browsinaboutonabike.com
  • Armenia 18/4/2016
  • Baku, Azerbaijan
  • Georgia
  • 2-3/4/2016 Trabzon to Batumi, Georgia
    • 21-27/3/2016 Atakent to Trabzon >
      • 12-21/3/2016 Cide to Akakent >
        • 6-11/3/2016 Eregli to Cide
  • 26/2-4/3/2016 Istanbul to Eregli
    • Istanbul 15-25/2/2016 >
      • London 30/1-15/2/2016 >
        • Istanbul 19-30/1/2016
  • Proposed Journey East from Istanbul, March 2016
  • Sth Africa 6-19/1/2016
    • South Africa 6/12/2015 to 6/1/2016
  • Namibia 24/10-5/12/2015
    • Namibia 1/10/2015 to 23/10/2015
  • Zambia 7-30/9/2015
  • 21/8/2015 Malawi
  • 30/7-20/8/2015 Kigoma to Malawi Border
    • 21-30/7/2015 Tanzanian border to Kigoma, Lake Tanganyika >
      • 18-20/7/2015 Kigali to Tanzanian border >
        • 12-15/7/2015 Gisenyi to Kigali >
          • 10-11/7/2015 Rwandan border to Gisenyi
          • 15th June to 8th July Uganda
  • Last days in Kenya
    • 1-6/6/2015 Meru to Nyahururu >
      • 28-31/05/2015 Kenol to Meru >
        • 2011-16 Map >
          • 12-18/10/2014 Beausejour to St Laurent do Maroni >
            • 7-11/10/2014 St Georges to Beausejour, French Guiana >
              • 3-7/10/2014 Amapá, Brazil to St Georges, French Guiana >
                • 1-2/10/2014 Porto Grande to Amapá, AP >
                  • 26-29/9/2014 Macapá to Porto Grande >
                    • 16-23/9/2014 Almeirim to Macapá >
                      • 11-16/9/2014 Rurópolis to Almeirim, PA,BR >
                        • New Page
                        • 13/8-10/9/2014 Rurópolis, BR to Christchurch, NZ, return >
                          • 2-12/8/2014 Altamira to Ruropolis >
                            • 1-4/8/2014 Pacajá to Altamira, PA >
                              • 29/7-1/8/2014 Marabá to Pacajá, PA, BR230
        • 21-28/5/2015 Ongata to Kenol >
          • 5-21/5/2015 Iten to Ongata Rongai, Nairobi >
            • 2-6/5/2015 Kitale to Iten >
              • 1-2/5/2015 Lodwar to Kitale, Kenya >
                • Kenya: Omorate to Lodwar 20/04- 1/05/2015
  • 12-18/4/2015 Abra Minche to Omorate, Ethiopia
    • 3-10/4/2015 Waliso to Abra Minch >
      • 16-30/3/2015 Dese to Waliso, Ethiopia >
        • Ethiopia 9-16/3/2015 Me'kele to Dese >
          • 19/2-8/3/2015 Ethiopia
  • 25/1-18/2/2015 Sudan
  • 16-17 Luxor to Aswan
    • 8-15/1/2015 Asyut to Luxor >
      • 7-10/1/2015 Giza to Asyut
  • 1-6/1/2015 Cairo
    • Proposed passage Cairo to Cape Town Jan 2015 >
      • 21/10-12/11/2014 Suriname and Guyana
  • Updated Gear List
  • Rodovia Transamazônica
  • 21- 25/7/2014 Redencáo to Marabá, PA
    • Pará: 17-22/7/2014 Confresa, MT to Redencao, PA >
      • 9-13/7/2014 Nova Xavantina to Confreza, MT >
        • 3-4/7/2014 Barra do Garcas to Nova Xavantina >
          • 26-31/6/2014 Rondonópolis to Barra Do Garcas, MT >
            • 20-23/6/2014 Rio Verde, MS to Rondonópolis, MT >
              • 13-17/6/2014 Bonito to Rio Verde de Mato Grosso >
                • 9-11/6/2014 Jardim to Bonito MS, BR >
                  • 7-9/6/2014 Pedro Juan Caballero, PY to Jardim,BR >
                    • 9,10,11/5/2014 Remanso to Concepción onboard MV Osmar >
                      • 6-7/5/2014 Remanso,PY >
                        • 6/5/2014 Asunción to Remanso, PY >
                          • 27/4-2/5/2014 Foz do Iguaco, BR to Asunción, PY >
                            • 24-26/4/2014 Andresito to Puerto Iguazu >
                              • 19-21/4/2014 El Soberbio to San Antonio, AR >
                                • 16-17/4/2014 El Progreso to El Soberbio, AR >
                                  • 13-15/4/2014 Apóstoles to El Progreso >
                                    • 28/3-1/4/2014 Buenos Aires,AR to Paysandu, UY >
                                      • Profile Paysandu to Brazil
                                    • 9-12/4/2014 Tapebicuá to Apóstoles, AR >
                                      • 8/4/2013 Sawmill, north of Bonpland to 3km sth of Tapebicuá
                    • 28-30/5/2014 Concepción to Pedro Juan Caballero PY >
                      • 23-25/5/2014 Aquidaban back to Concepción >
