Los Andes to Rio Blanco (12-05-09, published from Mendoza)
21.5.09
Hola!
I am writing this post from a little town called Rio Blanco on our little Netbook which is turning out to be one of the best gifts we received before we left Australia. We are holed away in a shower block that seems to us one of the best accommodations we have had in Chile. Clean, bright, electricity, carpet in our sleeping area, beautiful sink, shower, toilet and best of all it is dry as it is pouring outside.
We only rode about 36 km today from Los Andes but we both agreed tonight after writing our best and worst moments of the day that today was by far our best day of cycle touring in Chile. Hurray!!!
Our bodies are feeling strong, for me (Stuart), my legs are recovering well. For the first time in a whole month there doesn’t seem to be any more gunk and phlegm to be purged.We are staying at Club de Campo which is a lovely golf course at the foot of the Andes. Enrique suggested the shower block as rain was forecast and now it is actually pouring (and snowing on the nearby mountains). Enrique is fantastic. He owns the golf course. He has encouraged us to collect and eat the plentiful walnuts that have fallen from the trees on the golf course. They will make us strong he says because that is what Lance Armstrong eats!! :^)
He thinks we are a little crazy about attempting the pass into Argentina but you can tell he likes that we try. He is also intrigued by the BOB trailer (as were the fellows in the bike shop today – and of course all the dogs that chased us).
If the weather clears we will ride on up to Juncal which is at the foot of the Caracoles (the snail – named I think for the pace of the climb and for the windy nature of the road which is similar to a snails shell or possibly because Caracoles! Also means Good Heavens!). Good heavens it’s going to be one hell of a climb.
Stuart (and Anita)
Posted byStuart Kane at 1:14 PM
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