Neuquen To Lake Moquehue

The weather was ok, a bit of ceniza (volcanic dust and ash) in the air, as we headed we headed west the weather started playing games, some ash and some ominous clouds.

Of our 360 km trip 180 km of it turned wet with style, the dirt road covered in ash and dust became a wash of slippery puffy grease. :eek1

This proved difficult, it was extremely cold by now, my glasses fogging and the wind blowing across us pretty hard.

I handed Ellen my sun glasses, just as she took them a big gust blew us across the road and into the very shitty soggy stuff on the off camber, I was weak and cold and as I tried to turn it back it bulldozed so I steered Maya down off the shoulder in an attempt to save her.

We left the road skipping and bumping over a 200 mm round ish rocks, this sending us blindingly off course and down to our stopping point amidst mud, rain and wind and rocks.

From here

P1240825 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

To here, no damage other than pride.

P1240824 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

****, I was feeling very weak so we took the tank bag and top box off to lighten the high weight.

P1240828 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

Luckily no-one saw so no-one knows about it :rofl

It was all Ellens and all my might to lift Maya back onto her feet, we were sliding around in the mud which did not help, I rode Maya up onto the road and we refitted everything and headed off…..and it started snowing.

P1240835 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

P1240836 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

It got heavier and thicker for a while

P1240843 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

A quick vid, no frills this time

https://youtu.be/X-bc-U4Vuqo

We had 80 km to go, I was spent and cold, dreading riding in the snow and loosing it again, pegging the pace back, turning the heated grips up full and hunkering down we got up and over the pass, the welcomed sign of only a wet road looking good.

P1240842 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

We made it to the short tar seal section, the snow had backed off but it was pissing down with the road flowing and bitterly cold, we then got to the end of the tar with 20 km to get to the house.

Now the rain, ash, sand and mud was totally against us, it was a 50 mm plus pug of greasy slimy shit proving very difficult.

Again I pegged our speed back, Maya sliding around a lot, the Heidenau giving out long before the Duro.

Finally we reached the house, drowned, muddy from the crash and ****ing cold from the snow and severe wind chill.

Gustavo welcoming us in he had the fire going which we cuddled while scoffing hot food.:clap onya dude, a biker knows what a biker wants :clap

Water was pissing out of everything clothing wise as we tried to dry it.

Gustavo said hey now worries stay as long as you need so that was great, that evening a huge asado was put on…..extremely nice.

IMG_8444 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

Gustavo and I

IMG_8446 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

Hungry? WOH HOH just a lite snack rofl

IMG_8448 by twomotokiwis, on Flickr

As night drew in the temperature drop like a stone, nice to be inside now, as the morning turned up so did the snow laden cloud threatening to block everyone in....hmmm things getting more difficult again.:rofl