Now almost touching the large southern region of Southamerica called Patagonia – I still needed another day heading south. Goal was Chos Malal just 400km north of the famous region.
I started early from Malargüe to get the road to my self and ride in slightly lower temperature than the previous days. In theory this was good, but of course in the afternoon both traffic and temp increased.
It was a relatively short distance with appr 6 hours of driving – of which 83km was dirt/gravel with deep gravel and loose sand – and lots of dust. This stretch I did in about 2.5 hours which was better than expected, as “everyone” had talked this up as being difficult and a stretch of many bike-drops.
The path was a beautiful one – passing sections of black vulcanic rocks thrown around from the eruptions, and some due to the iron content was rusty red.
I met a Brasilian family travelling with three teenagers in their VW bus from 2013 – one of the last produced in Brazil.
I also passed a single spike rock stranding all alone on green flats – near Buta Ranquil.
Arriving early afternoon on Chos Malal – a small town split in two by a central mountain peak. A sleepy town from the looks of it, and I even had to queue for petrol. I just think it was rush hour 🙄
The accomodation could have been the tent for the first time – there was a few bikes I met along the day that did recommend the public campground – but I had already booked a small but very nice hotel at the edge of town, quiet and with good facilities (shower and internet). Getting more south and closer to the Andes and Patagonia, prices are increasing. Fuel is the only cost more or less fixed – around 8-10 Euro for 500km of fuel.
