Riding to EL FIN DEL MUNDO between 21 January - 10 February 2018.
Day-9 (30 January 2018) : Parador Austral >>> Governador Gregores (440 km)
After the breakfast at the Hotel Parador Austral, around 09:00, we took the gravel road to Va. Chacabuco. It is one of the most beautiful and scenic routes but also the toughest !! We had taken the road to Paso R. Raballos. The weather was nice and sunny but little bit cool.
Before the Pass Raballos we stopped at the Patagonia Natural Park for coffee. There was a beautiful building at the entrance where we could have coffee. There was also a short airfield and a small plane.
After the coffee break we continued to Passo Raballos and then we stopped at the border crossing. There are a few buildings belonging to the Chilean Army. As usual we made the paper work here for getting out from Chile. There was some wind blowing us in the direction to Argentina.
After that we came to the Argentinian border authority. The officer wanted to handle us little bit impolitely. But one of our guys proposed to take picture with the motor bikes and he calmed down and behaved better.
The road was getting longer and longer because we were getting hungry and thirsty. At the end we reached to the junction with the asphalt road Route 40. The only fuel stop,in Bajo Caracoles- a small village in the middle of nowhere. We bought fuel and also some sandwiches and soft drinks. The gas station functions also as a hotel, coffee shop and drugstore. It is like an oasis in the desert.
I shared most of my sandwich with dogs.After finishing all paperwork we started to ride on the gravel road. There was also some rain but not disturbing us very much. The road condition went worse. Somewhere maybe in the mid section I felt down to the left side because of the loose gravel on the road. I was lucky the ground was soft and loose therefore I did not experienced bad things. The sky was nice but there was heavy wind blowing us.
The bike,BMW 1200 GS of Jeff had got some problem and therefore we had to put this into the Van of Motoavventura. Jeff took the bike (Yamaha Supertenere 1200) of one of our guides and Christian -our guide- followed us in the Van.
The Route 40 which took us to the South direction was wonderful with pavement but the wind. A very strong wind (maybe 70 km/hr) was pushing us from West to East. Concentrated to the road and to the wind we came to the city Governador Gregores.
We first filled up our tanks and then entered the Hosteria Lago Cardiel. It is a 3rd class Hotel. I believe that there is no better one in this town !
Sadik has got some problem with his neck. He supposed that the wind has caused him this
and 3-4 fingers of his left hand were weak now. The weakness of his left hand fingers caused us to be careful for the on going days.
We ate altogether at Hotel restaurant and we went to bed early.
Before the Pass Raballos we stopped at the Patagonia Natural Park for coffee. There was a beautiful building at the entrance where we could have coffee. There was also a short airfield and a small plane.
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| Border and buildings of Chile |
After that we came to the Argentinian border authority. The officer wanted to handle us little bit impolitely. But one of our guys proposed to take picture with the motor bikes and he calmed down and behaved better.
The road was getting longer and longer because we were getting hungry and thirsty. At the end we reached to the junction with the asphalt road Route 40. The only fuel stop,in Bajo Caracoles- a small village in the middle of nowhere. We bought fuel and also some sandwiches and soft drinks. The gas station functions also as a hotel, coffee shop and drugstore. It is like an oasis in the desert.
I shared most of my sandwich with dogs.After finishing all paperwork we started to ride on the gravel road. There was also some rain but not disturbing us very much. The road condition went worse. Somewhere maybe in the mid section I felt down to the left side because of the loose gravel on the road. I was lucky the ground was soft and loose therefore I did not experienced bad things. The sky was nice but there was heavy wind blowing us.
The bike,BMW 1200 GS of Jeff had got some problem and therefore we had to put this into the Van of Motoavventura. Jeff took the bike (Yamaha Supertenere 1200) of one of our guides and Christian -our guide- followed us in the Van.
The Route 40 which took us to the South direction was wonderful with pavement but the wind. A very strong wind (maybe 70 km/hr) was pushing us from West to East. Concentrated to the road and to the wind we came to the city Governador Gregores.
We first filled up our tanks and then entered the Hosteria Lago Cardiel. It is a 3rd class Hotel. I believe that there is no better one in this town !
