Tomorrow, Sunday Feb 2, I head to Thunder Bay to fly to Bariloche, Argentina to embark on a bicycle trip along the Carretera Austral in Southern Patagonia.
It’s been 6 years since I was last in this beautiful area during my 2014 trip down the length of South America from Quito, Ecuador to Ushuaia at the bottom of the continent. I’ve been looking forward since that time to exploring this section in Chile more extensively. Now I get my chance.
There will be five of us this time around. We all hail from Grand Marais in northern Minnesota. Lee and Scott Bergstrom were with me on a cycle trip from the top of the North Island of New Zealand to Bluff at the southern tip of the South Island in 2016. It will be great to share this trip as well. We have had many adventures together. Jane Alexander and Chris O’Brien will be riding a tandem in Patagonia. It should be interesting as the tandem will be fast on the flats and screaming on the downs. The uphills will be more of a challenge. But they are very capable. It will be our first trip together and I very much look forward to it.
The bicycling part of our journey will be about 1700 miles from Bariloche in Argentina to Puerto Natales located along the Chilean coast. From there we will catch a ferry up to Puerto Montt. The ferry will follow an “inland passage” along the fiords of coastal Chile. We are all hoping for good weather on this part of the trip. Nobody wants rain, wind or seasickness on the boat. A few good wishes from all of you might be helpful. a 3 – 4 day cycle will bring us back to Bariloche.
We will be self-supported. That means all camping gear, clothing and food will be loaded on our bikes. This gives us the freedom (and necessity at times) to camp in this rugged dramatic countryside.
I’m hoping to include a map here. Since I haven’t mastered how to load our route on a map I borrowed someone else’s. It doesn’t show the lower part of our route to El Calafate or Puerto Natales. It does include Puerto Montt in the upper left where our ferry trip ends. You can visualize the cycle route back to Bariloche from Puerto Montt.
I hope you’ll join us by following this blog. We’d like to have you along. buckbenson.org
Sounds great but did I miss a chapter. What happened to Russia to India?
Hi Nona. I’m leaving for Siberia on May 6 a month after I return from South America. This one first.
Sounds amazing. Wishing all of you a safe, rewarding trip. Will be following.
Hi Dick. Are you out west?
Buck – May the winds be at your back! Safe Travels✌️
Thanks Doug! I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
Hi Buck. I will follow along. You live an amazing life. So wonderful.
Thanks, Alane, hope you’re out west enjoying the weather.
One more peaceful night sleep in my own bed. This will be an amazing adventure. I can only imagine the tales we will have to tell. Buenos noches.
Te veo en la mañana
Looks like a couple more sleeps. Bummer for flight delays. We’ll get there.
Wishing you a spectacular trip! We’re watching you!
Thanks, happy you’re along.
Prayers, well wishes being sent your way. Excited to have a ring side seat!
Thanks, Steve and Heather! Look forward to seeing you in April.
Buenos dias, here we go!
Make memories, be safe have fun. Looking forward to following you all!
Thanks Pat.
Dios see contigo, amigos.
Roberto, de nada. I bet you and Helen are really enjoying your little slice of heaven on Jekyll. Have a great winter.
Safe travels to all! May your legs be strong, your peace be encompassing and your joy to the sky. We be following.
Dave, here’s to a great winter to you, Holly, Teela, and of course, the wrecking crew, Tor.
Be safe Buck. Looking forward to sharing your adventures vicariously ❤️
Oh my!!! This sounds so amazing…I’d go for the ferry ride alone 😂 Sounds like a helluva ride, especially without support!? 😬 I guess I kinda envy that you’re just a touch insane.
Love you forever, Robin
Me too, Robi. Have a great winter!
Thanks, Nikki and Bob. Have a great winter. Want to hear about your trip too!
Looking forward to all your reports! Living vicariously is better than nothing!
Hi Karen. You are probably busy with adventures of your own too!
Safe travels to you all and may you encounter many lovely adventures! Making memories!!
Thanks Julie! We’ve already had a misadventure with a flight delay causing us to miss the flight to Buenos Aires. We’ll try again on Tuesday. Have a wonderful winter in Mexico.
Thanks for keeping me in the loop Buck. Will be following you. Take care and good luck!
Good to hear from you! Hope all is well and you’re enjoying life.
Safe travels Buck!
Thanks Tom! Hope you’re heading somewhere this winter yourself!
and they’re off…have a great and safe adventure, buck. you’ve got some great pedaling mates!!!
Bill, you should be along too!
OMG! I’m sooooooi proud of you and your compadres. Have an awesome time and travel mercies!
Thanks Susan. We had a flight delay which made us miss out big flight so rescheduled for Tuesday. All will be well.
Planes are less reliable than bicycles. You will be in some very remote and isolated places so, yes, it is necessary to bring your own provisions, but think of all the great calzados, estofadas and vinos you will miss!
You could come along and drive the sag wagon, Tom. We wouldn’t miss a thing!
OK, Buck, but before I pack, why is it call a “sag” wagon? Sags in the middle? Carries as much water as in Sag? Good luck tomorrow with the great iron bird.
Support And Gear. We’ll wait for you in Bariloche.
Save travels!
Thanks, Terri!
Les mando muchos rezos, que les vaya bien en todo el viaje.
Gracias por sus buenos deseos. Feliz de que me sigas!
Good Luck and remember to rest too…Ooh I heard Chile ran out of wine!
Good luck Buck…remember to rest a bit too. And I just heard Chile ran out of wine.
Been out of wine down there since you left, Lon! Flight got delayed and we missed our big flight. We’ll try again on Tuesday.
Buck,
Stuck in the Kansas City airport for 12 hours trying to get back to Minneapolis. All these chief fans have clogged up the the airport. Surrounded by a sea of red. Hope we live long enough to see purple! Happy Trails Ron
No fun hanging in the airport. Hope you get a plane soon. Maybe you should just head south. I’m on a plane tomorrow if everything works out.
Safe travels my friend, so excited to follow you on this awesome adventure!!!
Thanks Mary.