PATAGONIA Tour on Motorcycle-09 February 2018 Day 19

SOUTH AMERICA / PATAGONIA TOUR with MOTORCYCLE
Riding to EL FIN DEL MUNDO between 21 January - 10 February 2018.

Day-19 (09 February 2018) :  Rio Grande>>>Punta Arenas (416 km)

Last Day of our Patagonia Trip:- from Rio Grande to Punta Arenas

It will be a long day today. It is also our last day on the Patagonia Tour. We have got more then 400 km for today. We woke up a little bit earlier then usual. At 08:00 we had got our briefing. We departed from the Hotel around 08:15 and followed the streets in the down town. We moved to the coastal road and then started to follow the route all along the Atlantic Ocean. We saw some monuments related to the Heroes Malvinas (=Heroes of Falkland Islands). 
We were heading San Sabastian where there is the exit border of Argentina. When we came to San Sabastian we stopped at the small fuel station and I spent all my Argentinian Dollars by filling up my tank. Then we moved to the Argentinian border office and finished the procedures. At 10:00, we continued on the gravel road and after 14 kms we arrived at the Chilean border office. We finished the procedures there and after 45 minutes we were again at the café (=Hosteria La Frontera) where we had stopped 3 days ago.

We drank coffee and I bought some snacks and then we left altogether in the direction to Cerro Sombrero. We followed the route as indicated on the map above. Gravel roads were of good quality. The weather was nice and the sky was blue. When we arrived at the fuel station of Cerro Sombrero it was 12:45 and we had waited for the end of lunch break. We finished all or work at the fuel station in 45 minutes. It is always like this with the group.
Everything takes long time. Long and long ! 

There was strong wind between Cerro Sombrero and Bahia Azul. The ferry took us from Tierra del Fuego to the mainland, Punta Delgada. On the other side we stopped again at the same restaurant and ordered our food and cokes. The lady is very smart and fast with the orders. She takes first all the orders and give them to the kitchen and then she starts to collect the money from those who have already ordered and waiting at the queue. While paying the bill in advance the food is prepared in lots in the kitchen. Almost in two-three minutes after finishing the payment ceremony we could get our food.

As soon as we finished our meal,we informed Christian about our departure and he said that we have to wait for the rest of the group at the big COPEC fuel station at the entrance of the city Punta Arenas. Then we departed at 15:00 with Sadik in advance. Since Sadik was still suffering from his neck problem it is always better for us to go first but slow.

We followed the Route 255. We passed Ea. San Gregorio and all those places we had done 3-4 days ago. There was also a stormy weather on the way which we have experienced in 4-5 km zone. We had got some shower and it was also cold.

After Gdor. Philipi we took the road to South in the direction Punta Arenas. The quality of the roads are fantastic and under severe wind we reached to the COPEC fuel station at 16:45. 
We waited for our guys and I started to pack my rain gear during the waiting time.
I drank a coffee which I bought in this modern Copec station. We filled up also our tanks. We had to give our bikes with full tanks. After almost 45 minutes our guys came to the fuel station. Then we all moved to the garage/service company where we have left our bikes.

Our big suitcases were also there which we had left 20 days ago in Osorno and these were shipped by Edelweiss to Punta Arenas. We packed all our stuff into our suitcases and then taxis took us to our Hotel Diego de Almagro.  

So we had finished 20 days motorcycle tour in Patagonia and we were now at our hotel for the last night of the tour. Punta Arenas is a big city compared with others which we had seen during our Tour. Punta Arenas is at the foot of the Andes on the western side of the Magellan Strait. This city was founded in 1848 for military purpose. Because of the short cut 
for the ships through the Magellan Strait the city had gained a lot of fame and position on commercial way. As the best and largest port for thousand of miles, Punta Arenas still attracts ships from South Atlantic fishery.

