We had to have an extra days rest in Natales after our big hike and the other guys had a day to see the glacier at Perito Moreno, which we had already seen and so we were a day behind them. Time to catch up. We had a 280 km drive to El Calafate, with a bypass on the Ruta 40 between the 5 and the 7, which is a 115 km gravel road.


Screen Shot 2014-02-22 at 7.45.58 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



Screen Shot 2014-02-22 at 7.46.58 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We headed out of town towards the border crossing at Rio Turbio. This was an easy 2. We handed our import papers to the agent and he just said thanks. We were done so fast we said “is there not anything else?” He laughed and jokingly said no “ get out!” Then there is a 3 km drive to the next control. Here we had a 10 minute entry to Argentina.


to calafate 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


We stopped for cheap gas in town of Rio Turbo and then headed to the turn off to the Ruta 40 (where the gravel started) to add our sticker to the collection. It was nice to arrive to find a room booked for us and a great restaurant picked out by Trevor ad Orvar.


to calafate 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


to calafate 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


to calafate 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


IMG_2510 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

We headed out of Calafate in very heavy winds on the pavement to Tres Lagos in 163 km.


Screen Shot 2014-02-22 at 7.53.26 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


to baja caracoles 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


to baja caracoles 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

The worst part of the day actually was the desvio or detour into the town with high winds and very deep gravel. The gas station is past the town so there was no need to do the detour!!!


to baja caracoles 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

All we had heard from people in the last week or so is how horrible the road is north of Tres Lagos. Heading up the Ruta 40 with some trepidation the first 20 km were shit with deeper gravel, but it was pretty good for the most part after that. All the nay sayers failed to mention the paved sections in the south part and that the last 180 is paved. We managed to sneak onto a few of the blocked off paved sections.



to baja caracoles 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


to baja caracoles 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


to baja caracoles 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

Trevor did have a miracle today. A huge gust of wing hit him and pushed him into the deep gravel. He ended up in the ditch, but with the gas on when BOTH of the wheels came off the ground and he did a 180 and landed it facing backwards down the road looking at Dan! Wow we had some wind on the gravel today. We did stop to hear the tale on a sheltered corner.



to baja caracoles 11 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


We stopped at 430 in Gobenor Gregores pretty tired from the wind and dreading the last stretch and considering staying for the night. We met this couple from Denmark and Colombia who were riding to Ushuaia on this heavily loaded 250. We were happy to hear from them that there was pavement for the last 180 km to the “town” of Baja Caracoles, where there was gas and actually not a bad hotel.


to baja caracoles 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


to baja caracoles 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr



to baja caracoles 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr


to baja caracoles 25 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr

__________________
Sara

Those who say something is impossible should not hinder those who are achieving it!





www.worldwideride.ca

HU RR Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride