Rio Gallegos To Rio Grande
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Esquel To Rivadavia
I turned off of Route 40, 15 kilometers into Esquel to load up on food for the succeeding days. I entered Esquel very exhausted and dehydrated from the 80 MPH side wind that prevailed to the east in Patagonia. Esquel is a touristy andean mountain town housing great skiing in the winter and white water rafting in the summer. I raced to the market to consume much needed produce i hadnt had for 3 days. After tipping back a bottle of Argentinian Malbec wine I soon found the need to sleep. I awoke at 4:30 in a house foundation under construction close to the center of Esquel. I had pitched my bivouac just behind a concrete wall inside a developtment complex. I filled my steel mug with imitation cocopuffs and powder milk which I had aquired the night before while under the influence. While heading towards Route 40 I stopped at a gas station to full my water jugs and to heist some toilette paper.
20 kilometers from Esquel I could blatenly see I was leaving the Andes. 60 Kilometers later and the Andes formed a slight protuberance in the horizon. The Pampas had consumed the surrounding landscape, a brilliant yellow and green hue conquered all. I fought with my thoughts in attempts to feel of some significance in the belittling surroundings. In times like this I've had the time and clearheadedness to grasp some tormenting thoughts, so I appreciate the opportunity.
I knew little about what was in store for the road ahead, all that was certain was I had 10 days and 1800 kilometers to meet with my parents in Rio Gallegos. Since I started this journey in Alaska I've been very speratic with my travels. Its helps me feel more like an explorer than a cyclist. The remainder of the trip though was the most planned I had been. I had a set route, and a set time. The road was flat, the wind constant. The Pampas owned everything in sight. An epic feeling drove me through the windy flats, at times dismounting my bike to push my cargo loaded bike against the patagonic breeze.
20 kilometers from Esquel I could blatenly see I was leaving the Andes. 60 Kilometers later and the Andes formed a slight protuberance in the horizon. The Pampas had consumed the surrounding landscape, a brilliant yellow and green hue conquered all. I fought with my thoughts in attempts to feel of some significance in the belittling surroundings. In times like this I've had the time and clearheadedness to grasp some tormenting thoughts, so I appreciate the opportunity.
I knew little about what was in store for the road ahead, all that was certain was I had 10 days and 1800 kilometers to meet with my parents in Rio Gallegos. Since I started this journey in Alaska I've been very speratic with my travels. Its helps me feel more like an explorer than a cyclist. The remainder of the trip though was the most planned I had been. I had a set route, and a set time. The road was flat, the wind constant. The Pampas owned everything in sight. An epic feeling drove me through the windy flats, at times dismounting my bike to push my cargo loaded bike against the patagonic breeze.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Patagonia
The next 6 days from Bariloche served to be beautifull and brutal. In Bariloche I stayed with a guy that built his house out of mud and old wine bottels. I went climbing for a half day then took to the road south on route 40. Route 40 is the longenst running hwy. in Argentina, it runs from north to south in this 3000 miles of country.