Sadik has got some problem with his neck. He supposed that the wind has caused him this
and 3-4 fingers of his left hand were weak now. The weakness of his left hand fingers caused us to be careful for the on going days.
We ate altogether at Hotel restaurant and we went to bed early.
Day-10 (31 January 2018) : Governador Gregores >>> El Chalten (380 km)
The breakfast at the Hosteria Lago Cardiel was not good.But better than nothing !
The morning was windy. The sky was blue. Our guides briefed us after the breakfast and they changed the route to Tres Lagos. Because of the heavy West wind the main road Route 40 has been washed with sand and mud. It was dangerous to ride or drive and the road was closed. Therefore we took the other road which took us Southeast to the
Ea. La Julia. The road conditions up to La Julia (approx.115 km) was good. After that junction we took Route 288 in the direction West. It is gravel road (approx 140 kms) but with good quality. The gravel is not loose and we could ride fast like 80-90 km/h. Both side of the road were empty and not populated. We could see only 3-5 vehicles in 140 km distance. The only bad thing was the wind from head. We stopped in two or three points for rest. It is like desert around us.
We passed the town Punta Piedra and then we arrived at Tres Lagos. There, we stopped in a fuel station and filled up our tanks. The wind was very strong and was also getting stronger. We ate some biscuits, empanada and bought coffee for lunch. We had to pay cash for the fuel. Travelers with vehicles must be prepared for cash payments at the fuel stations!
After a break of 40 minutes or something we continued our way. We merged to Route 40. The road conditions are very well. Then we took the right in the direction to El Chalten. The Route 23 was also good but the wind was so strong that it was really difficult to hold the bikes on the road.
getting closer to El Chalten we lost most of energy against the wind and for controlling the bikes. Almost the whole distance from the junction to El Chalten (approx. 100 km) was terrible because of the West Wind.
When we came to El Chalten we found our Hotel "Chalten Suites". It is a nice Hotel with a parking lot for our bikes. El Chalten is a touristic town and good for trekking, hiking and such activities.
After a shower and a short rest in the Hotel we made a small tour in El Chalten.
At the hotel lobby I met our guys and we fixed a restaurant (Viejo Nindo) for dinner and we met there at 21:30. I bought T-shirts for my son and nephew. Some pictures from El Chalten.
Sadik did not come out with us. He wanted to take a massage at the Hotel and then to sleep early. He suffers from his neck and weakness of his fingers of his left hand. We ate lamb and drank red wine altogether. We paid 1,100.-A$ per person.
The breakfast at the Hosteria Lago Cardiel was not good.But better than nothing !
The morning was windy. The sky was blue. Our guides briefed us after the breakfast and they changed the route to Tres Lagos. Because of the heavy West wind the main road Route 40 has been washed with sand and mud. It was dangerous to ride or drive and the road was closed. Therefore we took the other road which took us Southeast to the
Ea. La Julia. The road conditions up to La Julia (approx.115 km) was good. After that junction we took Route 288 in the direction West. It is gravel road (approx 140 kms) but with good quality. The gravel is not loose and we could ride fast like 80-90 km/h. Both side of the road were empty and not populated. We could see only 3-5 vehicles in 140 km distance. The only bad thing was the wind from head. We stopped in two or three points for rest. It is like desert around us.
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| Michael and I during one of the rest stops. |
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| At the fuel station at Tres Lagos |
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| Robert, Nick and Kevin resting in the drugstore of the Tank Station at Tres Lagos |
getting closer to El Chalten we lost most of energy against the wind and for controlling the bikes. Almost the whole distance from the junction to El Chalten (approx. 100 km) was terrible because of the West Wind.
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| El Chalten |
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| El Chalten is behind me. |
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| Our Hotel in El Chalten |
At the hotel lobby I met our guys and we fixed a restaurant (Viejo Nindo) for dinner and we met there at 21:30. I bought T-shirts for my son and nephew. Some pictures from El Chalten.
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| Dinner together with our friends :- Geoff, Robert, Kevin (US), Nick, Kevin (UK) |
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| Chickpeas with meat :- Very tasty starter. |
