Another short stay in Chile

.
Saturday 21st November
El Calafate to Tres Pasos

With my ankle, shoulder and ribs still sore it was a relief to start the day on tarmac but after 60 miles this turned back to dirt road for some 40 miles then back to tarmac. The run was on wind swept roads and general flat plains, the turn off to the boarder was a small dirt road and most of us missed it having to turn round. Straight after the border we trued left and shortly came upon the Estancia Tres Pasos were I pitched my tent as I had elected to camp here a while back. The estancia was set in the valley between steep hills and a group of us elected to walk up the nearest hill as we had been told of the condors flying, after reaching the top we spotted a couple floating gracefully on the wind before landing on a rocky perch on the opposite hill. The hill afforded us a fantastic view of the valley and the snow capped mountains in the distance of Torres Del Paine.

Miles
Today : 164
Total : 20292
_______________________________________


Sunday 22nd November
Tres Pasos
Day Off
Despite the aches and pains and the prospect of more dirt road, I decided to ride into the Torres del pain park due to the reports of spectacular scenery and the unusual shape three peaks in the mountains. I was not disappointed, the scenery was spectacular and I spent the afternoon and evening touring the park, visiting a couple of waterfalls and stopping often to take pictures of the mountains and glacial lakes here.


Miles
Today : 137
Total : 20429
_______________________________________


Monday 23rd November
Tres Pasos to Cerro Sombrero

After waking up in a frost covered tent I prepared for another day of mixed tarmac and dirt road. We are now nearing the end of the main purpose of this expedition, Ushuaia. The country here flattens out and I encountered more strong winds with the bike presently leaning to the right after some miles of this I reached the ferry, meeting the rest of the group here. This is the end of the main land mass, the continents and could be considered the end of the road but we cross the Straights of Magellan to Tierra del feugo.

As a group we loaded onto the swaying ferry which uses its engines to keep in line with the ramp. As short 15 minute crossing accompanied by Connersonts Dolphins in the bow wave and we were unloading onto the last part of our journey. Another run across wind swept plains got us to our destination Cerro Sombrero a very small town based around an oil processing plant with little more than a petrol station and a hotel.

Miles
Today : 141
Total : 20570