The Land of Beer and Chocolate ! - 25 kms / 450 metres Climbing

Henley had spent most of the morning convinced that he"d mistakenly left a "house downpayment" as a tip the previous night using his monopoly styled Argentinian currency ! We'd argued convincingly that he was wrong but I have to admit that the loving look of affection that the waiter gave H when we departed had me thinking twice !

We had enough time in the morning to go for a walk & fly the drone while waiting for the arrival of our Catamaran from Barriloche with its boatload of day trippers (a ferry is the only way in/out of Puerto Blest)

Finally just after 11 we said goodbye to our stunningly situated National Park wilderness accommodation settling back on our 300+ seater Catamaran with only the 5 of us + crew on board for the 50 minute return journey.

High forested rocky peaks flew by as we skimmed across the shimmering lake as we made our way to our disembarkation point at Puerta Nuella.

Here we finally jumped back on the bikes for a 1km ride (I know- this sounds more like a bloody travelogue than a bike adventure !)  up a nearby hill to our lunch stop a lovely 5 star hotel with stunning views back over the lake.

We might have been a tad out of place mixing it with the Argentinian elite in our well worn lycra but this didn't stop us enjoying our amazing surrounds

After a half day of doing 9/10ths of bugger all we jumped back on our bikes for a circuit of the peninsular taking in some serious short climbs (I can feel the sympathy) to take in some of the spectacular lookouts.

On one of the climbs I got the feeling that Julia exceeded her "gloating" quota for the day when Thommo mumbled an expletive as she sailed past once again on her E-bike. Obviously some serious marital counselling will be needed on their return to the UK! 

"Wow"ed"out we finished our short cycling day by making our way in busy traffic to the Bikeway HQ (our tour company) just short of Barriloche

Here the Company owner went out of her way to make sure that we"d get the most out of our rest day and of the local sights in Barriloche - customer service par excellence !

We checked into our hotel an upmarket 4 star hotel right on the foreshore of Barriloche before walking into town where every place seems to sell either Beer or Chocolate - according to Kev and Julia "Just Heaven"!

Back in Argentina

We'd taken breakfast in our fabulously situated hotel against a stunning Mtn backdrop before cycling through a Chilean customs checkpoint on our way to the base of our 2nd challenge of the tour a 7km 10%+ climb on our way to the Argentinian border !

The morning had been bad enough in terms of road conditions but the climb was even worse. H wisely decided to rest his bum, painful arthritic wrist and vocal chords (strained by his mornings swearing !) as Julia, Pommie Kev and self battled away in the light drizzle !

Wind the clock forward an hour and a half and we finally sumited having bounced our way from rock to rock on the difficult off road climb.

A quick steep descent followed on dicey gravel where we checked in with Argentinian border police while grabbing a quick look at the nearby Che Guevara display (apparently he passed this way)

A ferry across a glacial lake and a short 3km cycle saw us reach our fabulous lake positioned hotel.

The big question for the evening is whether Henley will give the hot water swimming pool a go following his near death drowning in a Mt Gambier lake in 2017 !

Che passed this way ! 

What an outlook - Breakfast ! 

Another climb !

Sunset at Puerto Blest

Down the Mountain !

With a short day on the cards and a scheduled departure not till after lunch there was time to take in the beautiful surrounds of our Hostel on a lovely crisp morning !

For self it was a great opportunity to put the drone up in the air and take in the stunning scenery ! One of the guides suggested I fly it up over the Orsono Volcano - I said i'd give it a go on the proviso that he'd climb up and get it back when it crashed !

Suggesting that i"d need a bigger battery to make it happen Herman indicated that I could use Julia"s E Bike battery the only problem being that a) The drone would never take off & b) we"d somehow have to crowbar Julia"s death grip from it !

 With lunch taken it was time to descend ! Henley had deliberately taken in an extra course at lunch time to give himself an extra gravity advantage in the "barge ass" race to the bottom !

At such a steep gradient this was at times a hairy descent with numerous sharp corners positioned to trap the unwary !

We used the opportunity when rocketting downhill to take in the stunning views ! I caught H unawares flying past him near the bottom but in true "barge ass" competitive spirit he used his recently found excess Argentian Kg's (read numerous coffe cakes) to pip me on the line !

From the flat we jumped back on our motorway bike path whereThommo (UK Kev)'took off like the clappers (obviously on drugs) leaving all bar Julia in his wake !

After following on with 6kms on a dirt road through a National Park we boarded our very own private boat for an amazing 2hr journery on a lake with a 360 degree vista of Mountains and forests.

Off the boat we completed some boulder hopping to our magnificently situated Hotel Natura right smack in the middle of a National Park just short of our Andes crossing.

After a day of scenery overload it was nice to sit back in our luxury (apparently money laundered) hotel while contemplating tomorrows crossing back over the Andes into Argentina !

Heading back down !

Crossing the lake ! 

Sunset on our Volcano !

A tough day at the Office !

Calbuco eruption 2015 

Damage caused by Clalbuco Volcano

The gang !

Henley leading the way to morning tea ! 

Sunset over Orsorno 

A Hard days climb !

A beautiful Sunset from Orsorno

The end of the climb - a stack of Hairpins ! Calbuco in the distance.   

When it sometimes pays to not listen !

Last nights briefing was definitely targetted at us non attentive Aussies with a couple of truths + one unbelievable fact thrown in to see if we were actually listening !!

"Tomorrow will include 45kms of flat bitumen riding said our friendly guide Tolkeyen. POP said Henley ! "Our accomodation will be 1/2 way up a volcano he continued" ... hmm that"s interesting said self ! "The last 12kms will include 1200 metres of climbing some at close to 20 per cent" ..... after a few seconds both H and I replied "WTF" did he just say" !!!!!!

After a full on day 1 we left Ponte Varas at the civilised time of 10.00a.m. no doubt to allow our UK friends to take in some tea and crumpet for breakfast !

After yesterdays "shitfest" Henley's words not mine, today started off as a dream with 40 glorious kms to lunch covered on a motorway like bitumen bike path with increasingly more beautiful views of the lake and the towering conical shaped Orsorno Volcano.

Lunch was taken in a restaurant rebuilt after being destroyed by another nearby volcano called Calbuco. Here discussion centred around our imminent climb with Julia pre-occupied with the thought that her battery might run out !

Aussies are not reknown for their sporting fairness so without wishing Julia any ill will I kinda hoped that the battery would run out ! I mean come on she'd been so bloody smiley and happy as she repeatedly sailed past us that hoping for a little payback didn"t seem too wrong !

It was now time to face our nemesis ! Having been pre briefed we knew what was in store ...lots of pain !!!!

The first couple of kms were painfully steep at 8-10% and then it just got progressively worse ! One section of 2-3 kms was a gut busting 18% without any relief at all !

Aussie Kev battled valiantly but having reached a new minmium world speed record of 2.6kms an hour he wisely decided  to head for the van !

Pommie Kev with his lightweight frame and resume of top French Alp climbs, battled his way to the top in style while I spent a fair bit of my 3 hour climb walking and even that was pretty damned tough !

Sadly for Julia her battery did run out forcing her to walk her Ebike to our accommodation where she recovered with cake and coffee waiting nearly an hour for Pommie Kev - All joking aside a fine effort by Julia !

The weather cleared after we'd rested and showered to provide for a stunning sunset over the lake -  what a great way to celebrate the days success ! 

  

Day 1 on tour !

All set to go !

Some rough riding ~ 

Looking over the lake at Fruitillar

Taking respite from some drizzle !

Some morning snacks 

Frutillar for lunch ! 

A small sized steak !