So the next part of our journey we had the choose whether to do it by land or sea. Route 40 takes you from deep down in Patagonia, to the very north of Argentina. (famously seen in motorcycle diaries) We choose land, some people would say its a really boring trip, driving through nothing for 2 days, literally, but this is what appealed so much, just from what we’d seen in Patagonia alone, seeing so much space was amazing, and the thought of driving for over 24hrs barely passing an estancia or car through dessert type rock landscape really appealed. Unfortunately we lacked the funds or time to do it ourselves by car (next time haha) and so we got the bus! Which was great apart from the painful moments when you’d do anything to stop get out and take a decent picture, not one through dirty glass! There was a really big mix of people traveling, couples in their 50’s from America a couple of Argentinian people and European couples like us.
We made the painful walk from our hostel to the bus station in the morning, after I barely slept a wink after a seriously itchy night! The first day was great, it was amazing weather, blue skies, desert coloured land! And emu’s and lamas running across the road and the landscape. Really enjoyed the scenery and the sense of space, always makes me think where 24hrs driving from london would get me, and impossible to imagine that space to be completely unspoilt and unpopulated!
Although it was 12 hours on a pretty standard bus it was a pretty good day, toilet breaks every 4 or so hours and our supermarket stash of food served us well! Sunset was great driving though, still desert landscape, and the full moon came up from the horizon, absolutely huge and brilliant, impressed everyone on the bus. We arrived at the hostel, shared a dinner (steak – of course) and a 10peso bottle of wine! Slept soundly and were up the next morning intime to get to the bus, outside the front the door!
The second day continued along the same lines, James finished Shakelton’s ‘South’ book, loved it and is still determined to go to the Antarctic one day! I itched a lot less which is always good, James has now named me fly-bate! (after Nemo) The scenery grew greener, there were actually a couple of other cars on the roads now and the odd house turned into the odd small town.
We’d booked accommodation a while a go, but hadnt written down where it was…. that’s one way to get to know a new town/city!
