This is what life felt like for a few weeks…constantly checking and rechecking the windy app for updates on wind speed and searching for alternative routes. Its a good way to stop scrolling on social media!

Dean has covered most of the past few weeks, no doubt while I was trying to keep fit and work off the various combinations of ham and cheese that our diet has become.

The food is just so unimaginative. Every restaurant serves the same food. Hamburgers, crumbed meat, pizzas and maybe empanadas. And yes, they all have ham and cheese. Things are bad when a toasted ham and cheese sandwich if the healthy option! There are meat options in Argentina but they are usually a little more expensive and from the experience we’ve had, they like to overcook it. Sacrilege.

We are now in Mendoza where we have an apartment and are spending a few nights over new years. It’s great to have space and a kitchen. And it’s hot! Dean is currently in the shower with his suit on which is filthy. I think I need to do the same.

It is 6.30 pm and we plan to go into the plaza to celebrate the new year. We went to the central market and bought some salmon and salad so we can eat a healthy meal before we head out. Everything in Argentina closes at around 1 pm every day and reopens at 6 pm. Even restaurants close at 3.30 pm and reopen at 9 pm so there are a few hours every day where the cities are dead and there is nothing to do.

Trying to delay going out for a drink or dinner before 9 pm is quite challenging…I don’t know how/why they work these long days yet have dinner so late! Being new years eve, all businesses closed for the day at 2 pm so with no restaurants opening until 9 pm, we have some time to kill which is very challenging for Dean and I. I have no doubt that the city is going to come alive in about 4 hours and will continue into the night 😊 I just hope we find something to do tomorrow when EVERYTHING is closed all day 😬

The ride to Mendoza was a little boring but there was still the magnificent Andes in the distance which still have a little snow on the peaks. We took a detour on the way up, which Ben recommended but unbeknownst to us, hadn’t actually done…it wasn’t great but there some nice views

After Mendoza, we continue to head north. We have a rough idea of the route we will take which takes in some of the stunning scenery northern Argentina has to offer and as many of the mountain passes that we can do in and out of Chile. I’m bracing myself for some challenging off road riding but I have no doubt it will be spectacular. Everything is also getting cheaper as we head north which always makes travel and life in general easier 😊

It seems to be a ‘thing’ to create stickers when you do overland trips here. Every petrol station, cafe, sign post and sign on the Ruta 40 is covered with stickers. We obviously missed the memo

Over and out for 2025!