I had to move on & there was no one in Punta Arenas to help me with the bike. It was a shortish ride up to El Calafate but on one of the iconic routes in South America - Ruta 40. This passes Torres del Paine a beautiful section of mountains with glaciers. I am afraid my camera skills are not up to the task
I was bumping in to my brother "Wilks". He is doing a 3 month tour of South America (not by bike) having had enough of the Print Industry for the time being.
The bike went pretty well, even over the short sections of gravel at the border of Chile & Argentina. I didn't time the borders too well. There were several buses of German OAP's trying to get through which slowed the process considerably.
At a fuel stop this lovely old bus turned up driven by the old boy (who loved the bike) with a some bohemian looking characters.
Wilks was already at the hotel on the lakeside of El Calafate. It is a lovely town in a lovely spot but for obvious reasons driven by tourism. The view from the hotel lounge (which is very new) was across the lake
As you can see it is very beautiful. Between us we took a lot of pictures but this is a very good summary (obvioulsy Wilks).
It was about a 3 hour drive each way but was certainly worth the effort, which being in a car wasn't much. For dinner we threw ourselves in to the tourist area and enjoyed a Lamb Asado (BBQ lamb over an open fire) Very nice but very expensive. Neither of us enjoy the tourist trail but in these towns it is hard to avoid entirely.
I knew that my contribution to the research of Antartica had created a stir in such circles but Wilks & I were surprised to see it recognised so quickly:
Day 2 of car hire was to find a bar in town showing the Rugby. We sat down and were soon joined by a bearded Brit. Bob was travelling, having just left Chaucer (a Lloyd's Agency)! It just goes to prove you can't go anywhere without bumping into someone from Lloyd's.
We watched a very good peformance by England end in an undeserved loss to the Gales. It didnt seem the best use of the Car so, although we had booked a days hike on the ice for the morrow, we drove up to the Pertio Moreno Glacier anyway- one of the highlights of Argentina. Was a bit slower return journey as we were running in to the red on the fuel gauge!
Got to go as Wilks has to get up at 2 am to catch his coach to Ushuaia. He has a few days down there before heading back up North on the Ferry service that I am taking tomorrow, to Puerto Montt
Hasta luego
Not a single mention of lemoncello Enzo - dont tell me Wilks has hung up his drinking boots?? - or I suppose, more likely that there is not much of it about that far South. You are still seeing many wonderful sights that most of us ordinary folk will just dream about.
ReplyDeleteBest, Henry
Not even a hint of the stuff, just shows that it is not us who are the trouble makers.
DeleteThe sights are wonderful but Wilks keeps saying that none compare to what he saw in Rio!
Whilst on the South America theme thought I would let you know that Silverstone Auctions, 25th February, Stoneleigh, Warks sold one of Ayrton Senna's used race crash helmets for £74,750 and one of his used race suits whilst with McLaren sold for £35,650 (and a Jordan baseball cap signed by Eddie, Sato and Fisichella sold for £69)
ReplyDeleteHopefully not the last one he wore!
DeleteWe are getting a little concerned here in the Cotswolds as we have seen nothing added to the blog for several days. Maybe you are stranded and starving beside a lonely road with nothing but lamas and Condors for company, waiting in vain for a Beamer mechanic to stroll by, or perhaps you have been kidnapped and the ransom notes are being written as we speak, or looking on the bright side, it could simply be no wifi in your current location. If you are in desparate straights, all you need to do is open a bottle of Blanford Fly and we will sniff you out. You DO have a bootle of Blanford Fly I trust?? Best, Henry.
ReplyDeleteNothing to worry about, was just on a Ferry for 4 days with no phone or internet connections. Will blog shortly (after laundry & shower)! Blanford fly is unknown to me but I hope to put that right next time i am in Blighty!
DeleteDear Henry, man with bike on boat with no wifi so man with fork gob stay silent, or he is dead in the gutter? or the dreaded Blandford Fly got him? or I took instruction from his children for a cut? It's probably the first one. His ever loving brother?
ReplyDeleteA small cut if they are anything like their father!
Delete