After an entertaining, though very windy ride we arrived at El Calafate. We later found out that several riders came off due to the strong winds. No major injuries and all bikes were made good to ride again. From El Calafate we set out for the Perito Moreno Glacier - one of the few advancing glaciers in the region.
The road out would have been a fantastic ride (mountains, blue lakes and sweeping bends) if it was not for the wind, rain, snow and hail. We arrived at the national park in the torrential rain, the park officials warned us there could be black ice in the park. Again the ride would have been incredible (narrow twists though the forest) if it had not been for the conditions. We wound our way though turn after turn before suddenly there it was, the first heart stopping wow moment of the trip.
That initial far off glimpse was just a taster for the close up site. I've seen other-worldly landscapes on bike trips before, the slate landscapes of Wales, Death Valley in the US and several areas in Morocco, but this was something new for me. A blue / white meringue, 60m high and stretching back as far as we could see. While the viewing site could hardly be described as untouched, the view was just incredible.
Luckily the weather back in El Calafate was much better. We bought provisions and back tracked out of town to join Ruta 40 for a few Km to the camp campsite. It was cold, damp and definitely not pristine, but we set up camp and started a fire. After a few glasses of very cheap wine and a camp fire it was time for bed.
I'll wait until we get to a hotel and go though the luggage but I think I left a battery charger at the last hotel. My camera battery is also very low and I've not had a chance to sort out the Go Pro (HD stills / video camera to mount on the bike).
Amazing !
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