We Missed the Wind
My last night bow tie party
Michiel always positive
Getting later
An adventure inside an adventure. Up at 2.45 mostly packed already. Dug out the lights for the bike last night. Pack up the tent in torchlight. All very quiet. Figures moving about stealthily. Up the grassy slope to the car park together. Lights on. Like a commando exercise, 8 of us together we set off on the road. No wind. Sit on 25 rolling along mindful of the slower. Gerard on a heavy bike with side pannier. No moon but a slight glimmer in the sky to the east.
Up 200 m over 8 k. Wait at the top. Power bar as no breakfast. Chilling fast as slight breeze from the west and the glaciers. Another stop for nature and a great long downhill to sight the sodium lights of el calafate across the lake. Still 60k to go around the lake and the last part to the west where the wind comes from. Sight the first small iceberg in the lake broken off from the glacier. White peaks in the distance.
We finally hit the T junction. Right to El Calafate. No wind. A rolling hilly ride. We break up a bit but Martin, Leah, Gerard, Migel, Rood, Raechel, Jasper and I all wait as we finally reach the sign as we enter El Calafate. Photo stop. 8. 15 and we arrive after a great ride. What a way to finish the adventure for me. Into a room at Los Dos Pinos. Luxury. Breakfast first at the bakery across the road. Brought some clothes in the back pack.
A whole day to get organized. Shower, off to buy food and drinks the party tonight. It’s a bow tie party! Some shopping for a few last presents. Anna comes in around 1.00 after a tough last 40k into the wind. Philippe enjoys telling the tail how he had to wait at the T junction in a tent for 3 days before the wind would let him ride the last 40 k. He tried pushing the bike then breaks on and another step.
Anna fixes up her extended tickets snooze and ready for dinner and party. Start to pack up anna’s bike as she now takes mine as the bottom bracket bearings stuffed on hers.
So the bike rides on with her tires and saddle. Go Cannondale.
Dinner great and then music on in the dining area. Groucho hat bow tie & cape all make ties out of a great selection of materials including black plastic bags, sweets etc. Dancing and almost the whole group there young and old. Run out of beer and wine, off to get mor supplies. I’m called a goucho on the way there. Disguise works. 1 am I sneak off to bed only to have the door burst open and Rood, migel Martin and Anna drag me off to a night club and dancing. What a great end to the trip.