Finally on the road

On 1/14/09 the broker, Sandra, and I met at the airport to get started with customs and the shipper in BsAs. Four hours later I was on the bike headed out the gate to air up tires, find more fuel (1 gal in tank) and get on Ruta 3 south. And that is a ´quick´ turn around!

What a good feeling to get out of town and on the way! Away from the constant noise of a city!

The stopping point for the night was Azul, Arg. at a hostel for bikers...donations accepted. Jorge, the host, opened his yard and little kitchen (just for guests) to me and let me reorganize the bike packing, get to know the French couple also staying there (Chris and Alian doing a RTW on a BMW 1150 GS) and put a meal together. Wonderful little spot along a long road and great dinner mates! Found the hostel on the HUBB web site. I missed Jorge´s weekly BBQ on Friday.....

Chris and Alian were headed to BsAs to ship their bike, and themselves, to Australia. They have done: Europe, USA, Canada, up to AK and down through the west coast, Mexico, Central America and all of south America. They will work themselves home through Aus., NZ, Asia and Russia. Then they head to Africa! Nice people with good information and some laughs.

The road (Ruta 3) is straight....very straight and pavement great. The round about intersections were a welcome relief from the monotony. So one can safely look around at the vast fields of sunflowers, grain, cattle and sheep pastures, gas well heads and little farms. A grand scale central Minnesota.

The further south you travel the less lush the ground looks until it changes to Texas scrub-like land. Very dry and just a scattering of cattle or sheep. The units per acre here must be very low. Low brush with lots of ground showing.

I was stopped numerous times by both Federal Police and Regional Agricultural agents. The AK plate grabbed everyone´s interest but I still had to surrender my fruit, and meat, cheese and vegetables. Can only think those guys eat well.

The last two nights I have been in Puerto Madryn, Arg. (it took two days from Azul to get here), on the Atlantic side of Arg. Very touristy with cruise ships and vacationing Argentinians and Chileans. Beaches, lots of hostels and restaurants.

There are two big nature attractions here, the Peninsula Valdes and Punta Tombo. Today I spent eight hours on the Peninsula looking at scores of birds I´ve never seen before, hundreds of elephant seals lounging on the beaches and the cool town of Puerto Piramides. Stay in Piarimdes if you have the chance....right on the ocean, lots of hostels, one fuel station, several small restaurants and a beach. There is camping in town or just outside of town. Bring plenty of water if you are camping, as the town is dry and all water is hauled.

Tomorrow I continue south on Ruta 3 with a 120k side trip to see the million penguins at P. Tombo. Not sure where i will end up for the night...but I will continue to Ushuia...maybe three more days and two border crossings before I am there.

Once south of Azul, more tripping-rigged bikes were headed north on the road. I am not the only one doing this trip. Everyone beeps and waves but are making time on a long haul. Just glad I am doing Ruta 3 at the start of my trip when I am fresh and not overwhelmed by the landscape. Those at the end of their trip often refer to this road section (3000 k) of Ruta 3 as the worst of their trip in terms of scenery (it is monotonous) and length.

All is good here, I hope everyone is well and enjoying life.
Paul