Epilogue

Going back

Friday February 1, 2013

Argentina is an absolutely awesome country with open minded, warm and welcoming people, amazingly helpful. We didn´t have any bad experience at all. Anywhere we asked for help everyone tried his best to support us or at least tried to figure it out for us if he couldn´t do it personally. Generousness and kindness of the people we met was one of the highlights of our trip.
(Except BsAs-the „Portenios“ are a special case!)

„Epilogue“ weiterlesen

Zapala to Buenos Aires: No problem taking the bikes on the bus

We took the bikes at noon to the bus station, as the clerk told us yesterday we´d better bring them some hours before departure time. The bus („Chevallier“ company) left at 4 o´clock in the afternoon and we had a very convenient trip with food and drinks served by a stewart-not to compare with the ride to „Chilecito“ at the beginning of the journey.

„Zapala to Buenos Aires: No problem taking the bikes on the bus“ weiterlesen

Las Lajas to Zapala: The last day of our trip

The road starts climbing

Wednesday January 30, 2013, 60 km (37 miles) – Total so far: 1,612 km (1,002 miles)

We had a breakfast like the royal family: with cheese, fruits, fresh bread, juice etc. etc. As soon as we were pedaling out of the village the road was rising up very steep and on top of the mountain like so often, there was waiting no real downhill. The road was going a little bit down and then up again, and it kept on going like this.

„Las Lajas to Zapala: The last day of our trip“ weiterlesen

Chorriaca to Las Lajas: First broken spokes

Leaving Chorriaca

Tuesday January 29, 2013, 96 km (60 miles) – Total so far: 1,552 km (964 miles)

We didn´t get to much sleep that night. Not because of our „beds“, but because some dogs were barking all night long and the cocks did their „cock-a-doodle-doos“ at 4 o´clock in the morning already. So we started as soon as the day broke, taking with us the food that was left from yesterday. In „Chorriaca“ there is no possibility to buy something least of all at this time of day.

„Chorriaca to Las Lajas: First broken spokes“ weiterlesen

Chos Malal to Chorriaca: Lost village on Ruta 40

Touching the sky

Monday January 28, 2013, 76 km (47 miles) – Total so far: 1,456 km (905 miles)

We left early in the morning, and the road immediately was climbing up. „Chorriaca“ lies almost 500 m higher than „Chos Malal“ and so we expected some climbs anyway. The road was o.k. just a lot of ups and downs all the time and the weather looked like it could be raining. Beside the road we saw a small cat someone surely had just left there, and it was crying so loud and desperately that one´s heart could brake.

„Chos Malal to Chorriaca: Lost village on Ruta 40“ weiterlesen

Buta Ranquil to Chos Malal: Climbs,wind and thirst

On our way

Saturday January 26, 2013, 92 km (57 miles) – Total so far: 1,380 km (857 miles)

Buta Ranquil is quite small and when we left at 7.30 am, we hardly could find a store open. So we just bought some sweet stuff to eat during the day. No chance to get some bananas, which serve most to give you energy and don´t make your stomach feel filled up with food. Some water and on we went.

„Buta Ranquil to Chos Malal: Climbs,wind and thirst“ weiterlesen

Bardas Blancas to Buta Ranquil: Kamikaze hitch-hiking

The road is still good...

Friday January 25, 2013, 67 km (42 miles) – Total so far: 1,288 km (800 miles)

We took it easy in the morning and started after having the argentinian breakfast at about 10.30 am. People already had told us about the bad condition of the road after the first 65km of pavement. We pedaled easily at first as there was no wind like yesterday, just a little breeze-nothing.

„Bardas Blancas to Buta Ranquil: Kamikaze hitch-hiking“ weiterlesen

Malargüe to Bardas Blancas: Fighting the patagonian winds!!

Climbing up

Thursday January 24, 2013, 68 km (42 miles) – Total so far: 1,221 km (759 miles)

As soon as we started the wind was blowing in our faces. From the beginning it was hard to pedal and the wind got stronger and stronger and always contrary-well at least the landscape was beautiful. The road in general was climbing up with a lot of little downhills in between, so we did a lot of height meters before we reached the altitude of 2000m.

„Malargüe to Bardas Blancas: Fighting the patagonian winds!!“ weiterlesen

Malargüe chilling: Meeting the Malargüe policewomen

Downtown Malargüe

Wednesday January 23, 2013

We had that typical argentinian breakfast which doesn´t take much time, and went to find a place where we could wash our clothes. As everything was closed because of the week-end (one of the few argentinian towns where people respect the week-end!) we ended up having a milk shake in a small cafe beside the main road.

„Malargüe chilling: Meeting the Malargüe policewomen“ weiterlesen