Ahoyhoy any one. Is there anybody there oooooh?
From Mendoza I took my passport across the Andes in one of the most amazing rides, no, THE most amazing riding day of my life. I pootled down a boring straight road out of Mendoza with some hills far off in the distance ahead of me but quickly they loomed large into mountains and for 20km Sir Humphrey and I rode a deathly mountain pass up into the Andes; 3000m up! The road, which was no more than a wide path with razor sharp rocks from landslides twisted back and forth to make its way over the collosal rise. After this a descent into green pastures and then the high pass, this time on pristene tarmac, into Chile. We ended up 3200m up at the peak by the border. I had gone up as much above sea level as the Titanic is below it. After customs a looping ribbon of black top helped us descend and I blasted onto Los Villious and a beautiful beach on the Pacific Ocean where we camped. I have some amazing photos for you but the next morning I realised I had lost my phone, my connection to Sam and all my photo and video footage contained within. To say I was devistated is an understatement. This was my worst moment of the trip as I knew this would make things even garder for Sam and my parents.
Nevertheless I continued up the Route 5 AKA the Panamerica Highway hiding my selfloathing under an audio book of the Count of Montecristo and slowly my mood lifted as I knew it would. The transformation in the scenery during the hours was dramatic from the green vineyards north of Santiago to the scrub north further and then to the endless sand and rock of the Atacama desert. I would have given anything to be able to record it for you and my posteritory. I stopped in Taltal and then took the coast road which again ascented me over mountains where the was not a sign of life around me, it was breath taking (but not litterally so as it was only 2000m up). I made it to Antofagasta, a surprising long city squeezed between the Pacific and the Andes where I managed to fins an open department store (seemingly the only kind open on a Sunday in South America) where I bought a new camera. I need, for myself as much as anyone, to able to document the trip in at least photos as well as words.
So there we are. Photos will follow baring any further Tigger stupidity. I now head for Calama and one of the driest spots on earth.
TTFN,
Tigger
P.s. Sam, I am so sorry for losing the phone and I love you with everything I am.
P.p.s. To everyone else I´m sorry for the terrible spelling. No time to check. Onward!
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