Monday, 24 December 2012

Reaching Fin Del Mundo

We set off from Rio Gallegos after a late night (2am) with Local traveller (and a mine of information) Emanuel (thanks for the help Emanuel) and fellow traveller fron Venuzuala, Ricardo and headed to the border with Chile.
Left to right Me, Ricardo & Emanuel

 When we got there the queues were long, we met George and Anke along with Ollie who they'd picked up on the way. It took 2 1/2 hours to get through the joint customs post, the very helpful and nice guy in front explained most were heading to Punta Arenas which has got some tax free status to pick up cheap Xmas presents, bugger thought I'd miss anything to do with Christmas as well.
Luckily when we got the ferry we rode straight on the boat to take us across the straights of Magellan to Tierra Del Fuego ARG$70 each for the 40 minute crossing (around £10!!)
Just like the Corran ferry!

Fi getting to grips with the gravel

On to the comically named Cerro Sombrero to get ripped of 4 times the Argentinian price for petrol (No Chilean Pesos, Gringo price!)
Then the shit ripio to the border (back from Chile to Argentina)  around 100 miles of gravel and constant serious potholes. More Queues but only just over an hour this time . A long day and then tarmac for the last stretch to the hostel Ruta 40 in Rio Grande run by "willie" We got a great welcome, really nice place and incredibly helpful guy who despite it being his birthday ran us to the restuarant and then back again, Then we joined his Birthday party, great night and past 2am when we turned in.
Ruta 40 Hostel , don't miss out on Willies hospitality when in Rio Grande contact on
Ruta 40 facebook

Onwards the following day to Tolhuin when suddenly the landscape changed, hills and trees, just like Scotland.
Just like home

We all stopped at the camping Hain (3 Km from the village, Ripio of course) ran by Roberto who turned out to be a funny guy and always popping into the gang hut to do an impression or just to make sure we were Ok, at one point he pulled out a moothie and gave an impressive blues riff!
 2 Nights there, talking, relaxing and being entertained by Roberto. Werner & Claudia joined us again and another German couple who had cycled form Alaska (in 19 months) and who were looking forward to getting home and not sitting on a pushbike for a long time!! The nights were cold but a great fire in the bothy made for a couple of really nice nights
Today (Christmas eve) we finally made it to Ushuaia, snow on the mountains and the last 60 miles the best roads of the almost 2500 so far.
2 Gringos near the end of the world!
Muchos Gringos at the end of the world

Hope you all have a great Christmas, I'm going to, Teachers whisky ARG$57 a bottle (about £8) that'll do for me, ho ho ho
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13 comments:

  1. Anonymous24 December 2012 at 21:55

    Glad you guys made it to the the ultimate Long-way-from-Home! Merry Xmas from Holland where we skip winter, it's 12 degrC! Cheers, Bennie.

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    Replies
    1. Gino's Travels 225 December 2012 at 13:18

      Cheers Bennie, not Norton roads I can assure you!! Have a good one

      Delete
  2. Pat24 December 2012 at 22:00

    Really pleased you guys made it to the end - which is kind of the start too! Have a great Christmas, and I look forward to following your travels north.
    Pat

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    1. Gino's Travels 225 December 2012 at 13:41

      Cheers Pat, as you well know its just the start, plenty to go yet (and more roads to shake our bikes apart1 Have & good one, all the best to you & Mrs Pat

      Delete
  3. themoudie25 December 2012 at 00:02

    Escocés gringos! Pleased that you have got that far south, already to turn round and face the rumbling of Copahue volcano
    on your way back north! Link if you need it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20828832

    Merry Xmas as I write this, so enjoy the Teachers (?) oxymoron and have a grand time feasting.

    A' the best, Bill and Kat.

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    Replies
    1. Gino's Travels 225 December 2012 at 13:44

      Hola Bill & Kat, hopefully not too flooded and as you said if he salts off the road you can get your bike ooot!
      Have a good one, one Bottle of Teachers gone last night (shared of course) Cheers Gino & Fiona

      Delete
  4. Anonymous25 December 2012 at 10:14

    merry christmas to the traveling people and keep a wee dram for the bells. hav a good one fa bob and kate

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    Replies
    1. Gino's Travels 225 December 2012 at 13:46

      Aye we'll no mke Gullane for boxing day I'm afraid, missing the banter all the best Gion & Fiona

      Delete
  5. Anonymous25 December 2012 at 10:37

    Murphy man here merry christmas to you both. So all seems good with you two, thats fine. Its pish here same old same old, but a lot of peoople asking about you, I just tell them logon and look up the blogs. Feedback is really good. Got a letter from an old friend who has wrote a book about his life asking me to verify the parts about me in it are true. Feck that I'm cacking maself bringing up stuff from 30+ years ago. Wish to christ I was there with you. Keep on blogging love to you both. Now em away to do what a goood Dundee boy should do on Jesus's birthday, get pished. Where's ma santa hat and Slade cd lol xxxxx

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    1. Gino's Travels 225 December 2012 at 13:49

      Cheers Murphy man, have a great one, don't get too pished and behave ha ha. Hope your entertaining the Sauna in my absence! Great to hear from you ( E mail still works!!!)
      G & Fi xx

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  6. Anonymous25 December 2012 at 11:25

    have a good day you two ;-)
    geoff & heather

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    Replies
    1. Gino's Travels 225 December 2012 at 13:50

      Thanks and the same to you guys, hope Aberfeldy isn't too cold (or wet!!)
      Gino & Fiona

      Delete
  7. Don OReilly27 December 2012 at 20:00

    Fantastic images and stories... thanks for posting and have a great 2013! Cheers, Don

    ReplyDelete

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