Lake Moquehue To Lonquimay

Given the morning was looking dodgy and the weather forecast was for more snow we opted to bail and head for the border despite having a stunning place to stay and relax, the forecast was for temperatures lowering and much more snow, we don’t have the time left now to sit it out if it turned to shit weather wise so we packed up with haste.

Coupla small vids

https://youtu.be/QlBHt_h6f-A

https://youtu.be/DeNhUEZ3siw

Leaving and onto the road, didn't look that tropical

P1240865 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

Thanking Gustavo we hit it, the road now partly dry which was a godsend…. however only a couple of km up we hit the snow which had frozen and it was an ice skating rink. (Was worse today Geoff )

P1240869 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

P1240871 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

We nearly when down several times, still not sure why we didn’t, the Duro tire hanging on well in the snow but like every other round rubber was useless on the ice (think I will send it back under warrantee ), we let the tires down to help which it did.

P1240875 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

The dark weather chasing us up

P1240877 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

Now Jeff, that bloody tire has been tested on pavement, rippio, mud, vlocanic ash, sand, rock, mud, volcanic mud, ice and snow, concrete and even diesel ... I am running outa shit to test it on now

Finally back to tarseal section I was stoked, only 500 meters to the border, we parked on the tarseal as it was almost clear of snow, the Argentinian border guard lady insisting we pull off the road into the deeper snow and park.

I thought she was joking but she was serious so stern words from me saying no way, it stays on the road or you pick it up!!!.

She got the other border guard as well, he tried to tuff me into shifting it so we larfed him off and said nup it stays were it is, there was no traffic anyway, the both looked at each other after being punked by a grey haired gringo and did nothing....pity they did not use that hot air to melt the snow

An easy exit, our final border crossing out of Argentina, a short ride up to the pass top then down we went with the road clearing WOH HOH.....my sigh of relief and my big verbal YES fogging up my visor (dork...)

Down to the Chile border it was still snowing but not sticking on the ground for long …the sun even managed a short greeting.

Opting to keep inland as it looked worse coastal we had a neat ride through to Lonquimay, tanking up we headed north again, our paper map showing a back road through, Mrs.Garmin didn’t have the same confidence tho.

The road was neat following lakes and river, we made a turn we shouldn’t have only to find the pass block in by heavy snow and un-passable ….this meant an 80 km turn around, turns out both parts of the road go high so either way we were hemmed in by snow.

P1240881 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

A massive mofo bridge in the middle of nowhere

P1240892 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

Autumn colours really bowing down to the pressure of winter with a carpet of leaves on the ground

P1240901 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

The last part of the track before we were snookered, would be a great loop in the summer

P1240904 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

Tail between legs we headed back down to Lonquimay and found a hostal which had 5 wood burners (yes five) and one spare ….I wasn’t sure which way to take this, either way we were warm and the hostal owner very nice.

Our plan from here was to enjoy our ride off the 4 lane Ruta 5.