View over the sea from the window of Hotel Diego del Almagro

 Around 19:30 we met at the lobby of the Hotel and walked out into the down town. Our tour company had already booked a restaurant for dinner. And we ate altogether in that restaurant. After the dinner we came back to the hotel and we went to sleep because next morning will be starting for us at 04:00. 10th of February is the day for me to fly back to Turkey.

PATAGONIA Tour on Motorcycle-06/07 February 2018 Day 16-17

SOUTH AMERICA / PATAGONIA TOUR with MOTORCYCLE
Riding to EL FIN DEL MUNDO between 21 January - 10 February 2018.

Day-16 (06 February 2018) :  Cerro Sombrero >>>Ushuaia (392 km)

After the breakfast in the Hotel we left to buy fuel. The only fuel station is right up there in the down town. It is only 300 meter away from our Hotel. We bought furl and then came back to the front yard of the Hotel. We had got a briefing about today's trip to Ushuaia.

We will have gravel road starting at the Hotel and it will go on until we reach the Ea. San Martin on the Argentinian side at the Atlantic coast.

The weather was sunny with few clouds. The temperature was 12 deg C. We departed from the Hotel around 08:50 and took the gravel road to Cullen. This one is the road on the north side of the town and goes through valleys and flat areas to Cullen. This part of the land is also well productive with oil wells. We saw a few oil wells as well. However we saw also a couple of Lama families around us.

Guanacos

At the junction point near Cullen.

Around 10:30 we arrived at the Hosteria La Frontera in San Sabastian. It was a distance of 100 kms. WE made in average 60-65 km/hr.  We took a rest there and drank coffee. Just a few hundred meters after the café there is the border office of Chile. We finished the exit procedure and then continued on the gravel road which connects us to Argentinian border office.It is about 14 km between the border offices. This is the town called San Sabastian.
The road is better paved now. It is asphalt but little bit windy. On our left we had open view over the Atlantic. We took the direction to Rio Grande but we by-passed the city. At the South end we filled up our tanks in the Estación de Servicio Circunvalacion. I bought also some water and biscuits. After a short rest at the well furnished and equipped fuel station 
we continued our trip. Together we Sadik we rode away before our group. We talked to our guide Christian and agreed on waiting them at the fuel station at the entrance of the city Tolhuin. At 14:00 we were at the fuel station and we waited for our friends. As soon as they came we followed Christian and found the Panaderia La Union which is a bakery shop in Tolhuin. I recommend for everybody. A baker from Malaga, Spain arrived here in 1984 and liked this town. He settled down here and opened this business. 

The inside view of the Panaderia

Our friends sitting in the Panaderia

When we came out the bakery shop there was little rain. But there is no need for wearing the rain gear. Again we departed with Sadik in advance. We made a very smooth ride. The view was also getting better. Big lakes and forest was very spectacular around us. We left the long lake Lago Fagnano on our right and passed the mountains on the south side of the lake. It is the awesome Paso Garibaldi which we enjoyed very much. The asphalt is good for riding and with nice and open curves. I enjoyed very much :) We stopped at the top somewhere and took some pictures.

Looking to North from Paso Garibaldi:- Lago Fagnano

After an enjoying riding on the Paso Garibaldi

Then we continued riding down the mountains. It is still awesome. When we came down we were very close to our target. Suddenly we saw the gate to the city Ushuaia. Last time, in 2008, I came here by plane. But now I am approaching with motorcycle. And this is a totally different feeling and experience for me after 10 years.

Our group :- standing >>Christian (our guide), Daniel, Michael, Martin, Philipp,
sitting>>Sadik, Cem, Ulrike, Winfried

We continued further into the city. There was a road construction and we took the dusty gravels detour. We came to the center. And we took a few picture before reaching to the Hotel.

After having made some pictures we moved to our Hotel Canal Beagle which is located at the main street along the coast.

