El Calafate
Because we are the great adventures in the deep south , we had to have some where to stay in El Calafate , so we whipped up this log cabin , with our bowie knives
After a couple of days it was time to move on , with me going on down into the Torres del Paine National Park (approx 250kms with about 100kms of Ripo )and the guys going on down to Puerto Natales .
Once I left the guys it was back onto Ripo with more really stunning scenery . It was about 100kms to the park and to find some accommadation . I asked the park ranger where there's a cheap hotel , he showed me a couple of hotels on a map (there is no town or anything in the park , and the hotels and hostels are spread all over the park ). So off I go to find the hotel , it's getting late , I was keen to find it quick . The road was some of the worst ripo I have been on , very loose and very windy . On one corner I got into the biggest Mexican wave ever , I don't know how i stayed up , but I did and found the hotel about 20kms further down the road .
I ride up thinking shit this is not going to be cheap in any sense of the word . Its on an island in the middle of a lake , it looks stunning with great views onto the Mountains . I have no option now other than riding another 120kms on ripo to get out of the park
I go into the reception and ask the guy how much it is for a night , he says $320US , I look at him and say you are bloody joking . Then I said to him can you ring the police , he says why , I say because you are a bloody thief . He laughs and with that we start to neg the price . After about 10 mins I get him down to $180US with breakfast and a Beer thrown in . Hell still bloody 3 arms and 5 legs , but I really have no option . It was a great room because I asked that it be a room with a view as well . When I was talking down the price , I said well I will go to the next hotel , he laughs and says well it's $1000US a nite and you have to stay at least 5 nights (bloody amazing ).
The next day I was off late (getting my $180us worth ) to catch up with the guys in Punta Arenas (approx 350kms with 124kms ripo, and even worse than the day before ). I called into Puerto Natales , a really nice small town and the launching pad for people into the Torres del Paine National Park . A great area for all adventure sports .
Just before I turned off to Torres del Paine NP
Torres del Paine NP
The View from my expensive Hotel room
Torres del Paine
Just on dark from my room
Below the Hotel
Torres del Paine
Leaving the next day for Punta Arenas
Below Puerto Natales
Above they say it gets windy down here
Below Punta Arenas
It was a lot bigger than I thought and quite nice with a great water front and large shopping area
Punta Arenas
Below leaving Punta Arenas for Porvenir and our first steps on Tierra Del Fuego , the island that is seperated by the Straits of Magallanes , named after another great adventure in 1519 , like me !!
After we got to Porvenir we set off only to find we are lost and a locked gate , so we turned and went back to town to start again
Shit another 145kms of Ripo ,( i'm all ripoed out), we are heading for Rio Grande , then the big push down to the end of the world
Some of the views on the way down to Ushuaia
Then there it is Ushuaia and the end
It's pretty cold down here about 10c degs
Then the END 31st 01 2012
There is nowhere to go now but up ,
it's 3076kms to Buenos Aires
But first there is the Antarctic
After 48,000 kms ,
2 motorbike
1 busted knee
having traveled with Ruth to Mexico
Damon to Guatemala
Phil and Wade in Colombia (Aussies)
and then from Cali Colombia with Terry , Dave , Bob (Brits)
on and off for the rest of the way .
Having arrived at the end , there were mixed feelings really , part of me was disappointed because it was now over (after so much planning and so long in the doing ) , but the greater feeling was relief to have got there after so much , I had a real sense of relief and a feeling of a huge pressure removed from me . After the accident I always had in the back of my mind , of , what if I dont make it or what if something happens again and I can't make it .
So now that it is completed , I'm just so relieved , with a huge feeling of achievement and having done the job
It was not easy at times , but I have meet so many wonderful people
The world is really a great place with so many great people
My theory has always been that the world is made up of 99.9999% of the people just like us , and if you run into the other .00001% then you are in trouble . But that can be in any country in the world . so all you people out there , get off your arses and travel to see for yourselves . It does not have to cost a lot , you can travel for bugger all these days
It was great for all of us to be there , you could feel the relief from all of us .
WHAT NOW !!
I have booked a cabin on a ship for Antarctica (9 nights) , which leaves on the 8th Feb . The guys are heading back up to Buenos Aires on the 2nd , I hope to catch up with them around the 21st of Feb in Buenos Aires , before they leave for the UK on the 29th
So really this is not the end but the start of the trip down to Antarctica and then up , so keep watching its not all over yet
