Although disappointed that we didn´t manage to get our bikes, we know that there is a lot of luxury advantages doing the trip by car. We (especially Henk) was quite ready to get out of the city and onto the road - big space is out there!
From BsAs we traveled on the Routa 3 south. This is a portion that many travelers avoid, and rather fly down the 3 500km, as it is regarded a not so scenic route - this turned out to be quite true, but still we enjoyed it.
Our first stop was the town Azul, and here we did some shopping - a braai grid, a good portion rump steak for our first braai South America. Our next stop was El Condor, a small coastal town close to the city Viedma, and here we had our first real taste of the Patagonian wind - taste as in tasting the dust blown into your face and mouth.
We detoured off the R3, to the town Sarmiento. We read an article about South African Settlers that came here after the Anglo Boer war, and decided to see what it looked like. It is a beautiful (not big though) valley between two lakes, and seem to be like a green oasis in a dry karoo-like area. Nevertheless, I´m quite glad that our great parents didn't join in on this opportunity! We didn't meet any of them, but were told that quite a few people called ´Piet´ farm in the area.
We traveled down to Rio Gallegos where we could get our border permit for the car,to reach Ushuaia, you have to drive through a section of Chile. It was basically like traveling through the Karoo for 7 days. The wind blows all the time, it only varies from strong to very strong. The small towns seem a bit windblown, and the big old Chevvy and Ford trucks driving through a street where the traffic lights sway in the wind, sometimes reminds of an old American movie scene.
The temperature dropped as we moved south, and camping was getting less fun every day.
After 3300 km and about 80km before the town Ushuaia, the scenery suddenly changes. Maybe especially after 7 days of dry shrub landscape, but suddenly it´s beautiful, with snow capped mountains and forests and streams. The town Ushuaia is very friendly and a great place to spend some time in the many pubs and restaurants. We stayed for a few days in a very nice lake-shore cabana with all the luxuries and beautiful views. We visited the national Park, took the ski lift to see a small Glacier, and visited some Penguins on Penguin Island.
If I had a job, I would request leave right now for August - I think Ushuaia would be an ideal place for first time winter skiing!
