We left Osorno during peak traffic and were glad to get on the open road on our way to San Carlos de Barriloche. Quite cool and overcast at first with the weather getting gloomier despite a positive weather forecast. The first rural town (if one can call it a town) was Entre Lagos (Entry to the lakes), which turned out to be just that because we experienced for the rest of the day the most beautiful scenery with huge lakes fringed by natural forests growing on the slopes of the Andes mountains which were almost without exception capped with snow. Probably the most beautiful scenes that one will find with crystal clear rapid flowing mountain streams and rivers in natural forest greeted us in the middle section of the Andes (which incidentally stretches for about 60 to 80 km between Chile and Argentina). However, the scenes around the lakes at Barriloche were stunning in their own right, resulting in this area to be clearly very popular with Argentineans who invest in “lake board” real estate.
The section from Barriloche to Bolson, where we stayed for the night was totally different with wild flowers to give Namaqualand in September a run for its money. Sections of the Andes Mountains in the background are totally barren with no vegetation and massive granite rock faces that are almost overwhelming.
The passage through the first two of 12 border posts that we will negotiate went quite smoothly and although the officials do not understand anything but Espanola, they were quite prepared to assist. We hope it will remain like that!! Excluding the initial section from Osorno to the Andes Mountains, which is mostly rural farm area with fairly straight roads, the roads follow the curves of the mountains. I estimate more than 80% of the entire road length comprises curves of varying radii. This really keeps you on your toes (proverbially) and demands absolute concentration and also makes for a lot of fun.
We arrived in Bolson at 18h00 after a long day and immediately tried the local beer brewed in the town before we looked for accommodation.
All in all a very successful day and in which we covered close on 500km to give us a little more flexibility on the gravel sections and in the nature reserves.
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| Typical scenery at Barriloche, Argentina. |
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| Dawid explaining the purpose of the tour to some interested hotel guests in Osorno, Chile. |
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| Parilla for 2 at the restaurant in El Bolson; should have been Parilla for 4 but then this is Argentina! |
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| Mini market at Entre Lagos, Chile |
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| Winding down in El Bolson, Argentina after the first day's ride |
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| Lake Scene near La Angostura, Argentina |
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| Lake scene near San Carlos de Barriloche, Argentina |
Wow in tipiese dirty old man styl toer julle! Wyn en Jazz en awesome stuff! En die fietse is pragtig...die old school tipe...ek is baie jaloers! Wel gedaan met die goeie hantering van al die krisisse ook! Dis interessant dat Santiago bietjie van 'n wereld stad is...ek het eintlik net stofstrate verwag! ASSEBLIEF post nog foto's! Ons verlang baie! En lekker ry...you know: Look up, stand up, open up! :)
ReplyDeletexx Anthea
Laat asb weet wat aangaan. Ons is op Kleinbrak en dit reen!! Vandag lekker dag gehad - lui en gaan stap. Die omgewing lyk pragtig daar by julle. Gaan vanaand bietjie oplees oor die platteland daar by julle. Dit lyk my die omgewing en mense oortref mens se stoutste verwagtinge. Mooi ry en ons mis julle - maar geniet dit en ry veilig. Ons vakansie klink so vervelig teen julle s'n!! Liefde, Sandra
lyk baie interessant. hoe hou julle sitvlakke? Geniet! Groete, Pierre
ReplyDeleteAwesome guys!
ReplyDeleteKeep posting more pictures as we want to share the feast your eyes are having :)
It seems the local beer did not make much of an impact on your taste buds?
Let the photos flow to keep us tuned to what's unfolding in Chileland.
Cheers
Chris and Riette