I get my first taste of the Patagonia winds as I round Lago Nahuel Huapi. The weather, though quite cool, is nice with lots of blue skies and fluffy clouds. Bariloche is a major ski destination for South America and its predominantly Swiss architecture gives the city a Swiss Alps feel. As I walk around it’s difficult to avoid the blanket of commercialism that envelops the city. All the major outdoor clothing manufacturers have big stores in the centro and the calles are dotted with ethnic restaurants, microbreweries, and tour companies. I am thankful to be here out of season.
I spend a day riding Paso Cordoba and the neighboring Lago Traful. It’s still very green here but the air is cold and I get the sense winter is not far off. Again the winds make what would normally be a tranquillo ride quite hectic and taxing. The vibration from the heavily wash boarded ripio is enough to finally break off the mirror that was bent from my crash thousands of miles earlier in Ecuador where I dislocated my finger. The gang at the local Honda shop were kind enough to weld the mount for me and wouldn’t take my money. Great guys and I am happy to hang out with them for a day.
I run into another SE rider, John (Deepinit from ADV), and we decide to head for the Welsh settlement of [URL=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevelin”]Trevelin[/URL] (via Los Alerces National Park) which will put us in position for an early border crossing the following day when we will begin the famous Carretera Austral. But not before he lances a boil or something.
