(October 3 – written by Dave) Today it is 500 days since we left Fairbanks, Alaska.  We’re still riding and still focused on the goal of reaching Ushuaia.  To be honest, it really is just one day at a time.  You can never get too far ahead of yourself on a trip this long.  We … Continue reading 500 days to Chilecito – Andolucas to Chilecito (111k/22,118k, 2,600ft)

(October 2 – written by Dave) We got up early, fearing the worst with the wind and ongoing dust storms.  I looked out the window first thing and wow, you could see the hills surrounding town.  And best of all, the trees were not moving.  We were a go! The fancy Hotel Belen has kind … Continue reading Argentina desert – Belen to Andolucas (116k/22,007k, 1,650ft)

(October 1 – written by Dave) Today was a carbon copy of yesterday, weather wise.  Luckily for us, we had a much shorter day planned and even though there is another sand storm raging through Belen right now, completely blocking the views to the surrounding hills, we are tucked into our hotel, wind free with … Continue reading More wind, more sand –  Hualfín to Belen (61k/21,891k, 670ft)

(September 30 – written by Dave) Today was epic – we rode from 8AM until about 6PM.  There were some breaks in there of course but we had massive headwinds and rode through a sand storm, just for fun.  It wasn’t or longest day of the trip but it was certainly one of the hardest.  … Continue reading Sand storm – Santa Maria to Hualfín (122k/21,830k, 2,350 ft)

(September 29 – written by Dave) As expected, we did not last anywhere near long enough last night to attend the Pena.  We really want to attend one but we need to have a rest day planned for the following day – that wasn’t the case last night.  So instead for dinner we settled for … Continue reading Riding the vines – Cafayate to Santa Maria (82k/21,708k, 1,650 ft)

(September 27 – written by Dave) Today was all about relaxing.  And lucky for us, we chose a great hostel from where we could do this.  The owner of the Kallpa Hostel, Francisco, is a wonderful host, spending a good deal of time chatting with us over a leisurely breakfast.  He probably speaks less English … Continue reading Vineyard lunch in Cafayate

(September 27 – written by Nancy) We started out today from Coronel Moldes with all good intentions to take it easy today and camp somewhere around the 80k mark.  Well, as you can see from the title of the blog, we ended up going all the way to Cafayate.  So, no camping yet again – … Continue reading Double Devil Day – Coronel Moldes to Cafayate (130k/21,492k, 4100 ft)

(September 26 – written by Dave) We had a hard time leaving our lovely AirB&B apartment this morning.  It’s funny how we get attached to places – it is probably caused by staying almost anywhere for more than a day.  When you move ‘houses’ every day as we tend to do, staying put for a … Continue reading Leaving Salta –  Salta to Coronel Moldes (66k/21,361k, 950 ft)

(September 25 – written by Dave) Yesterday we survived food coma.  Today we survived wine coma.  It was tough duty. Our AirB&B host, Rodrigo, also a sommelier, came by our place this afternoon with four bottles of local wine for us to try – 1 white and 3 reds. The white was a Torrontes from … Continue reading Wine coma in Salta

(September 23-24 – written by Dave) We are enjoying our downtime in Salta.  It is a very relaxed city.  In fact based on what some of the locals tell us, Salta is the “chill-out” capitol of the Argentina.  People don’t often come here with big agendas, they come here to relax. Relaxing for a hungry … Continue reading Food coma in Salta