Our aim was also to change money.  Gentleman at the reception showed us on the map a change office. And we went there. On the way we discovered some friendly bars, Pubs and restaurants. We sat in a bar at the San Martin Street. There we bought to IPA and drank with Sadik. The guy in the Pub was friendly and changed some USDs for us.

The bar/restaurant in the corner where we sat for beer

View in the down town of Ushuaia

At 19:30 we were back in the Hotel. Our guide Christian had booked a restaurant for all the group and we walked to this restaurant on the San Martin Street.

The restaurant Villaggio where we ate altogether:- Very fine food including lobsters.

 After the dinner we walked together with Sadik in the city. We sat in Hard Rock Café and I drank two Mojitos. It was late but we continued walking in the city. On the Av. Maipu I found Ramos Generales, Pub/Restaurant. I had visited this place in 2008 and I had got good memories about it. It is really good to find this place again and to sit. It was approx. 01:00 when we came back to our Hotel.

Day-17 (07 February 2018) :  extra day in Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego N.Park-52 km)

We have a day trip to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. It is about 30 km on the west of Ushuaia. Tierra del Fuego National Park was created in 1960 and is located against the border with neighboring Chile. Departing from the Hotel Canal Beagle we took the road in the direction of the airport. We passed the junction to the airport and continued on the gravel road. Last time, in 2008 I had taken a bus and I had been on this way together with other tourists. Now I am riding on my bike to the West of Ushuaia.

After 8-9 kms we came to the historical Train Station. We took some pictures and I bought some souvenirs for my friends. It is a clear and sunny day and this makes our pictures clear, too.

After the break at the Station we continued our ride on Route 3. After 10-15 minutes we came to the Parks 's post office which is the most southern post office on the world. I bought a few postcards and stamps. I am planning to send them to my son who is studying in Brighton/UK and to some of my friends living in Istanbul. There we had got also a nice view over the Redonda Island. 

View from the point where there is southernmost postoffice. Looking over the Redonda Island.

After half an hour we moved to another place where we walked on the wooden platform to see the panorama. Then we took the road to the restaurant in Alakush. We sat there and we bought some food. After finishing our lunch we departed with Sadik for Ushuaia. After half an hour we were in Ushuaia and we filled up our tanks at the fuel station just in front of our Hotel. After that we came to our Hotel and we went for rest to our room. 
later we went out with Sadik and walked in the down town in the direction to the Maritime Museum. As I had visited this place in 2008 I want to show to Sadik this place and the prison building here. There is an old and interesting building built as prison.
The entrance fee is 400.-A$.

The construction of this prison started in 1902. The jails had five pavillions with 79 exterior facing cells each. There were 380 cells for single but there were maximum 600 convicts at one time.

 After we had finished our tour in the prison we walked back to the down town. Sadik went to Hard Rock Café and I have left him there. I walked in the city and I bought some souvenirs. 
I took also some pictures in the down town.

I sat in Austral Modern Café and drank a coffee and ate some cakes.It is a nice coffee shop and located in 9 de Julio 74 Street. I recommend this coffee stop.
I left the coffee shop and I started to walk on the Av. Maipu. I saw some people at the side of the street where they were dancing.

Tango is life in Ushuaia.

At the coast line of Ushuaia.

Then we met with Sadik at Ramos Generales. After finishing my beer we started to walk to 
the restaurant which we had fixed in one of our previous walks. 

Shelves of Ramos Genereles.

We came to the Restaurant Paso Garibaldi on the Street Deloqui. We enjoyed the dinner and we left with good taste. Then we came back to our Hotel.

PATAGONIA Tour on Motorcycle-05 February 2018 Day 15

SOUTH AMERICA / PATAGONIA TOUR with MOTORCYCLE
Riding to EL FIN DEL MUNDO between 21 January - 10 February 2018.

