The last 70 kms (42 miles) to the border were also not easy. There was a lot of wind, which (of course) came from the wrong direction; right from the front. The wind probable didn’t want us to go to Bolivia and wanted to keep us in Argentina. But we made it.
Very regularly, we spotted small shrines and sometimes even small buildings with picknickareas and bbq’s, covered in red. We wondered what it was and why all the red and looked it up. They are shrines for Gauchito Gil, a legend here in Argentina. Continue reading
After another well deserved day of rest in Tilcara, it was time for the final stage to the Bolivian border. The first 65 kms (40 miles) were all uphill and therefor hard. We arrived in the town of Abra Pampa, the last larger town before the bordertown of La Quiaca. From here it’s another 70 kms (42 miles) to the border, so we hope to cross it tomorrow.
After 2 days there was work to be done. Because the next 2 days were hard work. We had to climb about 2200 meters (6600 ft) in about 55 kms (33 miles) and that was hard. Continue reading
We spent 2 days in Salta. The first one to get the administration updated, do the laundry and relax and the second one to visit the city center. We could take a bus from the campground to the city center, so that was easy. We didn’t think the city was very special, it’s a city like many others but one with a nice church. But we’re not city people. We did have a nice lunch at the main square. Continue reading
After 5 days in San Pedro and a total of almost 3 weeks of doing (almost) nothing, it was time to start the very hard trip to and over the Paso de Jama to Argentina. The Paso de Jama is the bordercrossing between both countries, but to get there you have to cross 2 passes of over 4800 m (14.500 ft). Just as high as the Mont Blanc in France… Continue reading
After 2 weeks of doing nothing and 1,5 great week at Jan and Antonia’s, it was time to say goodbye and go on. We had booked a bustrip to Calama, a trip that would take about 22 hours. From there we had to take another bus to San Pedro de Atacama. Because it was such a long journey, we had booked the most luxurious seats they had, seats you can turn into a bed. Just like 1st class on a plane. Continue reading
We got picked up in Santa Maria by Jan and Antonia from Santiago. We met them in Los Alerces NP in Argentina (when we were going north and they were going south) and they invited us to stay with them if we wanted to go to Santiago. It was a very nice evening. We all had dinner and it was already pretty late when we left for the city. The bikes and panniers all fit in the back of the pick up easily. Continue reading
After a few days in Valparaiso it was time to move on. It was only 2 days cycling to San Felipe/Santa Maria. Finally we had arrived. The boxes with panniers, tires and other small materials were already waiting for us there.
After a day of rest in Pichilemu we cycled to Valparaiso in 2 days. This harbor city is built on 45 hills and is on the Unesco world heritage list. Continue reading