                        • 16-20/5/2014 Tres Gigantes Estación Biologica >
                          • 14-16/5/2014 Vallemi to Bahia Negra on the Aquidaban >
                            • 13/5/2014 Bus trip Concepción to Vallemi
                    • 1-6/6/2014, Pedro Juan Caballero
  • 25/1/2014 USHUAIA
    • 23-24/1/2014 Rio Grande to Rio Lasifashaj >
      • 22-23/1/2013 Punta Arenas, CL to Rio Grande, AR >
        • 16-19/1/2014 Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas >
          • 14-15/1/2014 Torres Del Paine National Park, CL >
            • 8-12/1/2014 El Calafate to Puerto Natales >
              • 1-7/1/2013 Villa O'Higgins, CL to El Calafate, AR >
                • 27-31/12/2013 Cochrane to Villa O'Higgins >
                  • 19-26/12/2013 Coyhaique to Cochrane >
                    • 12-18/12/2013 Rio Santiago Bastia to Coyhaique >
                      • 6-12/12/2013 La Piedra del Gato to Mañihuales >
                        • 5-9/12/2013 Quellón to La Junta, CL >
                          • 29/11/2013 5/12/2013 Castro to Quellón, Chiloe, CL >
                            • 24/11/2013 Puerto Montt to Castro >
                              • 16-23/11/2013, San Martín, AR to Puerto Montt, CL >
                                • 9-14/11/2013 Temuco, CL to San Martín de los Andes, AR
                                • Cunco to Temuco and Santiago by bus
                                • Untitled
                                • 20,21/10/2013 Malargue to Los Frisos,AR
                                • 22-29/10/2013 Las Frisas, AR to Cunco,CL
  • 13/3/2012 Penonomé to Playa Gorgona
    • 14/3/2011 Playa Gorgona to Panama City
    • 15,16/3/2011 Panama City >
      • 14/4/2012, Shelter bay & Gatun Locks >
        • 15,16/4/2012 Canal transit >
          • 17/4/2012 Shelter Bay Marina onboard SV Bijou >
            • Feb 2014, An account of a road trip in New Zealand
          • 18,19/4/2012 Shelter Bay Marina
      • 17.../3/2012 Onboard SV Moondance, Brisas de Amador >
        • 25 March to 9 April, Gorgona, PC,Las Bresas >
          • 11/4/2012, Shelter Bay Marina,SV Bijou
          • 12/4/2012, Shelter Bay, and a bit of exploring
        • 11/3/2012 Las Lajas to Santiago >
          • 12/3/2012, Santiago to Penonomé
  • 7/4/2013 Bella Unión, UY to north of Bonpland, AR
    • 4-6/4/2014 Salto to Bella Unión, UY >
      • 2-3/4/2014 Termas de Guaviyú to Salto
  • Overnight Stop Map
    • 20-27/4/2012 Passage Portobelo to Santa Marta, Colombia
    • 28-29/2012 Santa Marta
  • Chile to Argentina (click on this header for an entry)
    • 6/9/2013 59km up the road camping
    • 7/9/2013 the corner to Paso Jama, Argentina
    • 8/9/2013 Paso Jama to adobe ruins on Salar de Olaroz
    • 9/9/2013 Ruins to south of Susques
    • 10/9/2013 Sth of Susques to bottom of range, camping >
      • 11/9/2013 bottom of the range to Purmamarca
      • 12/9/2013 Purmamarca to Lake campground near Salta >
        • 13,14/9/2013 Dique Cobre Corral to Salta,AR >
          • Salta south >
            • 17/9/2013 Quebrada De Las Conchas to Cafayate
      • 19/9/2013 Cafayate to 15km to Rio El Tesaro, camping >
        • 20/9/2013 Rio El Tesaro to Rio Belén, sth of Hualfin
      • 21/9/2013 Rio Belén to Belén >
        • 22/9/2013 Belén to a creek bed 42km sth
        • 23/9/2013 creek bed to 10km nth of Pituil
        • 25/9/2013 north of Pituil to Chilecito
        • 25-30/9/2013 Chilecito, AR
        • 1-7/10/2013 Chilecito to Caucete, AR >
          • 9-12/10/2013 Caucete to Tunuyán, AR
      • 13-15/10/2013 Caucete to San Rafael, AR >
        • 17/10/2013 San Rafael to Malargue, AR
  • Chile from 28/8/2013
    • 29/8/2013 Ascotán to Chiu Chiu
    • 30/8/2013 Chiu Chiu to Calama, CL
    • 31/8,1/9/2013 Calama to San Pedro de Atacama, CL
  • 20/7/2013 Titicaca area to Bolivian border
    • 20/7/2013 Sicuani to Santa Rosa >
      • 21/7/2013 Santa Rosa to Juliaca >
        • 22/7/2013 Juliaca to 6km past Huancané >
          • 23/2013 Huancané to Conima, camping >
            • 24/7/2013 near Conima, Peru to Puerto Acosta, Bolivia >
              • 25/7/2013 Puerto Acosta to Nth of Ancoraimes
