TERRE DEL FUEGO

We headed in an eastern direction to the Atlantic coast and then followed Al Sur once more to go as far south as we could.  The roads were fair to good and most have been paved except for a 100 mile stretch.  There was a small delay in the town of Rio Grande when we cut a tire.  This was not on the gravel road but a curb in town reached out and bit us.   The tire was changed and a new one purchased and we are once again on our way.  The boundries  of Chili and Argentina move around as we go south and we must clear customs 4 times going south and reverse that and clear 4 times heading north.  I gave up my honey at the Chilean border.  I forgot that it is a farm product and not allowed.

                                                                                                              

We crossed the Magellan Straits by ferry.  It is in Chili and very organized.  We looked at each other and said” How many people do you know that have crossed this body of water”?  Sometimes we have to stop and realize where we are and what we are doing.  We were again traveling through flat plains filled with sheep.

                                                                                                                                                              

We would occasionally see the Rhea in groups.  The big chicken-like bird looked like an ostrich.

Then the Mountains appeared and the country changed.  We went over a pass with fresh snow.  The roads were a bit rough but paved. 

                                                                                                                                                                 

We entered the town of Ushuaia, the most southern city in the world!!  Al Sur said”Hurrah You made it.”  We had expected a small frontier town but it is a  very busy port city of 45,000 people.  Folks going to Antarctica  leave from here.  Afraid that trip was too much for our budget.  We parked overlooking Beagle Bay.  It’s early in the season but still lots of activity.  The next day we drove into the national park of Terre Del Fuego.

                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                        

We kept driving to the end of the Pan American Highway.  This is a big landmark.  The signpost tells how far it is to the beginning in Alaska.  We took pictures to remember the moment.

                                                                                                                                                                     

We camped in the park at a site beside a mountain stream with rabbits and birds that we certainly do not see at home. Now we must put Al Nor to work and retrace some of our route and head north toward Buenos Aries.  We had to do the border bit again and cross the Straits again.  There are many miles to go.

Gerry and Bill