Day 12 Thursday 24th November 2016
Vina Del Mar, Argentina to San Juan, Chile (570kms)
A cool start at 8.12am. Within a stretch of 69kms we passed 3 toll booths with tolls costing 5,100 pesos (650 to US$).
The only Regularity of the day was at Cajon De Los Valles, another dirt road but not as dusty or rocky as previous tests. Even so, with the ruts we could not make the average speed of 50kph. Also had to be on the lookout for horses .
Another 90 or so kms further on we reached the Argentinian border and waited ages to get through immigrations and then get the car carnet stamped, first one booth then the next. One of the officials would not stamp our carnet arguing that the Chile transit paper was sufficient. We insisted on the stamp otherwise poor Puce Goose would be stranded in Chile.
The trip through the rocky Andes was spectacular with pink and brown rock formations with snow higher up. The area was quite desolate with very little habitation or animals.
The road from the border climbed through a very winding road, signs indicating that there were at least 28 curves/bends. There were lots of tunnels, one nearly one km in length. So many trucks on the road, both ways, that it was impossible to pass.
One stretch of road works was traffic controlled and some cars waited nearly 30 minutes. Engines and tempers were starting to boil in the very hot sun. Our temperature gauge started to climb to hot but once we got moving the cool air flowed. Most noticeable was the effect on idling of the high climb.
Rather than take the rough road to Jocoli we took an alternative route, passing a stunning blue lake, a penitentiary, a man BBQing on the side of the road in a 44 gal drum and selling the meat to passing cars or people could sit at tables and chairs he had set up in the middle of nowhere.
We also passed the vineyards and wineries of Mendoza. Came across patches of growing vines which had black nets from the bottom up rather that the top down white nets seen at home.
On the final stage to the hotel we passed through yet another vehicle inspection for meat and vegetables. Then a vehicle sanitary inspection for which we paid 15 pesos.
Vina Del Mar, Argentina to San Juan, Chile (570kms)
A cool start at 8.12am. Within a stretch of 69kms we passed 3 toll booths with tolls costing 5,100 pesos (650 to US$).
The only Regularity of the day was at Cajon De Los Valles, another dirt road but not as dusty or rocky as previous tests. Even so, with the ruts we could not make the average speed of 50kph. Also had to be on the lookout for horses .
Another 90 or so kms further on we reached the Argentinian border and waited ages to get through immigrations and then get the car carnet stamped, first one booth then the next. One of the officials would not stamp our carnet arguing that the Chile transit paper was sufficient. We insisted on the stamp otherwise poor Puce Goose would be stranded in Chile.
The trip through the rocky Andes was spectacular with pink and brown rock formations with snow higher up. The area was quite desolate with very little habitation or animals.
The road from the border climbed through a very winding road, signs indicating that there were at least 28 curves/bends. There were lots of tunnels, one nearly one km in length. So many trucks on the road, both ways, that it was impossible to pass.
One stretch of road works was traffic controlled and some cars waited nearly 30 minutes. Engines and tempers were starting to boil in the very hot sun. Our temperature gauge started to climb to hot but once we got moving the cool air flowed. Most noticeable was the effect on idling of the high climb.
Rather than take the rough road to Jocoli we took an alternative route, passing a stunning blue lake, a penitentiary, a man BBQing on the side of the road in a 44 gal drum and selling the meat to passing cars or people could sit at tables and chairs he had set up in the middle of nowhere.
We also passed the vineyards and wineries of Mendoza. Came across patches of growing vines which had black nets from the bottom up rather that the top down white nets seen at home.
On the final stage to the hotel we passed through yet another vehicle inspection for meat and vegetables. Then a vehicle sanitary inspection for which we paid 15 pesos.
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