  • 26/7/2013 Nth of Ancoraimes to Achacachi
    • 27/7/2013 Achacachi to Copacabana >
      • 28,29/7/2013 Copacabana BO, Kasani PE, Copa. BO
      • 30/7/2013 Copacabana, BO to Desaguadero, PE
      • 31/7/2013 Desaguadero, PE to El Alto, BO
      • 1,2/8/2013 El Alto to La Paz
      • 3,4,5/8/2013 La Paz
      • 8/08/2103 La Paz to Nth of Ayo Ayo, Camping
      • 9/8/2013 Nth of Ayo Ayo to south of Villa, camping >
        • 10/8/2013 Sth of Villa to just sth of Oruro, camping >
          • 11/8/2013 Sth of Ororo to Sth of Pazna, camping >
            • 12/8/2013 Sth of Poopo to Challapata >
              • 13,to17/8/2013 Challapata to Jirira 18-26/8 to Ollague,Chile
  • Peru 20/4/2013.....
    • 20-22/4/2013, Macará to Olmos, PE
    • 23-27/4/2013 Olmos to Chachapoyas,PE
    • 27/4/2013, Chachapoyas, PE
    • Chachapoyas to Cajamarca, PE >
      • 1/5/2013 Lejmebamba to Cerros de Calla-Calla >
        • 2/5/2013 Cerros de Calla-Calla to Balsas >
          • 3/4/2013 Balsas to a farm house overlooking Limon >
            • 4/5/2013 farm house campsite to south of Celendin >
              • 5,6/5/2013 Sth of Celendin to Cajamarca
    • 7/5/2013 Cajamarca to 9km before Cajabamba >
      • 8/5/2013, 9 km north of Cajabamba to Laguna Sousacocha >
        • 11/5/2013 Haumachuco to Trujillo
        • 9,10/5/2013 Laguna Sausacocha to Huamachuco
      • 18/5/2013 Lima
      • 23-25/5/2013 Trujillo to Caraz, PE >
        • 26,27/5/2013 Caraz to Huaraz, PE >
          • 28/5/2013 Huaraz to 34km south of Pachocoto,PE >
            • 29/5/2013 Farm 25km past Chacapoto to 12km on Huánuco Rd >
              • 30/5/2013,12km up Huanuco road to camp at 4600m >
                • 31/5/2013 near summit to La Union
    • 1/6/2013 Huánaco to camp near Acobamba >
      • 2,3/6/2013 Camping near Acobamba to Huánuco
    • 16/6/2013 Huancayo to Cuzco and Machu Picchu >
      • 16/6/2013 Huancayo to south of Mariscal Cáceres, camping >
        • 17/6/2013 sth Mariscal Cáceres 4km sthLa Esmeralda,camping >
          • 18/6/2013 Sth of La Esmaralda to Huanta >
            • 19/6/2013 Huanta to Ayacucho
  • 22/6/2013 Ayaucucho to top of pass before Ocros, 4200m
    • 23/6/2013 cerca la cumbre a 5km sur de Puente Pampas >
      • 23/6/2013 Sur de Puente Pampas a 5km este de Uripa >
        • 24/6/2013 above Uripa to Andahualas >
          • 25/6/2013 Andahuaylas to 10km below the summit >
            • 26/6/2013 near the summit to Puente Pachachaca >
              • 29/6/2013 Abancay to Curahuasi >
                • 30/6/2013 Curahuasi to a camp on the Rio Apurimac >
                  • 1/7/2013 Rio Apurimac to Izcuchaca >
                    • 2/7/2013 Izcuchaca and Cuzco >
                      • 4,5/7/2013 Izcuchaca to Cuzco >
                        • 9,10,11/7/2013 Cuzco to Machu Picchu >
                          • 11-16/7/2013 Cuzco >
                            • 17/7/2013 Cuzco to Quiquijana camping on el Rio Vilcanota
              • 27,28/6/2013 Puente Pachachaca to Abancay
  • 4/6/2013 Huánuco to just south of Huariaca
    • 5/6/2013 Huariaco to Cerro De Pasco >
      • 7,8/5/2013 Cerro De Pasco >
        • 8/6/2013 Cerro De Pasco to Junín >
          • 9/6/2013 Junín to 20km south of La Aroya, camping >
            • 10/6/2013 Sth of La Aroya to Huancayo
  • Medellín to Ushuaia, 2013 (april 2013 here,)
    • 31/1/13 Riosucio to Anserma >
      • 1/2/2013 Anserma to Cartago >
        • 6/12/2015 to 4/1/2016 South Africa
        • 2/2/2013 Cartago to Buga >
          • 3/2/2013 Buga all day >
            • 4,5/2/2013 Buga to Cali >
              • 6/2/2013 Cali to Piendamo
    • 27/1 Medellín to Bolombolo
    • 28/1 Bolombolo to La Pintada >
      • 29/1/13 La Pintada to Supia >
        • 30/1/13 Supía to Riosucio
      • 8/2/2013 Timbio to El Bordo >
        • 6/3/2013, San Clemente to Manta, EC >
          • 7/3/2013 Manta,EC all day >
            • 9/3/2013, Manta to Tena by bus >
              • 12,13,14,15 Tena to Limoncocha >
                • 16,17/3/2013 Manta >
                  • 18-23 Manta, Galapagos, Manta >
