Day 10 started well in El Calafate. The best way that I can describe the feeling of this town is it is like Queenstown in New Zealand - built for tourism.
We awoke in our backpackers hotel to another South American breakfast experience - minus the eggs this time. We did not mind as we had been out the night before and had a good time - we ended up at the local Casino where we learnt to play BlackJack in Spanish - The exchange rate was a great help and meant we played for a few hours with nothing more than a few dollars at stake! For the record we walked out even with Jeff's famed luck at the tables helping us through.
Our adventure for the day was a ride out the the Moreno Glacier - but before we could start that repairs to my bike were needed.
The damage jesterday was not too bad with a broken brake line and wind visor a relatively easy fix for the crew. However when we walked out to the bikes this morning we found that the repaired brake line was leaking, my front tire was flat and to top things off a local dog had relieved himself all over my back tire. I was not amused!
Repairs done, riding gear off and time to leave! It was 4 degrees out but beautiful weather as we rode for the first time not in wet weather gear. Big mistake! 4 Degrees and 120Km an hour without the wind break effect of wet weather gear is like being in an industrial freezer with a cold mist continiously blown over you....My fingers felt like ice!
All of this mattered little as we hit the National Park after a quick 60 Km ride. For those Bikers out there I can honestly say then next 35Km was the best riding road I have ever been on! Amazing through foothills with perfect twisty bitumen roads! Amazing!
We arrived at the boat to view the Glacier! This thing is amazing! Including the submerged parts it is 200 meters tall (Taller than Q1 on the coast), 2.5Km wide (five times the width of the Brisbane river) and over 50Km long - OF SOLID ICE!
We took a boat ride and saw an amazing sight as a a chunk of ice - bigger than a removal truck - cracked (calved is the correct term) off the Glacier to fall into the river - adding another massive iceberg to the river.
After the boat ride we got our packed lunches and rode back through the National Park Road - even better the second time and a bit warmer. We stopped about 80 km down the road on the banks of a lake with Glaciers to have lunch on some big rocks. Just Dad, Jeff and I - really beautiful.
When we got back to town we spewnt the afternoon shopping in the tourist shops, having a great beer in the sun and finally having a Pizza at the local Pizzeria. Great food - way to much - and good company as Steve and Sigfried joined us.
At this stage I should introduce the Crew:
Leo - Tour Leader - (First Photo) A 29 Year Old German Motorbike enthusiast who has been living in South America for the last few years. Leo has a great sense of humour, terrible dress sense and is known by the group as Sargeant Shultz after the Hogan Heros character.
Dani - Support Crew - Dani is one of the 2 members of Team Columbia who make up our support crew. Dani has a company in China and has ridden bikes through South America and China. Dani has a great sense humour, speaks Chinese, Spanish and English and drive the Support vehicle and acts as a mechanic for the bikes with Leo and Mauricio.
Mauricio - Support Crew - Remaining Member of Team Columbia - Lives in the US and has ridden with Dani on their many adventures. Funny bloke with a great sense of adventure.
Sigfried (Siggy) - Retired German School Teacher. Has been in South America hiking since January. Super fit at 68 - he loves a beer and takes the chance to hike at any spare moment.
Steve - English bloke (we look past that) who loves a beer too. Steve has taken the option to ride the biker bike and is having a great time on it - we hit mud tomorrow though so we will see after that....
Bruce and Muffy - Bruce is the ex-CEO of Penfolds wines and has advised us on our wines since we got here. Muffy - his wife -is travelling largely in the support vehicle and is lovely - the group MUM - ALWAYS NAGGING US ABOUT EATING MORE VEGETABLES! :)
Terry and Pam - Terry went to school with Bruce and agreed to this trip after a few beers. Terry is a Cattle farmer in Victoria and also loves a beer and yarn. Lovely bloke who also once owned a pub. Pam is travelling with Muffy and Team Columbia in the support vehicle. Pam is good value and also supports Muffy in her nagging of the Munro Boys.
Well that is me for now - I hope this helps to add context to our trip and will update again as soon as we have WiFi.
PS: Missing you Baby - looking forward to speaking again soon. D.
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