Today has been a much anticipated day for many reasons. Firstly, Ushuaia is a milestone, not only for this particular journey but for any traveller to get to, secondly, it being the southern most city in the World, it represents the outer southerly Arc of my journey and lastly, its been a city that has been spoken about so many times in the planning of this trip.
The ride down from Cerro Sombrero where we stayed last night was interesting. The GPS took us down a dirt road which we thought would go for a few kilometres and then join the tar….it didn’t! It kept going for about 150km and at first I was a bit miffed about the dirt versus tar choice but then it occurred to me that I was on a magnificent dirt road, in a part of the world where I probably wont get a chance to ride again and lastly, the surroundings were incredible and found myself loving every moment thereafter. When we got to the Chile/Argentina border, we found out that their was in fact no tar road and soon after Cerro Sombrero, it all became dirt regardless of the route although I think ours was perhaps the more scenic and less trafficked.
Our ride today.
My gripes about the boringness of the east coast of Argentina are over. The magnificence started after Rio Grande in the Terra Del Fuego. Barren flatlands gave way to an Alpine type scenery…Massive lakes, snow capped mountains, flowered meadows, forests and a road that only occurs in a motorcyclists dreams!
I have travelled much of the world but can say with hand on heart that nothing has taken my breath away like the road travelled between Tolhuin and Ushuaia and I don’t believe that even the pics posted in this entry do it justice.
Enrico showing off…
We arrived in Ushuaia around 4pm and then ran into problems with finding accommodation because it is peak season and we didn’t book ahead. Who knew that Ushuaia was such a popular tourist city? It has a high of some 12 to 14C in mid summer and the sun barely peeks through. That said, the surrounds are UN-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E!!
We are planning on staying here for 3 nights as the town is cute with a fair amount of activity and to give us enough time to rest up before we start our northern trek to Santiago.
Our total ride thus far
Sandy (Cuz)
January 16, 2013 at 5:05 am
I just don’t have the gift of the gab… Your pictures, words….STUNNING. Thanks for providing a window to your travel!
Shirley
January 16, 2013 at 10:44 am
Sounds like you guys are having a fabulous time! well done on making it to Ushuaia (another dream come true!)- looks spectacularly beautiful! ahhh, the water looks soooo inviting too….!!! Enjoy your rest 🙂
Rui Nobre Snr aka old bullet
January 16, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Fantastic pictures. Very alpine like. Who would have thought. Safe riding.
Jacqui
January 16, 2013 at 4:39 pm
Wow wow wow…it looks so so beautiful! Well done on getting there ! What an amazing achievement …. Hope you have some fabulous rest now- you definitely deserve it!
Ze Devoty
January 17, 2013 at 11:45 am
Happy wedding anniversary Enrico, we’ll have a lot to celebrate on your return !?!?! Beautiful pictures, loving following your trip and so happy you guys are really having a great time.