                    • 24,25/3/2013 Manta to Machalilla NP, EC >
                      • 26/3/2013 Machalillo NP to Machalillo >
                        • 27/3/2013 Machalilla to Puerto Lopez >
                          • 228,29,30/3/2013 Puerto Lopez, EC >
                            • Untitled
                            • 31/3/2013, Puerto Lopez to Ayungue, EC
      • 19/2/2013 Otavalo, Ecuador all day >
        • 20/2/2013 Otavalo to Sth of Otón, Ecuador >
          • 21/2/2013 Otón to Quito >
            • 22,23/2/2013 Quito, Hotel Húngaro >
              • 26/2/2013 Quito to Tandapi, EC
      • 27/2/2013 Tandapi to El Carmen, EC >
        • 28/2/2013, El Carmen to Pedernales, EC >
          • 2/3/2013 Pedernales to Tabuga >
            • 3/3/2013 Tabuga to Canoa >
              • 30/4/2012 Last day Santa Marta >
                • 1/5/2012 Santa Marta to Barranquilla
                • 2/5/2012 Barranquilla to Santa Veronica
                • 3/5/2012 Santa Veronica all day >
                  • 4-5/5/2012 Santa Veronica
              • 6-7/5/2012 Santa Veronica >
                • 8,9 &10/5/2012 Santa Veronica
              • 11/5/2012 Santa Veronica to Cartagena >
                • 12/5/2012 Cartagena all day >
                  • 13/5/2012 Cartagena to San Jacinto >
                    • 14/5/2012 San Jacinto to Sincelejo >
                      • 15/5/2012 Sincelejo to San Bernado >
                        • 16/5/2012 San Bernado to Puerto Escondido >
                          • 17,18/ 5 /2012, Puerto Escondido >
                            • 19/5/2012, Puerto Escondido to Planeta Rico >
                              • 20/5/2012 Planeta Rica to Caucasia >
                                • Untitled
                                • Untitled
                                • 21/5/2012, Caucasia to Tarazá >
                                  • 22/5/2012, Tarazá to Valdivia >
                                    • 23/5/2012, Valdivia to Yarumal >
                                      • 24/5/2012, Yarumal for the day >
                                        • 25/5/2012 Yarumal to Santa Rosa de Osos >
                                          • 26/5/2012, Santa Rosa de Osos >
                                            • 27/5/2012, Santa Rosa de Osos to Medellin >
                                              • 28/7 2011, Hannibal to Grafton
              • 5/3/2013, Canoa to San Clemente,EC
      • 9/2/2013 El Bordo to Tablon (April 2013 here) >
        • 1/4/2013 Ayungue to Salinas, EC >
          • 2/4/2013 Salinas to Posorjas,EC >
            • 3/4/2013 Posorja to San Carlos,EC >
              • 4/4/2013, San Carlos to Angas,EC >
                • 5/4/2013, Angas to Soldados, EC >
                  • 6/4/2013, Soldados to Cuenca >
                    • 7-9/4/2013, Cuenca, EC >
                      • 10-14/4/2013 Cuenca to Loja >
                        • 14-18/4/2013 Loja to Macará, EC >
                          • 7/2/2013 Piendamo to Timbio
      • 10,11/2/2013 Tablon to Chacahgui
      • 12/2/2013 Chachagui to Yucuanquer
      • 13,14,15/2/2013 Yucuanquer to Ipiales >
        • 16/2/2013 Ipiales to Bolivar, Ecuador >
          • 17/2/2013 Bolivar to nth of Ibarra, Ecuador >
            • 18/2/2013 Nth of Ibarra to Otavalo, Ecuador
    • Colombia 2012
  • Terrain Profiles
  • Nicaragua
  • Blog
  • Memphis to Venice, LA
  • Home and August entries
    • 8/8/2011 Sweetwater to Salida >
      • 9/8/2011 Salida to 3m North of Cripple Creek, CO >
        • 10/8/2011 Cripple Creek to Phantom Canyon >
          • 11/8/2011 Phantom Canyon to Pueblo >
            • 12/8/2011 Kansa to Warrensberg, MO >
              • 13/8/2011 Warrensberg to Clinton, MO >
                • 14/8/2011 Clinton to Sedalia >
                  • 15/8/2011 Sedalia to Tipton >
                    • 16/8/2011 Tipton all day >
                      • 17/8/2011 Tipton to Red Oak Park ,Lake of the Ozarks >
                        • 18/8/2011 Lake of the Ozarks all Day >
                          • 19/8/2011 Red Oak all day >
                            • 20/8/2011 Red Oak Park to Boonville >
