26-28 November
Punta Arenas – Puerto Natales
Today weather and especially the wind is more accetable, not perfect, but entirely bikeable. First 10 km upwards through industrial areas. Not much to see. After another 6-7 km I got some tailwind and my speed increased quite good. On my right side strait of Magellan andf I’m very pleased with the wind. When I passded the airport Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport my route turned little bit west, still pretty flat but now I facing more and more headwind.
I can accept rain, but headwinds and crosswinds are brutal. After 52 km I saw a gasstation with coffe bar which is very unusual outhere so I stopped for coffe and some rest from head and crosswinds. It was necessary!
Outside in the parking lot, a number of car enthusiasts gathered for vintage cars, so after my coffee, it was time to take a look
Old fashion cars rom the thirties.
Still going strong. They could build fancy cars back then.
After this free exhibition, continuing north on a boring road with even more boring scenery, and to make matters worse, facing even stronger headwinds.
Despite the uneventful journey, I did get to experience something interesting.
Armadillo, First time in my life I see an animal like this in real time
Tentcamp aftrwer ruta 9 north, middle of nowhwere
Meeting trucks and truck trailers in headwinds is not fun; at times, I’m pushed towards the shoulder, which is covered in loose gravel.
Late afternoon after almost 90 km on the saddle, middle of nowhere after ruta 9 north I found a green spot to pitch up my tent. I was tired and hungry!
No probs to get roof over my head and dinner. I fell into sleep around 10 PM. Woke up by traffic noise around 7,30 AM and did some easy breakfast, yougurt, musli bread and coffe. Before I fell into sleep I listen to latests version of Millenium, Havsörnens skrik by Karin Smirnoff
Distans: 88,93 km
Average Speed: 11,8 km/h
Max Speed: 39,2 km/h
Cycling Time:07,34 h/m
Total Time:11:01 h/m
Medium Temp: 11,0 C
Max Temp: 24,0 C
Min Temp: 07,0 C
November 27
While I was preparing for today’s cycling and packing up the tent, I heard a friendly ”good morning greeting” from the road. It was a cyclist who was more of a morning person than myself. She was a younger woman from Brazil with the same destination as me, Puerto Natales. She planned to stop in the next town, Villa Tehuelches, for breakfast.
– Maybe we’ll see each other later we said to each other before she took off… into the headwind. Same headwind I also get later.
Villa Thuelches and stop for coffe
Nasha, the brasil girl fighting the slop after Villa Thuelches
After this meeting we did’nt see each other more. Cople hours later during the afternoon, much of the wind disappeared, and I cycled as if I were in heaven. The sun was shining, and most of the hills seemed to have vanished.
I also meet other nerds like me.
French family from Grenoble.They started i Peru and now going for Ushuaia
Google and Maps.Me failed, also my map and GPS device… The bridge is gone, destoyed… How to continue!!
Around 7 p.m., after 96 km I found an incredibly nice spot to pitch the tent, right next to a lagoon. Perfect for personal hygiene and dishwashing.
Additionally, I now have only about 60 km left to Puerto Natales, and with the afternoon weather, I plan to arrive around 1 p.m…. but!
After a nice dinner and coffe I jumped into my sleepingbag and almost immediately fell asleep.
Distans: 96,47 km
Average Speed: 13,9km/h
Max Speed: 33,5 km/h
Cycling Time:06,02 h/m
Total Time:10:05 h/m
Medium Temp: 16,0 C
Max Temp: 26,0 C
Min Temp: 06,0 C
November 28
I woke up few times and heard rain falling on the tent canvas, not much and nothing to worried about. My morning was quite nice, sun was shining and no wind so far.
When packing down my tent I saw the surface of the lagoon begin to ripple, and then the wind kicked in for real.
The rest of the day, the headwind and crosswind became stronger and stronger.
The only positive is that the landscape has now started to change character. More bushes and small trees, settlements, and more delight for the eyes.
Cows are waiting to be let out to pasture.
I thought I was in Chile….!
Chiles answer to our recyclings station at home.I belive God has bestowed a
blessing upon it
Entrance into Puerto Natales and 61 km headwind is over… for this time
Casa Lili was the hostel I found both cheeap, clean and nice to join
Distans: 61,1 km
Average Speed: 10,1 km/h
Max Speed: 37,3 km/h
Cycling Time:06,01 h/m
Total Time:08:21 h/m
Medium Temp: 13,0 C
Max Temp: 23,0 C
Min Temp: 04,0 C
See yeah later
P-G
// The Global Cyclist 1726