Daniel Saws a Bull in Half

WARNING – GRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHS

It was another normal day on the pampas, Rheas and sheep, a few million short thorny bushes, the wind laughing at us, and vast expanses of nothingness – pretty much a normal Friday. Passing kilometer 55, on ruta 7, going east towards Esparanza, we stopped in at Estancia Vangaurdia to beg for some water; as much as we like the pampas, we’d rather not die in them. If I had to pick a place, it’s not a bad one, but like I said, not quite yet. Luckily for us, this estancia wasn’t the normal 15km of rough gravel track from the main road; they’re into long driveways around here. There were a few gauchos standing around in front of one of the smaller buildings sitting at the foot of the hill above us.

We’re falling into a routine of riding hard for five days or so, spending a few days (or more) in a town, resting, then getting back on the road. This past week was one of the "back on the road" weeks. It is difficult to describe the range of emotions I feel as we prepare to get back on the bikes. Samuel and Latitia showed us such love for the week and a half we spent with them in Puerto Natales, Chile, so it was easy to get a little choked up trying to find the words (trying in Spanish, and therefore, in vain) to express how much their kindness meant to me. Despite this, my eagerness to cover some miles was growing. Looking at the big map of South America is kind of depressing, considering the measly amount of kilometers we’ve covered in almost two months. Still, we know we’re doing it the right way: putting the experience and the people above the odometer.