                              • 21/8/2011 Boonville to Columbia >
                                • 22/8/2011 Columbia all day >
                                  • Untitled
                                  • 22/8/2011 Columbia to Portland >
                                    • 24/8/2011 Portland to Defiance >
                                      • 25/8/2011 Machens to Portage Des Sioux >
                                        • 26,27,28/8/2011Portage Des Sioux to Alton >
                                          • 29/8/2011 Alton to Columbia >
                                            • 30/8/2011 Columbia to Chester >
                                              • 31/8/2011 Chester to Grand Tower >
                                                • 1/9/2011 Grand Tower, IL to Wickliffe, KY >
                                                  • 2/9/2011 Wickliffe to Columbia, KY >
                                                    • 5/9/2011Tiptonville TN to Ripley TN
                                                    • Untitled
                                                    • 3-4/9/2011 Colmbus to Hickman, KY >
                                                      • 6/9/2011 Ripley Meeman- Shelby SP >
                                                        • Untitled
                                                        • 7/9/2011 Meeman-Shelby to Memphis
    • The proposed itinerary
    • A few words about the river
    • My Bike
    • Journal- Intro
    • Journal Entries late July early August >
      • 29/7/11 Grafton all day >
        • 30/7/2011 Grafton To Alton >
          • 31/7/11 Alton all day >
            • 1/8/2011 Alton all day >
              • 2,3/8/2011 Alton to Colarado Springs >
                • 3/8/2011 Colarado Springs >
                  • 4/8/2011, Colarado Springs >
                    • 5/8/2011 Colarado Springs Day 2
                  • 6/8/2011 Pueblo Dakota Springs >
                    • 7/8/2011 Dakota Hot Springs to Texas Creek >
                      • 7/8/2011 Dakota Hot springs to Texas Creek
    • The Gear list
  • Sydney to International Falls
    • IF to Northome >
      • Northome to Three Island Lake >
        • Three Island Lake to Itasca State Park >
          • Itasca Park full day 1 >
            • Itasca Park full day 2
  • Itasca to 4m north of Walker
    • 21/6/11 Walker to dare I say it Park Rapids
    • 22/6/11 Park Rapids all day >
      • 23/6/11 Park Rapids to sth of Walker
    • 24/6/11 Sth of Walker to Oak Haven Resort
    • 25/6/11 Oak Haven to Bena
    • 26/6/11 Bena for the day >
      • 27/6/11 Bena, from my tent to the shop and back
  • 28/6/11 Bena to Grand Rapids
  • 29/06/11 Grand Rapids to Pallisade
    • 30/06/11 Palisade to Crosby
    • 1/07/11 Crosby to Royalton
    • 2/07/2011 Royalton to St Cloud >
      • 3/07/2011 St Cloud to Monticello >
        • 4/7/2011 Monticello to Ham Lake >
          • Ham Lake all day >
            • 6/7/2011 Ham Lake to Prescott, WI >
              • 7/6/2011 Prescott to Pepin
          • 8/7/2011 Pepin to Perrot SP
    • 9/7/2011 Perrot SP to Wabasha, MN
  • 10/7/2011 Wabasha to Hastings
  • 16-17/1/2015 Luxor to Aswan
  • Zambia 7-30/9/2015
  • 11/7/2011 Hastings to Wabasha
    • 12/7/2011 Wabasha to Lansing,IA >
      • 13/7/2011 Lansing all day >
        • 14/7/2011 Lansing to Pikes Peak SP >
          • 15/7/2011 Pikes peak SP to Dubuque, IA >
            • 16/7/2011, Dubuque to Bellevue >
              • 17/7/2011, Pleasant Creek CG all day >
                • 18/7/2011, Pleasant Creek CG all day >
                  • 19/7/2011, Bellevue to Silvas, IL
          • 20/7/2011, Moline for the Day >
            • 21/7/2011, Moline to Loud Thunder Park >
              • 22/7/2011, Loud Thunder park to Keithsberg >
                • 23/07/2011, Keithbergs to Fort madison, IA >
                  • 24/7/2011, Fort Madison to Nauvoo
                • 25/7/2011, Nauvoo to Quincy >
                  • 26/7/2011 Quincy all day
    • Granada to Panama, Feb 27 >
      • 9, 10/3/2011 Servo to Playa Las Lajas
  • 8/5/2017 Tehran
13/10/2013 Tunuyán to 5km sth of Las Carretas

