.Day 9 Crossing our FIRST South American Border Chile into Argentina
7.00 am Departure Tehuelche Patagonia Lodge COYHAIQUE CHILE for Destination Hosteria Antigua Patagonia LOS ANTIGUAS ARGENTINA ( 279 kms / 173 m)
Cloudy drizzly start to the day and as expected 10 hours plus on the road fingers were crossed that Dave’s MGA RIP is OK after the guys worked on the MGA RIP for 5 hours yesterday late afternoon /evening replacing the head gasket.(info for MG ENTHUSIASTS)
Even though still a little light rain and grey skyline we enjoyed driving on the 100 kms of bitumen before starting the 179 kms on a tough gravel road with awful corrugations in places. However the scenery was beautiful with the Andes more prominent on our left and sights of the large beautiful Lake General Carrera as we circuit the Lakes western side to the Chile /Agentinian Border at Chile Chicco.
Fuel ( at last) and a lunch stop was at Puerto Rio Tranquilloa little town on Lake General Carrera. Labradors and retrievers everywhere and one was sitting in the middle of the road. Those of you that know me well would not be surprised to hear that I then coaxed the lovely black Labrador away from the middle of the road. (Can you say ‘Doggie come here in Spanish?!) Ony to have my instruction completely ignored as the dog, now joined by others proceeded to run after passing cars !.
Nine hours later we arrived nervously at the Chilean Border as were told it could take 30 minutes per MG vehicle. However with our SpanEnglish and help from an official who could speak a little English Ross a I were through each border in half an hour followed fast on our heels by the others. …so all good.
We arrived into ARGENTINA late Sunday afternoon 18 Jan and after driving around the town of Los Antiguas for a while eventually found our hotel , Hosteria Antigua Patagonia on the shores of basically the same lake but now called Lake Buenos Aires .A long day and for MG ENTUSIASTS….MGA RIP travelled well with the new head gasket.
Check in to accommodation, drinks and a chat , dinner and collapsed into bed. . This is the order of most days Tomorrow is a REST Day YEBO ! .
MG Pan American Highway 2015 