Now, it’s a gang
Ruta 40 is a wild stretch of road, but it’s all under construction. The part we’re on is about 300 miles of gravel, but with occasional sections of new pavement that still isn’t open. In a few years it will all be paved, so get here now if you like bumpy rides.
The wildlife is pretty spectacular with herds of guanaco (large relatives to the llama), solitary armadillos and groups of flightless rheas. These are the funniest, as they are skittish when they see a car and run away, looking like giant roadrunners.
We drove south and took a detour to visit the Cueva de los Manos – 9000 year old cave paintings. Mostly hands.
We got pretty excited when they issued us hard hats. But we weren’t allowed in the caves, and could only view the hand prints on the outside walls. While it is really amazing that they are over 9,000 years old, they look like someone with spray paint tagged them last week.
The best part of the cave was running into Paul and Camille , riding motorcycles from Idaho. We talked a for a while at the caves, and realized on the road that we go about the same speed. So, when we reached Bajo Carcoles and there was no gas (they said it would be 15 days!), we decided to stick together. They weren’t sure they’d have enough gas to make it to the next fuel station 240 km away. We weren’t sure we could either. But we could always combine gas and 1 of us could make it!
We drove a few more hours and set up camp at an gravel pit between the old road and the new one under construction. It was incredibly windy so we spent the evening hanging out in Red Beard.
hey jason does that south american bay have the same upright motor as yours
mark – pretty close. weird stock electronic ignition, but otherwise looks about the same…
i see a chilean license plate, i see new Bodeswell stickers and a lots of new adventures!
Are those whales at the bottom of photo number sixteen? Reas are always in crossword puzzles, but I had never seen one. I thought they were extinct.
We just got back from our winter trip, this year after BBB we headed to Florida. We were even in Houston the same time you guys were, but didn’t want bother you at that sad time. We were on the road for about two and a half months and have been home for about two weeks now and I’m already wanting to go again. Lost a CV joint in Florida so I replaced all of them and after some of your problems just finding parts I really felt lucky to just be able to pick up the phone and order parts and have them delivered to wherever I wanted. I have really been enjoying the pictures, it really makes the stories of your adventures come alive.
Now this is the way I remember Patagonia…
Some 16 years ago. You are probably in for some major wind. Love sharing your lives. Thanks.
Such a shame that you have to drive down the boring Routa 40; the Carretera Austral is so much more scenic, but it wasn’t meant to be. How exiting to see a numberplate with AC on the T4 (my last home in Germany before I migrated…).
Juergen – no worries, we haven’t been bored once in 2.5 years 😉 you’ve got quite an eye for Euro plates, but it does become a bit of a sport down here!
That’s some beautiful scenery – thankis for the great pics. Hope you all ae doing well, and I’m glad you made it out of Chile.