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.

PATAGONIA Tour on Motorcycle-21/24 January 2018 Days 1-2-3

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

We flew from Santiago to Osorno on Jan, 21st,2018. We had taken the LATAM flight at 09:00 o'clock in the morning. It took around 3h15 minutes. We stayed in the Sonesta Hotel Osorno. It is a 5 star Hotel with nice food. Most of the members of our group came together during the afternoon and we have had dinner at the restaurant of the Hotel.
In the market downstairs I bought 3 pairs of bamboo socks which are very comfortable in the riding boots. As planned and booked, together with Sadik we shared one double room. This is also for the rest of our trip.
Next day, on Monday, January,22nd, 2018 we have had a briefing in the hotel lobby and then we put all of our luggage and gear into the Van which took us to the Moto Aventura premises in Osorno. Thomas is our friend who is technically responsible for the motorcycles on behalf of Moto Aventura Chile (Argomedo 739 Osorno-Tel.+56.64 224 91 23/24/27).
In the yard of Moto Aventura we took our motorbikes as arranged. I have a BMW 700 GS
of 2016. The milage is 35042 km. The tyres (model scout) were brandnew and maker is Heidenau-Germany. We had been given waterproof 60 lt bags and I packed all my stuff in it.
I gave my big luggage for being transported to Punta Arenas where from we are flying back to Turkey at the end of our tour. I only took may daily needs together with me and put them into the two side-cases and tank bag of my motorcycle. 

Now we are ready to ride. The weather is clear and sunny. We took the route 5 to the North.
After 20 minutes we took the direction to the Lago Ranco. The road conditions are good. In some places we had to take gravel roads. Gravel roads are very common in Chile and in Argentina as well. Therefore it is always on the safer side to be equipped with off-road tyres on the motorcycycle. We passed the towns Panquipulli Conaripe and we came to Lican Ray. This one is a village at the Lago Calafquen. There are lots of people in the town because of holiday season. It is summer in South America and it is hot in this region.
After having lunch at the restaurant having a view over the lake we took some pictures and spent some time at the lake.

Restaurant/Motel in Lican Ray

Lunch Stop at Lican Ray

At the Lago Calafquen:- Lican Ray

After the lunch we continued in the direction of Villarrica and then we reached to Pucon where we stayed in the Pucon Green Park Hotel. It is a nice hotel in the green field with a swimming pool and nice surrounding. Our room is in the basement having an easy access to the yard. Together with Sadik we went to the pool and I swam and took sun bath.

Pucon Green Park Hotel

At the pool:-Pucon Green Park Hotel.

We ate at the restaurant of the Hotel. The group members introduced themselves around the table. After the dinner I went for sleep.

Approx 590.- Chilean Pesos are equal to 1 USD. In most of the shops and hotels credit card is acceptable  but it is worth to have some cash Chilean Peso in the pocket. This can minimize the time spent at the fuel stations. The roads and signs at the roads are good enough and there is no problem to follow the maps. Pisco sour is a national drink in Chile and it is always refreshing and cool after arriving at the target.

Day-2 (23 January 2018) : Pucon-San Martin de los Andes
We departed around 09:20 from the Pucon Green Park Hotel. This is the utmost northern point of our route. We will ride always in the south direction. At 12:00 o 'clock we passed the border from Chile to Argentina. The border pass is at the Volcano Lanin.

Volcano Lanin at the border crossing

Leaving from Chile is not a big deal. The papers of the motorcycle should be checked and stamped and the passport as well. The customs/police control of both countries are not close to each other. Someone should drive/ride maybe 2-3 kms. 
We arrived around 13:15 at Junin de los Andes where we have had our lunch. The Argentinian Restaurant Nueva Ruca Huaney is in the down town at the corner looking to the park. Together with Sadik we paid 1,020.-Argentinian Pesos (approx. 19.-APs=1 USD)
This restaurant is willingly changing money. Good for having Argentinian Pesos !!

Junin de los Andes(Argentina).

Junin de los Andes(Argentina).

In front of the Handcrafts' Association, Junin de los Andes.

It is a small village. We made a short tour in the village and then we departed at 15:15 for San Martin de los Andes. It is a short distance on the Route 40. 
The Argentinian "Ruta 40" which is running 5000 kms in the North-South direction is very famous.

Christmas tree made out of PET bottles:- Good Idea from San Martin de los Andes.

We arrived around 16:30 at our "Le Village Hotel" in San Martin de los Andes. It was 28-29 deg C and the sky was clear and sunny. After having a rest about 1 hour we went out to see the town. The town is located at the Lake Lago Lacar within the mountains very similar to Alpine Villages or towns in Europe. The lake side is good for having sun bath. There are lots of people having fun at the beach of the lake. 

Beach of San Martin de los Andes

There are three main streets going in the sense of lake. Two of them are with restaurants, cafes,  shops etc. From one end to the lake it takes about 10 minutes to walk. We fixed some restaurants for having dinner. There is also small brewery shop called Fassbier.
We went there and we took IPA beer. They also served a small cup with peanuts. It was joyful to rest outside and to drink beer.

Fassbier :- Home made beers

We bought some audio CD. For the dinner we went to a restaurant with pink siding. It is an authentic restaurant with nice food and Malbec wine. We paid 880.-APs (approx. 45.-USD) for two. Then we came back to our Hotel.

Day-3 (24 January 2018) : San Martin de los Andes >>> El Bolson

We departed from our Hotel around 09:00.  We took the coastal road at the Lago Lacar. After riding 15-20 km on the asphalt road (Route 40) we took the gravel road in the direction of Va. Meliquina. The road took us through a beautiful kind of canyon the view is awesome. 

At the Lago Meliquina

Then we took the curved gravel road to Casa de Piedra and Caleufu. In a point where we can see the mountains left behind we stopped and took pictures.

At the junction with the Route 40 the place is called Confluencia we stopped at a fuel station. After having 1/2 an hour break there we departed on a wonderful road on the eastern side of Andes. A very beautiful section took us to Bariloche.Just before the city Bariloche we stopped at 13:00 for the lunch at the El Boliche Viejo. 

Lunch break at the El Boliche Viejo

We ate a variety of meat (Hey ! We are in Argentina !!) and sausages. 

The weather today is very nice and the sky is clear. It is around 24-26 degrees C.

The cook of the El Boliche Viejo

The city Bariloche has a population about 130,000 and is located in the middle of the National Park of the same name. This lake district is well famous for the summer and winter activities. The building are made mostly out of wood.
After more then 1 hour after the lunch we continued to ride on the Route 40 in the direction of El Bolson. We enjoyed the asphalt road and the view around us. There was some wind though.

In some place on the mountains we stopped for a coffee break. It is a café house on the top at the left hand side of the road. The name is something like Café Montana. We enjoyed the nice weather and coffee.

At the Café Montana 

At the Café Montana Philippe and Sadik

We arrived at El Bolson at 18:00. We had today 280 kms behind us. We stayed at the Hotel Cumbres in El Bolson. It is right in the city  on the main road which goes through the down town. We parked our motorcycles in the safe yard of the Hotel.

After changing and resting a little bit in our room we went out for seeing the town and for having dinner. It is a small city. We sat in a open beer pub and took some beer together with Sadik. The girls who served the beers in the beer garden were very friendly. Chatting with them was funny. They mentioned a good restaurant and we moved to the Agusto. It is a restaurant on a street close to our Hotel. We sat in the front yard just at the edge to the street and I drank two frozen Margarita. Then we enjoyed our meal. We paid 930.-AP for it.