I spent the better part of the morning using the wireless at my favorite coffee shop/confiteria here in El Calafate. So the plan of an early start simply meant an early start catching up on the e-mail and blog while throwing in some photo editing. It’s getting tougher to keep this blog up to date. […]
I was too tired from the days trek to do anything about the predicament I was in. I was certain there was no one with the capacity to weld aluminum in this town. Yet I needed to straighten the bracket so that the Jesse bag could hang straight and offer unencumbered access to the fuel […]
An early start this morning put me on the trail toward Fitz Roy earlier than the “crowds” I’d meet along my trek later this afternoon. The crisp cool air and painted blue sky with just a hint of fluffy clouds made for a perfect morning. I packed my day pack with some bread, trail mix, […]
Reflecting on the early part of my journey when I rode the Alaskan Highway through Northern BC, the Yukon and to Haines, and then the Canadian Rockies and down through Glacier National Park into Montana, I’m remember how much the mountains, snow, ice and vast expansiveness of these natural settings captivates me. In one post […]
“Lo siento, Allan. No hay disponible por este noche,” Sebastian, the tall lanky son of the owners of Hosteria Los Nires in El Calafate said as he pulled the ear buds from his ears. He admired my motorcycle, my journey and enjoyed our several conversations about Argentina. At the time of checking in I had […]
Rainbow from yesterday’s ride. I’m enjoying El Calafate. There are good restaurants, services a plenty and it’s a place where travelers congregate. It’s a jumping off point for many places in Patagonia including El Chalten (Fitz Roy), Torres del Paine, and the legendary Ruta 40’s southern section. For me it’s a perfect opportunity to take […]
Morning rains and gray skies dissuaded me from taking an early morning hourlong ride to the Perito Moreno Glacier until later in the afternoon. By the time I took the road along the lake I was treated to a massive rainbow over the now turquoise blue Lago Argentina. Of course, the winds had another bout […]
It was one on one with the wind today. Argentina’s grand Ruta 3 runs along the Atlantic coast more than 2,000 miles from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and the Fin del Mundo (end of the world). Today the legendary Patagonian wind whipping from the West across the pampas continued to hammer me with punches, smacks […]
The next morning the parking attendant at my fancy hotel helped me get Doc up on the center stand for a good chain lubing. I was ready to hit the pavement and brave the winds on Ruta 3 south toward Piedrabuena. For the first 150 miles the road was in bad shape with potholes, construction, […]
In looking at the map I figured taking Ruta 40 to El Calafate via Rio Mayo to Tres Lagos would take me 3 to 4 days. By crossing the South American continent to the Atlantic side then riding south to Comandante Piedrabuena, I could shave one or two days from this estimate. I’d ride 80 […]
