9/9/2013 Ruins to south of Susques
D57, T3.42, Av15.48, Max66, Tot 18757, 9595
Warm and sunny
It was great not to be slightly cool in bed. Having said this, I arose at 0600, it was not to cold.
The morning was calm. I actually got on the road at 0800. The earliest start for months.
Soon the road took me away from the salar and up a range. Once at the top it was an easy cruise all the way to Susques. Arriving here at about 1100, I bought water and more provisions.
As usual here in Argentina they don’t have change generally under 2 pesos. It is all due to inflation. So one has to buy things in lieu of the change.
Lunch was enjoyed at a popular restaurant, the whole time was spent talking to two guys round my age.
The main source of employment here is in a lithium mine. A steak, rice and salad followed by soup were enjoyed.
Susques is in a river valley, from here it was a climb out. It was so nice to be in some different terrain. Two woman were seen on the side of the road tending a large herd of llama.
The road was a series of descents into gullies and back up again. It made for enjoyable riding.
Come 1500, I felt like an early finish. My gloves needed repairing and enjoying the mid afternoon sun with a cup of tea and sweet biscuits was a high priority.
A gavel stockpile was seen, getting behind this, a good campsite was found. It was nice to have my shirt off and enjoy time out. Yams were boiled and soup had for dinner.
My tent needed a good bit of housekeeping after last night’s events.
The temperature now is really pleasant. A couple of llamas wandered by my camp.
This is a reminder to me of where I am. They are such cool animals. You just want to go and pat them, they come in such a variety of colours and patterns, one of these two was an ochre colour with a different shade of brown only on its short tail.
They really are trendsetters with their choice of colours for their coats.
They country is still treeless and is only covered in small shrubs with the odd cacti, it is very rocky and really is the next rung up the ladder after desert.
Around the salar Olaroz, desert would best describe the landscape.
It is so nice to be healthy for an extended period, no street food out here!
D57, T3.42, Av15.48, Max66, Tot 18757, 9595
Warm and sunny
It was great not to be slightly cool in bed. Having said this, I arose at 0600, it was not to cold.
The morning was calm. I actually got on the road at 0800. The earliest start for months.
Soon the road took me away from the salar and up a range. Once at the top it was an easy cruise all the way to Susques. Arriving here at about 1100, I bought water and more provisions.
As usual here in Argentina they don’t have change generally under 2 pesos. It is all due to inflation. So one has to buy things in lieu of the change.
Lunch was enjoyed at a popular restaurant, the whole time was spent talking to two guys round my age.
The main source of employment here is in a lithium mine. A steak, rice and salad followed by soup were enjoyed.
Susques is in a river valley, from here it was a climb out. It was so nice to be in some different terrain. Two woman were seen on the side of the road tending a large herd of llama.
The road was a series of descents into gullies and back up again. It made for enjoyable riding.
Come 1500, I felt like an early finish. My gloves needed repairing and enjoying the mid afternoon sun with a cup of tea and sweet biscuits was a high priority.
A gavel stockpile was seen, getting behind this, a good campsite was found. It was nice to have my shirt off and enjoy time out. Yams were boiled and soup had for dinner.
My tent needed a good bit of housekeeping after last night’s events.
The temperature now is really pleasant. A couple of llamas wandered by my camp.
This is a reminder to me of where I am. They are such cool animals. You just want to go and pat them, they come in such a variety of colours and patterns, one of these two was an ochre colour with a different shade of brown only on its short tail.
They really are trendsetters with their choice of colours for their coats.
They country is still treeless and is only covered in small shrubs with the odd cacti, it is very rocky and really is the next rung up the ladder after desert.
Around the salar Olaroz, desert would best describe the landscape.
It is so nice to be healthy for an extended period, no street food out here!