Ushuaia and The End Of The World

Rio Gallegos to Rio Grande is quite a dull ride, broken up by two border crossings with a 120 mile leg in Chile, including a ferry crossing of the Straits of Magellan. The usual 20 minute water journey took longer than expected as we had to stand off the landing ramp on Tierra del Fuego (TdF) for the other ferry to load and depart. It gave me a chance to chat to a couple from Plymouth, on the second week of a two week tour of the area. Their 5-day unguided trek into the back country of Torres del Paine sounded incredible, though not my cup of tea.

It is 133 miles from Rio Grande to Ushuaia, the last 50 miles providing a dramatic departure from the mostly flat landscape of TdF. leaden skies and chilly temperatures came sharply into focus as the road climbed the Paso Garibaldi for the run into Ushuaia. Obscured by cloud I was disappointed as the forecast had been for a sunny day. As has been the case previously after cresting the pass the weather changed dramatically, within a half mile the cloud and mist lifted to reveal a crystal blue sky. My luck was in. Ushuaia is often covered in cloud, today the sun was out and the temperatures rose into the 60'sF.

Shortly after leaving Rio Grande I came upon a police check point, now a well practiced routine. Slow down, let them check you are not local and get waved through. Not this time. The lady from the National Guard indicated for me to stop.

She asked where I was going, which is a little odd as the choices aren't many. Ushuaia I declared. 'Oh, Ushuaia, well take care as there are guanacos by the side of the road in the next 50km, go slowly as they can cross in front of you', sweet, but obviously unaware I have been dodging them for the last 1,500km.

Anyway, the video captures some highlights, minus the guanacos.

As the day was a blessing I decided to continue to the Fin del Mundo, or the End Of The World, another 12 miles further along on an unmade road. The picture of me on the bike was taken by a young couple from London (he was Colombian),  about to head north with the destination of his birth town in Colombia, his first time back in 13 years. I guess he was going to introduce his girlfriend to his extended family.

The end of the world is not such a bad place.

                                         

14,348 miles on the odometer from Virginia to reach the southernmost point in the Americas that can be accessed by road. The Corbin seat on the bike is well broken in and quite comfortable.

A few more shots of the harbor in Ushuaia looking out to the Beagle Channel.

Taking a rest day off the bike before the wheels turn north, backtracking to the mainland. One final border crossing planned for this trip, back into Chile, where I will spend the next couple of weeks. More on that in the next post from Puerto Natales at the weekend.

Cheers. T2