D58, T3/4, Av18.97, Max44, Tot20582, 10781

Just the perfect spring Sunday, calm, clear 26°


Arising early, my blog was updated. The other night at Martins in the dark typing somehow, the whole Argentinean document disappeared never to be recovered.

Luckily, it is on the web. So, four days had to be updated. The sooner events can be recorded the better. A much more vivid description of things can be portrayed soon after the event.

Fortunately, the web was fast in Tunuyán.

I am now captioning the photographs in Spanish. My own vocab and a dictionary are being used. Google translate is of no help to me from a learning point of view. It is also very literal in its translations.

An empty long neck had to be returned to a Kiosco and a few things bought at Vea.

 On my return to the hostal, the owner Hugo, came in for a chat.

He rides mountain bikes. He asked me into his house to meet his wife and family.

We shared Mate and generally just yarned.

So much for an early start. Lunch of empanadas, red wine and ice cream was enjoyed in the company of his family.

These empanadas made by Bibi were just the best, the number consumed was beyond count.

I am finding many Argentineans are very much like Australians and Kiwis.

They enjoy BBQ’s, sport, a drink, food and a good laugh about most things and above all are super friendly.

I finally got away about 1400 and slowly meandered south on the flat road.

It was such a beautiful spring day, no wind, and warm with a clear sky.

There were many apple orchards, some with hail protection in place and almost growing in the espalier system

The Andes were lining the horizon to the west. Today they were not so hazy.

In Pareditas, a stop for bananas was made, from here the road forked, the main road, asphalt took a loop to San Rafael, the other, gravel. The route to San Rafael was taken.

There were gauchos (A cowboy of the South American pampas) riding along the road side in the vegetation.

They were in groups.

Soon the pueblito of La Correta was arrived at, a fiesta was in process with a band playing, people dancing and Gauchos with their horses everywhere.

A stop for half an hour was made listening to the band and talking to a couple of guys on the roadside.

Everyone was having a great time. Plenty of borachos were about.

It was too risky to leave the bike somewhere and participate.

I had a good view with others from the road sitting on the guard rail.

By now the need for a camp was arising.

Some 5km down the road, which now was just running through dry sandy country, again with almost no vegetation.

It was all fenced.

Soon a farm house was arrived at. Pulling in off the road, a man was seen to be watering plants around the house.

Asking him if I could set up my tent for the night on his property, he said it was fine.

His name was Jose, he had a 1000 acres here, growing beef and potatoes. It was really desert country. He had plenty of ground water so was lucky. Around the house the water was 70m underground but had to be pumped up.

I set up under some shelter trees on a good slope to assure a sound sleep.

I had been carrying a full load of water all day so did not require any. Fried potatoes were enjoyed with salami and bread.

A cat came and hung around the camp, eating whatever it could find. It is the first time observations of a cat eating potato peels had been witnessed. Life is tough out here and opportunists are the survivors.

14/10/2013 Joses place to Las Paredes

D85, T3.4/6, Av23, Max47, Tot 20666, 10866

Broken cloud and warm, light winds


Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open.

- Thomas Dewar

Up early and sneaking off down to the paddocks to do some knee bending out of harms way, a cloudy day was in the making, though it was still mild.

Back at the house José’s workers were turning up. They were planting more Poplar trees for wind breaks and shade.

Last night José had wet all the sand around the house and watered all the trees.. This had created a microclimate. For the first time for weeks there was dew on the tent.

José was thanked and he gave me a full bladder of water for the 80km of road without facilities.

Farms are good to camp at, though there are always animals hanging about and their waste and fur or feathers are always about under foot.

Camping in an environment unused by man always feels cleaner. It may be dusty but always clean dust. Camping in that disused house the other night, left me feeling positively dirty after being covered in the dust inside the building.

Give me a dusty creek bed any day.

