Days 80-82 3rd-5th October (Gobernador Gregores-El Calafate-Rio Gallegos) Argentina

Ruta 40 Con't & Patagonia Wind

After finding some great accommodation from a local who stopped next to me I was back on Ruta 40. The days are extremely cold, averaging about 0 in the morning and about 6 deg during the day.

It didn't take long before I dropped the bike. Riding around a corner the wind pushed me towards the edge of the road where deep gravel accumulated. I managed to keep
the bike upright by using just the rear brake but when it hit the gravel it spun me to a stationary stop. The wind finished the job by pushing me over, the bike is still way too heavy, and it had taken me four attempts to pick it up.

The weather started to turn fowl the further south I headed, more snow, and the gravel on the roads was getting worse. With cars and trucks on the road the gravel formed nice neat lines ready to catch me out and it almost did. The damn wind got me again and pushed me into the deep gravel sending me into a tank slapper (fish tailing), not sure how I managed to correct it as I was bracing for impact.

El Calafate is located next to the Patagonian mountain ranges and the plan is to visit Perito Merino Glacier next day.

Cheers
Greg