We’ve done this route west/east to Bariloche, now we’re reversing it to get back on track to one of the world’s most beautiful routes, a few days away. Osorno is the last chance for tires and a final headshake. From here on the riding is harder.
Because I like GPS images, here is the route, reversed
Here’s the approximate Google Earth shot
Today though, knowing the border was going to be a breeze, we explored a side road near the summit and found a lake, unlike any other lake I’ve ever seen, in the sand
Park
Everywhere there’s this low shrub with bamboo-like leaves. (I imagine a few find the plant stuff boring. Now we’re into a temperate climate my plant bent is being tweaked and I need to record stuff as I see it)
We crossed a shallow creek on the way to the lake and to our surprise it had biggish trout fry, or juveniles, or whatever the word is, swimming into the current. They were about 1 1/2 inches long. They’re here. Click to see
Walk through the forest to the lake
A strange rust colour
Clear
A little deeper, very green
Very quiet, very beautiful
Then we headed off for the Chilean border post. Unusually they go through my duffel, tank bag and panniers meticulously
Then down across the plains to Osorno, the most important stop since Medellin