Day-15 (05 February 2018) :  Puerto Natales >>>Cerro Sombrero (375 km)

Day: 15 Route from Puerto Natales to Cerro Sombrero

After staying in Puerto Natales for two days we woke up in the Hotel Altiplanico and after the breakfast we departed around 08:50 and took the Route 9 to the South. The weather is nice but cool. Riding to the south we feel cooler. It is changing between 9 and 15 deg C. The road conditions and the quality is fantastic. We are still on Chile today.

Our first stop is at Va. Tehuelches. There we stop in front of a Café called Cocique Mulato.
Tehuelches are the Indians of this region. Most probably the man in the shop is also having ancestors from old Tehuelches. We took coffee and enjoyed the sun outside.

Sadik is enjoying nice weather and his coffee.

Rodeo arena in Va. Tehuelches.

After 4 kms passing Va. Tehuelches, we -as small group- took the gravel road to the right.
Cruz del Sur, Rio Verde is on our route. The other part of our group used the asphalt road to Gdor. Phillipi. The view on our right hand side was beautiful. 

We were riding the coastal road. Then we arrived at the asphalt road which goes to Punta Arenas. We took the left to Gdor. Phillipi. Our guides had mentioned that there should be a fuel station and we had to buy fuel. When we came to the fuel station we saw that it is no more life here. No operation !!

We were now riding to Punta Delgada where we should take the ferry to Tierra del Fuego. Our fuel was getting less and less we should find fuel somewhere. There are more then 115 km to Punta Delgada. We followed the Route 255 and came to a junction to the right side. The place is called Los Cisnes and there was a refinery in the far distance. 150 meter from the high way there is a COPEC fuel station. We, all, came to the station. It was around 11:45 and the operator was on lunch break. We waited until he opened the small counter but he said that there is no fuel !!  Our guides tried to find a solution. It is also for me non sense why they do not carry benzine in the van. They had got 3 x 20 liter plastic containers in the service van but these were empty.

After some talks with the COPEC guy we found out that there was fuel but already sold to someone who paid in advance. Then our guys talked with the owner of the benzine on the phone and he sold us 6 liter for each motorcycle. This was good news finally. Then everybody filled 6 liter and this should be sufficient for our group up to our final destination Cerro Sombrero.

Then we came to Estancia San Gregorio which is a "haunted village". It was first founded in the last quarter of the 19th century. There had been a rich family living here and had been working in the complex and they were trading ship skin and similar products of the live stock. After  some years the government had taken their meadows and ground.  Due to  this conflict the family moved away from Ea.San Gregorio and left the facility as it was running. All the buildings are looking old and evacuated.

After a break in Estancia San Gregorio we continued to ride. Maybe less then 20 minutes we arrived at the ferry port in Punta Delgada. There is a big restaurant/café here. We ordered two sandwiches and cokes. The sandwiches are really big. Good to share for two.
After having lunch here we took the ferry around 15:00. The ferry is operating between the continent and Tierra del Fuego which is an Island and separated from South America by the Magellan Strait. The ferry took us in approx. 30 minutes to the other side Pt. Espora.

Magellan Strait:- Right side is Atlantic Ocean

Light House of Punta Delgada

Sadik is in front of the Restaurant in Punta Delgada

Ferry took us to Pt. Espora on the Tierra del Fuego

 After we left the ferry we started to make our first miles on Tierra del Fuego. After 35 km we came to our stop for today. It is the Hotel at the entrance of the city Cerro Sombrero. It was sunny and warm in the front yard of the Hotel. 

Sadik is looking out from the window of the Hotel Room-Cerro Sombrero

 After having a short rest in the room I went out and bought a beer and drank in the garden together with our guys. Dinner is in the restaurant which is located just beside of the Hotel.
The food was not bad. It was OK with the red wine.

Our friend Bill from Wyoming

After the dinner I walked up to the down town. It is only 800 meter to the center of the city.
Don 't imagine a big city ! There is a cinema and sports center. The sculpture in the middle is showing a oil field worker with the tools. There is also a bus terminal for the domestic transportation between cities. Occasionally there were few buses which were leaving to Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales.