Fotos XI

 From Ushuaia the Hamersley bros and I drove north for thirty hours straight to Bariloche, Argentina.  It was a 2,200 kilometer trip with two border crossings and a ferry.  We took a three hour nap in the middle of the night on the side of the road and rolled into town at noon.  It was tiring, but we saved a day and woke up in paradise.  Bariloche is paradise.  All those Caribbean beaches and palm trees were nice, but Bariloche is home away from home.  It's a mountainous area covered in evergreens with vast lakes at the bottom of every valley.  The mountains remind me of Colorado, the trees of Washington, and the lakes of Wisconsin.  I'm certain I'll own property here one day.

We've pulled up in a cabin on one of the lakes and have been relaxing for the last two nights.  Bariloche is a big tourist getaway but it's having a rough season due to a nearby volcano in Chile that has covered the city in ash for the past six months.  The snow caps are all brown and the sky is usually hazy.  There is ash piled up on the shoulder like sand.  From the few clear moments we've had I can say it's the most beautiful place in the world.  There's a ski hill in town for the winter and turquoise water in every direction for the summer.  I could go on and on, but I'd be wasting precious time here.  In the meantime, here are some late photos.

Crossing the Andes from Mendoza to Santiago.  Feels like a long time ago now.

Pulled up on one of the 23 switchbacks for this shot.  There are ski lines everywhere around here.

Mom at Mendoza's nicest park.  There's a rowing club on the lake.

We got swindled into posing with tango dancers, but this picture may have been worth it.

Nature reserve in Buenos Aires.  Just beyond it is the Atlantic.

Looking out across the BA marina.

I never mentioned the Buenos Aires cemetery, but it was amazing.  Every grave was a miniature cathedral.

Congress in Buenos Aires.  One of many buildings just as grand.

At the fish market in Santiago just before Mom flew home.

Meet Andrew in Ushuaia.  Can you tell they're brothers?

Proof that we made it to Ushuaia.  If they sold the Hilux at home, it would be my first purchase when I got back.

The view from our cabin in Bariloche.  Right now I can't even see across the lake due to ash.

Charlie and me looking back on our cabin.

One more night here in Bariloche and then we head north to Pucon, Chile for a couple more nights.  Then it's a one-day drive to Santiago where Andrew flies home and Charlie and I pick up the bikes.  Hard to say what happens after that.  We're working on it right now.