Patagonia

To night I am coming to you from Tilly a small town south of Rivadavia Patagonia, 1300 km’s from Ushuaia. The goal is so close now I can almost taste it. Just two more days and I will be at the end of the world.

I set out from Buenos Aires last Saturday with Fabrizio and his wife Jeff. We rode to Azul, which is a nice little town south of Buenos Aires. It was relaxing and an easy day getting back into riding. But more importantly it was good to go riding with my new friends and perfect hosts in Buenos Aires.  They really couldn’t have been better! Thanks Guys!

In the evening we had one of the famous Argentina Asados. Basically an all you can eat BBQ, with a great selection of meat, topped off with some wine. Following day I rode the 1000kms to Puerto Madryn.  I arrived tired and smelly. Deciding to save money I found a campsite, where I pitched my tent. Actually it turned out to be really good. Hot showers and a great bunch of people, who even wanted to share their food and beer with me! Bike really is a good conversation starter. They are on an overland bus tour of South America, so I may even see them again in Ushuaia. Just outside of town I went to see some Sealions (Lobos Marinos) which really are noisy! You can see them on the beach below

Today was a day to remember. It started in Puerto Madryn, where I opened my day with two dives. They were my first dives since Colombia. The first dive was to a reef and the second my first shipwreck. It was good to get back in the water again even if the visibility was very poor and the water was much colder than the Caribbean.  The wreck dive was quite challenging visibility was about 2 meters and we were moving in such a tight space. It was cool though.  People in the Lobo Larsen dive centre were really friendly, and after a beer, some matte and a natter I was back on the bike heading south.

First stop was Gaiman a quaint wee Welsh settlement in southern Argentina. It even comes complete with a tea house opened by Diana Princess of Wales. I had to stop for a cup. Tea is served in a large tea pot complete with your Granny’s tea-cosy and a selection of cakes, sandwiches and scones. I have to admit that I devoured the lot! And drank about 6 cups of tea!!  Have to keep an eye on my panchito!

So filled with tea and buns I was back on the bike heading south. The famed wind of Patagonia really only kicked in north of Rivadavia. It’s vicious when it hits, some really strong gusts. But mostly the riding has been pretty consistent, if a little monotonous.

Strangely I have found a calm tranquillity in it. You really have time to get lost in your thoughts driving along. Just me my thoughts and the bike. I think I know all its idiosyncrasies by now.  But what did occur to me today was that the hardest thing about achieving anything is defeating first yourself. I think we are our own worst enemy in a way. Once you can convince yourself and get over your own self doubt, you can achieve anything. So on that philosophical note I will leave you.