Los Penitentes Arg, Valparaiso to Santiago Chile Day 52 Jan 31 14

 

 I have no idea what time I was on the road but it was early…after breaky which was included in the 100 pesos for the room….off to Chile Pass through 3 small villages in the 40k to the border…..no fuel……must get 15 k into Chile before fuel available……hope I make it….pass through 1 tunnel a k long…..no place to run out of fuel…… When I come through this I see 2 signs….WELCOME TO CHILE and ARGENTINA ADUANA 18k back……..crap….I was watching earlier I didn’t see any signs….turn around take this pic and walk into this guard building….with no espanol and the guard no Ingles we manage to establish that I can proceed 4 k into Chile to CUSTOMS AND ADUANA…..ok but I expect I will be back….but I need fuel…..

I make it………their are huts all over the I am motioned to one and find that I am missing my tourist card….they have me fill a form and then to the Aduana Hut…..I am searched…all luggage off the bike…ok you can go…another 20 minutes to reload and I am off……..15 k for fuel….not before I am stuck in a line up….crews are laying cement on a mountain with over 30 switchbacks…..I field questions coming at me in Spanish…where you from, where you been and going…..  Finally we move…unable to get a pic of the switchbacks but it is steep and no guard rails with the road running to the very edge in places….make it to the village and fuel up…..moa with a coke and candy bar…take 3 pics one of bikers who have left their mark Pics from my seat at the station…. an upper and lower track……. Not sure where its going as it is heading towards Argentina……no longer using trains……. Chile grape fields……. Valparaiso….

I tried to find a place outside Valparaiso….no luck…went into 3 towns….end up back in Santiago at Piso 3 hotel…no single rooms …take the apt at 80. US a night……hoping something will turn up…..will get a sign on the bike and if I get rid of it may return to Canada early………