Out on the road, a very gentle incline was being negotiated for miles. Then a vista become available, the first time for a while, a lot of country could be seen from an elevated position.

From here, a great 7km cruise down was enjoyed, not fast but so nice not to have to pedal after so much flat country for most of Ruta 40 for the last couple of weeks.

This ended at the dry bed of Arroyito Las Peñas

Hunger soon set in and at the 50km mark, salami and Martins dulce were enjoyed on bread, not together one might add.

Traffic was reasonably heavy. The road was dead straight in many parts.

Some cars, mainly European, Mercs, VW’s, and Peugeots were flying past, some at speeds in excess of 150km/hr I guessed.

Most countries here do not have traffic police outside the cities.

Some guys were driving a front end loader along the roads edge, they were asked for water, as my drinking bottles were almost dry, they had little.

Soon, quite unexpectedly, the pueblito of Las Paredes was arrived at, just before reaching town, a VW pickup pulled over, an arm was extended outside the passenger front window, in the hand was a bottle of drink.

It was the same guy who had been driving the front-end loader. It was a large bottle of icy lemon.

Gestures like this, never cease to amaze me here in South America, the people have been absolutely so kind when it comes to unexpected gestures.

Once in the urban area, a kiosco was stopped at. The people had accommodation.

It was a full size house, two bedrooms, kitchen etc. Deciding to stay the night, a Mate was made.

From here, three hours sleep was enjoyed on the big comfortable bed.

I never realised how worn out I was. Riding this flat country, though it is easy, you are generally pedalling the whole way. Big distances are ridden, alot of energy is required to do so however.

My weight now, is at a steady 64kg, eat what may. It is a healthy weight but doesn’t leave much leeway if one was to fall sick or get diarrhoea again.

Hopefully, now well away from the tropics and that oh so! delicious street food in Ecuador and Peru, my health will stay as it should be.

Some washing was done, it got a good smoking while I was asleep, the owner was heating up the house hot water with wood in the burner alongside the dwelling.

Many people heat hot water like this. It is rapid and does not require the water to be kept warm all day. They only heat it when needed.

With all the Eucalypts growing around towns, wood is not an issue. 

15/10/2013  Las Paredes to San Rafael

D16, T1, Av17.45, Max33, Tot20682, 10882

Lovely clean fresh air after the nights rain

Last night, a noise was heard on the roof of “my house” All be it for one night!.

I could not believe it, rain was falling without introduction. It was almost unbelievable, proper rain like this, had not been experienced for all of five months.

What’s more, it was coupled with an electrical display, there is nothing better than climbing into bed nice and cosy with rain coming down on a tin roof.

New homes, today, deprive many of this experience with insulation under iron or tile rooves.

It was quite bizarre, that my accommodation for the night was here.

The day had  intentions attached to it. Those of camping. Intentions, in many ways, nothing more than the word at the beginning of  this sentence. .

Standing under the carport, the gentle rain vertically dissected the view that was revealed in the reflection of the streetlights from the roundabout at the front of the property. .

At some stage, setting up the tent and packing up, is going to have to be performed in rain. Not since Ecuador, has this been done, even then the rain had ceased.

Hopefully, prior, to when it becomes common place, as it may well do, further south.

I have thought alot about this and feel the tarp may come in very handy, being set up first, enabling the erection of the tent beneath it in a somewhat dry environment.

I dare not think of a rain coupled with a wind scenario.

Prior to going to bed, a movie starring Matt Damon was enjoyed. It depicted a large  company with two reps in country Pennsylvania trying to buy up rural properties for the extraction of gas using fracking.

It was a movie depicting the company, rightly so, as the bad guys, in a small rural town. It was a feel good movie, offering money over lifestyle and values. The latter two prevailed.

The gentle sound of rain on the roof was an elixir for a rapid departure from the conscious world.

Leaving about 0830, there was a bike track alongside the road. The highway, not having a shoulder, made this alternative almost mandatory.

Ambling along, another cyclist joined me. He had just finished work as a security guard for the night, a nice young guy. He also had a day job painting.

He and his brother rented a house in San Rafael, for 800 p/mth, even at bank rates that’s $A40/wk. Though, wages here, for normal people do not allow them to afford much more.

Lucky you, if you are making good money in AR!

We rode together chatting all the way to town.

Outside a huge Vea supermarket, a guy was selling fresh asparagus and bananas from Ecuador. The asparagus were put on the back of the bike, the bananas were demolished en situ.

A woman came up to chat at length, it was very lucky, she kicked the stand and the bike fell on her thigh. The vendor and I reacted immediately. We were all very lucky.

The occurrence saw us all laughing at its conclusion. Though, I was concerned, she had been hurt. Importantly, injury had been avoided.

Riding on, the town had a nice feeling about it, trees lined the streets, they were wide, kerbs likewise and the atmosphere permeated an ease.

