From San Pedro we made our way into Argentina, the ride was interesting at first because we had to ascend back to + 4000 meters, having become acclimatised to the altitude and warmth of the low lands.
The ride to the border was characterised by the most amazing mountain-scapes, and having seen a lot before this for the last couple of weeks, I thought I had become accustomed to being blown away… but I hadn't…
Once again Salvador Dali came to mind. Despite the fact that we had left at least 3 hours later than planned (mainly due to the fact I had to re-pack the bike with both our gear, and unlike Ecuador, I didn't have the ever-patient and generous Tim to carry the excess), we had to stop a few times because it was so awe inspiring.
Thus by the time we reached the border it was almost 5pm and thus getting close to dark, and thus close to freezing conditions (note to Tim - don't do this!!!). To cap it off the guy at the border who did the bike papers was the worst one finger typist I had ever seen, it took almost an hour to complete the paperwork because of this alone. I was watching him on the keyboard and it was like slow motion (look at my papers, look at screen, look down at keyboard, look back at papers, look at keyboard, raise finger, hit a key, look at screen, look at papers, look back at screen, OK that's "T" done, look back at papers, next is "r" etc)…
Thus by the time we reached Susco I was frozen to the bone and I thought Tutu had died from hypothermia behind me… During one leg when we were riding in Ecuador I had felt her helmet lolling about on my back, and when we pulled up she admitted that she had fallen asleep!!! The first person I have ever heard of who can fall asleep on a motorbike!!! So anyways I felt that again, and was worried, I was pushing the Dingo past 75 mph (luckily the roads were straight), and began to wonder if I had frostbite in my fingers, when…
Finally I saw a sign that seemed to be for a hotel, though I was so delirious with cold, so I thought I was hallucinating. We pulled up and sure enough it was a hotel, and they had rooms with… hot showers.
You can guess the rest...
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