Maybe the portent of things to come a tough day.
A Racing Start
Great start For a climb from 1100m to 1600 on sealed rd to rocky gorge of Rio Grande. Then flat on dirt and temp up to 38c, uphill to lunch. Anna riding with Eric. Main rd so lots of corrugations, falls no 5 & 6 only scrapes one to the same elbow.
Scenery not as interesting. Almost no growth apart from a few small farming oases surrounded by barren hills.
Truck over troubled water
Just after topping out road sealed high quality. Picked up by Rob & Phillipe as i’m last. Huge downhill passing beautiful lake and an adjacent farm. Goats & sheep. Stopped with them in a village for a drink then on.
Over a river into Pategonia area, quite barren, then uphill to camp into a punishing head wind. Had to stop once to rest. Sign of tomorrow. Pategonia is known for winds.
Gated
Anna had got my tent – was very tired, think the heat & dirt combination. Showered in the one tepid shower for the hombres eat dinner & slept as 8.00 start tomorrow for climb over volcano to Chos Malal and a rest day following. High winds over night. Friendly dog at dinner well kept.
Anna had started to put up my