There were lots of ski hire shops and fishing gear establishments.

Lonely Planet had listed the hostel Tierrasoles as fairly affordable. This was located.

Right now is very quiet here for tourism, a dorm to myself was booked.

The place had a great feel about it. That of “my gear is ok here”

The rest of the morning, before the shops closed at 1300 or there abouts, was spent getting a new battery installed in my watch, and wandering.

The road from here to Chile, will see me cover some distances where tiendas, or “kioscos” now, are not passed for a day or two at a time.

A bus was caught back to the large Vea supermarket.

For the first time since commencing, meat was bought to cook. With it, green beans and broccoli were going to compliment the asparagus.

A good dose of blanched green veges with a steak was needed. The hostal had a great kitchen with all utensils at my disposal. The facility was everso welcome.

Leaving the supermarket, no bus was about, so the 8 blocks to the hostal was trodden.

Like most towns here in western AR, siesta time is just that, everything is literally closed. Except for a few kioscos and the bigger supermarkets. The streets resemble those of a ghost town. People have told me, over on the coast, the practice is not so widely spread within the retail sector.

Those plastic bags really play havoc on the circulation in your fingers when they are carried for any length of time. The journey was a mobile game of musical shopping bags, trying to relieve the enormous pressure per square inch near the terminus of fingers on both hands.

The afternoon was spent, hanging about, talking with the owner, Ricardo, a cool guy, about the roads ahead and enjoying a malbec.

More wine has been drunk in the last three weeks than in the last eight months. After all, my location is in one of the world’s great wine producing regions. That of Mendoza.

Drinking, for me now is a very insignificant part of my life.

Indulging, is only done, when deep in my sub conscious, I feel relaxed about my belongings.

 I have my home, my kitchen, my transport, my clothing, most of my food, my identification and my tool for communicating within easy reach of most people near me.

Unless their security is comfortably resolved, my social activities are, as always, enthusiastic but always in control. After all, this jaunt, through, this most fascinating and burgeoning of continents on this planet, is not a holiday.

It is a journey, a look at another language, experiencing other cultures, giving my body and mind a break from the monotony of 21st century life.

That where. Sadly, many people are caught up in the expectations of others.

I was guilty of that at times. “A breath of fresh air” best describes my disposition now, for lack of better words.

As my limited knowledge of Spanish increases, so does the richness of my social experiences.

Thinking, only just yesterday, as the asphalt and the gravel that give it durability, passed beneath my vision ahead of the front wheel, how my experiences here in South America have slowly gotten richer from a social aspect.

Back at Caucete, Hugo and Bibi, would have, possibly not invited me in for lunch, had we not been able to communicate beyond hello, good ,nice, thankyou, yes, no.

After all, the only reason to learn a language is to communicate.

For most people travelling today, especially those on organised tours, the experience is largely visual only. Interactions, generally, are limited to locals who know how to play the game.

I have experienced these holidays. They are an escape from work, nothing much else.

Moving on beyond my thoughts and opinions...............

 A brilliant meal of grilled steak, upon, which laid scattered garlic, pepper and crushed salt from the Salar de Uyuni was on one plate. Stacked high, in another, within arms reach, on the table, was a “ to die for” bowl of subtly butter bathed asparagus, green beans and broccoli. (blanched)  

For me. Now, at this point in my life. The anticipation, excitement, challenge, euphoria, expectations, possibilities, coupled with the road ahead, allow me to have so much more than glancing interest in my immediate future.

The financial demands from this sort of life are not a huge drain on funds accumulated throughout my working life, thankfully.

In short.

 Life for me now, is now one big adventure, maybe, this is where, we, as humans have lost the plot to some extent.

This real adventure, is now being replaced, and in many cases, by the pursuit of money and upon success, receiving the praise of others for doing so.

Ones holidays, in their excesses, only reflect all of the above. Within this reflection, the cycle is perpetuated.

Can I take this opportunity for one to take a little time out and look at your life.

If you are really happy, my hat is off to you. If not, how do you want to grow old and who with?

Or, more importantly, what do you want to do with your good health.

Of all the gifts we have been bestowed, health is the most sacrosanct.

Oh, the spillage from a guy in his late fifites, living childhood dreams and not acting as possibly expected, ah! So refreshing.

Believe me. Your body and mind will only thank for this kind of behaviour!!! Whatever it is.



PictureBibi, Hugo conmigo y ellos perritos.

PictureFiesta, domingo en Las Carretas

PictureFinca de José

PictureHostal en Las Paredes, Tuve este edificio solo

Picture
Muy tranquilo, manzanas estuvieron creciendo en las fincas.
PictureGauchito entusiasta!

PictureRio Las Peñas, muy seca con muchas arena.

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