Riding to Patagonia

[ducpainter]

Wow...Lupine...who knew?

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You got some special interest in lupine flowers?

[ducpainter]

You got some special interest in lupine flowers?

Other than the fact they grow everywhere around here...no.

[duccarlos]

You’re gonna run out of road soon!

[koko64]

Does the Lupine have similar properties to the Datura flower?

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Other than the fact they grow everywhere around here...no.

Hmmm.  Never noticed.  Really nice flowers.  Riding through fields of them smells like fresh made jam.

[ducpainter]

Hmmm.  Never noticed.  Really nice flowers.  Riding through fields of them smells like fresh made jam.

The state also plants them in wildflower, yeah planted wildflowers, patches along the highway north of Tilton.

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I continued south form Coyhaique to Cerro Castillo hoping to do a half-day hike to the base of the jagged peak that gives the town its name (castillo means castle and the peak does look a bit like a castle).  Unfortunately, a missed turn and heavy winds delayed my arrival and I ended up arriving after the hour that they let people start the hike.  Oh well.  At least I got a nice, if windy, sunset.  My hostel owner had a large collection of hats from his years working with sheep and other livestock.  I was impressed.








































The next day offered no respite from the wind.  If anything, it was worse.  When I stopped to take this one last picture of the mountains as I rode out of town, I turned back to see that the wind had blown over my 450lb full-loaded bike.













Cerro Castillo is the end of asphalt for the Carretera Austral.  All dirt from this point on.  The weather was not only windy but raining off and on but the views were nice, if gray.  When I arrived at Bahía Murta, a town with a huge blue bay, I pulled off the Austral to detour down to Puerto Sanchez.
























The road down to Puerto Sanchez was a quiet and empty dirt path that was the perfect way to finish a dusty and drizzly day.

[ducpainter]

For some reason, this post gave me chills.

I doubt it was because I spent 4 hours outside shooting this morning at temp ranging from 7-20 degrees F.



I think many of us live vicariously though you, Royce.

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For some reason, this post gave me chills.

I doubt it was because I spent 4 hours outside shooting this morning at temp ranging from 7-20 degrees F.



I think many of us live vicariously though you, Royce.

What were you shooting? A film? Squirrels? Sweet sweet heroin?

[ducpainter]

What were you shooting? A film? Squirrels? Sweet sweet heroin?

Shotgun...clay targets.

[Howie]

Come to my house.  Lots of squirrels to shoot.  A racoon or three also.  Free food, lodging and parking!

[ducpainter]

Come to my house.  Lots of squirrels to shoot.  A racoon or three also.  Free food, lodging and parking!

...and a trip to the hoosegow for discharging within city limits.

[Howie]

...and a trip to the hoosegow for discharging within city limits.

I did say free food and lodging, but not where

Enough thread jacking.

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