Fellow Members,

A short report on the trek to date. Left Santiago, Chile on 13 Nov., flew to Temuco then by van to Pucon, Chile. Left Pucon for Bariloche, Argentina. Had a lot of kilometers on gravel the highlight was 38km on a gravel covered with a light gray volcanic ash which obscured the road. Even with a 75 yard interval need a gust of wind to see the roadway, 2 way traffic and cars passing.

Upon Bariloche, picked up the infamous Argentina Ruta (Route) 40, lots of cross wind with heavy gusts, about 1/3 of the distance travel has been on gravel. Argentina is working on improving Ruta 40 with asphalt. For the sections that are being worked on, a temporary by pass is constructed; a bull dozer clears the ground. It is in some respects more difficult than the gravel. Oh, by the way, zippers can be a tad hard to operate with the dust, broke a pull tab on my Aerostitch Darien jacket.

In a couple of the smaller towns, there has been either no gas or very limited supply, makes things interesting.

Spent one night on an estancia, a lamb was roasted. The estancia was 150 kilometers from anything, not sure if there was a phone, wine was good as was the food.

Yesterday crossed the border back into Chile and arrived at Torres Del Paines National Park. Spectacular scenery, heavy winds with gusts, gravel roads. Passing a lake the wind was blowing the water 20 - 30 feet into the air, I was in 3rd gear and had to look at the speedometer to see if I was actually moving in any direction, the speedo read 40 kph, I don't believe it. An individual was blown across the road and press up against a guard rail.

We are in the Park for 3 nights, will leave on 27 Nov. and head for Ushuaia, Argentina.

Greg

Sent from my iPad.
Chile. Left Pucon for Bariloche, Argentina. Had a lot of kilometers on gravel the highlight was 38km on a gravel covered with a light gray volcanic ash which obscured the road. Even with a 75 yard interval need a gust of wind to see the roadway, 2 way traffic and cars passing.

Upon Bariloche, picked up the infamous Argentina Ruta (Route) 40, lots of cross wind with heavy gusts, about 1/3 of the distance travel has been on gravel. Argentina is working on improving Ruta 40 with asphalt. For the sections that are being worked on, a temporary by pass is constructed; a bull dozer clears the ground. It is in some respects more difficult than the gravel. Oh, by the way, zippers can be a tad hard to operate with the dust, broke a pull tab on my Aerostitch Darien jacket.

In a couple of the smaller towns, there has been either no gas or very limited supply, makes things interesting.

Spent one night on an estancia, a lamb was roasted. The estancia was 150 kilometers from anything, not sure if there was a phone, wine was good as was the food.

Yesterday crossed the border back into Chile and arrived at Torres Del Paines National Park. Spectacular scenery, heavy winds with gusts, gravel roads. Passing a lake the wind was blowing the water 20 - 30 feet into the air, I was in 3rd gear and had to look at the speedometer to see if I was actually moving in any direction, the speedo read 40 kph, I don't believe it. An individual was blown across the road and press up against a guard rail.

We are in the Park for 3 nights, will leave on 27 Nov. and head for Ushuaia, Argentina.

Greg