The unexpected foe and friend
December 13, 2023
The days after our Puna trip we transitioned through 500 km of desert to the city of Mendoza. These days starkly contrast the adventurous ones. Long straight stretches with only a few hills, quite some traffic and, here in Argentina, a lot of wind and heat. Crossing these sections can be tough on the mind. Sometimes you are lucky when the wind blows you into the skies. Other times it's fighting for every meter.
We try to plan scenic routes through a variety of terrains as much as possible. But these usually require more time and are physically more demanding than the main roads. Fun, time, energy and motivation all need to be considered when planning routes. The occasional transition through a less inspiring landscape then becomes simply unavoidable. Yet we feel there is value in them too. They improve stamina and shape the mind. Hours of nothing but heat and wind can easily get you down. The key is to stay calm. When things get really rough, we listen to some music or a podcast. Then it's a matter of resisting the urge to check Google Maps every minute.
The transitions likewise increase our thirst for adventure. They help to maintain the balance between a longing and exhaustion. Too much of either and the spirit gets lost. They are the unexpected foe and friend during our trip. We just keep on cranking and treat ourselves with an ice-cream every day. We are even getting a little bigger for a change ;)
In Mendoza we took a few days "off" and went away for the weekend by bus to visit Santiago. Chile's capital on the other side of the Andes ridge. Upon arrival, we immediately felt the South American city atmosphere. Chaos in the streets, food markets, music... The moment got quite intense though, as upon entering a taxi, four hands slammed into the partly opened windows trying to take whatever they could. Five hectic seconds of shouting and pulling back on our grabbed belongings scared them off, fortunately, without any loot. A scary start of our weekend, but we got over it quickly because after all, we were in one of SA's biggest cities. And it was worth it big time. A great shot of civilization before starting the final stretch in our approach to Patagonia.
Route: Villa Unión - San José de Jachal - San Juan - Mendoza
