing and customs takes an hour, everywhere nice and friendly people, chaotic as they are :-)
In Uspallata my GPS guides me on a gravel road. The presetting I choose was the fastest way to Mendoza and not avoiding gravel roads. Well, that is what we got. The first 30km went well but then strong corrugation and some sandy parts were hard to tackle with 2 persons and the luggage. Puuh.
At one point I stopped and released some air out of the tires. Better. The landscape spectacular and no people at all. Instead birds and loose Lamas...or Alpacas? I cannot distinguish yet. The gravel down the mountain on the other side is good but it is a long, long way down the mountain and the time flies. 105 km offroad, which take us 2.5 hours.
At around 9 pm we arrive thru the (poor) back door of Mendoza. The city center crowed with shoppers and strollers. Every 100 m one has to stop in front of a red light. The heat is on…boah. At least 35°C. Soaked we arrive at the chosen hostal, friendly reception. The roads crowed with people. We eat something on the street and go back to sleep.
