The section of ripio from the cabanas to the border was fairly wild, up mountain sides and round hairpin bends. We saw condors and wild horses. Then across the border and back into Argentina. We have loved Chile and it has been great to be driving through the Andes themselves rather than just having them as a backdrop, which they will be when we get back onto Ruta 40. The difference was noticeable straight away, because the lake is shared between the two nations....

Another great drive, first on Tarmac and later on ripio, running out of superlatives for the scenery. Then 2 nights in a cabin by the lake. Leaving Coyahaique there had been a huge electrical storm which had taken out the power in the hotel and surrounding blocks while we were having breakfast. No problems with the road though. Facts: 10:00eave Coyahaique 44903km filled up 15:15 left puerto tranquilo 3/4+ tank left. 50% ripio Drove 289 km to Puerto Guadal ...

Time to hit the road again. Bit of a drama as we left the village as the road had been closed. This was more alarming than it sounds as it is literally the only road around here. After some gesturing and mime we worked out that we had to reverse onto a small ferry which was shuttling motorists up and down the fjord-a bit like a free cruise as it is so beautiful. We headed on to the Bosque Encantado, or enchanted forest. We were still feeling pretty rough from th...

Continued the road trip on the Carretera Austral, Chile. It was built on the instigation of Pinochet as a nation-building exercise to create a land link through Patagonia, but the terrain (fjords, steep mountains, forests) makes this both wildly ambitious and spectacular. The drive from Futafeulu was fantastic, we were constantly stopping to take photos. It's hard when it's all so photogenic, what you stop for and what you drive on past becomes a bit arbitrary. B...

Start of the road trip proper today. Ruta 40 in Argentina and then the Carretera Austral in Chile, both legendary routes. Big skies, big mountains and the biggest Welsh tea ever in Trevelin, Patagonia. How embarrassing to have to admit to living in Wales and speaking no Welsh, to people who fled here to keep their culture alive because it was under threat at home... And who continue to speak Welsh (as well as Spanish)! Then across the border to spend our first n...