The following route
describes approximately the roads I intend to follow from Salta, in
the last stretch of this incredible trip by bicycle along the American
Continent. The idea is to carry the message of the SOS Children’s
Villages to all the corners of Argentina, so I’ll set Maira’s wheels
en every province of my beloved country, so I can spread the important
labor of the SOS Organization among the bigger number of people as possible.
I will visit all the
SOS Villages of Argentina, ending this bicycle trip in the SOS Village
of Mar del Plata, where the initial idea of this voluntary social work
started. Also, before heading to the southern tip of the continent and
arrive in Ushuaia, I’ll make visits in SOS Villages of the Southamerican
countries that I still have to cycle through, including Paraguay, Brazil,
Uruguay and Chile.
This sort of erratic
route that apparently is the product of the lack of oxygen in my brain
alter the long weeks of cycling in the Bolivian highlands is driven
by the same principle that has ruled the course of my wheels since the
beginning of this trip: the visits to the SOS Children’s Villages.
As usual, this route will be dynamic, flexible and prone to changes
according to the circumstances lived on the road. The advice of the
locals, the chances of getting a contact to visit somewhere else or
simple the desire of the moment will determinate the real tracks that
we will be leaving along the roads with Maira.
I’m aware that I
will have to face the extreme heat of the summer in the Northern area
of my country and the hard cold of the winter in Patagonia, having to
overcome not Orly the challenges of the roads I’ll cycle through,
but also I will be strongly conditioned by the weather conditions.
That is why giving
dates in this last stage of the trip doesn’t makes lots of sense.
I’ll be moving on according to the circumstances I’ll have to face
and sometime, by the end of 2010, my wheels will arrive to its final
destination in Mar del Plata. Do we continue cycling together these
last "few" kilometers?
ARGENTINA
& CHILE
From Salta, through
the valles Calchaquíes towards Cafayate » Amaicha del Valle » Andalgalá
» Belén » Fiambalá, from where I’ll climb the Andes through San
Francisco Pass to reach Chile
Form Copiapó, following
the Panamerican route to Valparaíso and the nearby city of Quilpué (SOS
Village). After spending Christmas
with the kids of the SOS Village I’ll move on to Mendoza, crossing
the Andes through Cristo Redentor Pass.Starting in Mendoza
following the Villavicencio switchbacks towards Uspallata » Barreal
» Calingasta » Rodeo, to come back to Chile through Aguas Negras Pass.
From La Serena, returning
to Copiapó to come back to Argentina crossing Pircas Negras Pass into
La Rioja.Descending into Villa
Unión, visiting Talampaya and Ischigualasto, touching the north of
San Luis province y following the Altas Cumbres road to Córdoba (SOS Village). Continuing towards Santiago del Estero, Tucumán
and the routes of the Northern tip of Argentina to Chaco and Formosa,
from where I’ll cross into Paraguay.
PARAGUAY
Asunción
(SOS Village), crossing the
country form West o East untill Ciudad del Este, to come back to Argentina
and visit Iguazú falls.
ARGENTINA
Cycling Misiones province
heading towards Oberá
(SOS Village), entering into
Corrientes to cross to Brasil in Sao Borja.
BRASIL
& URUGUAY
Rolling to Santa María (SOS Village), and after heading to the border with Uruguay,
passing by Tacuarembó and ending in Salto
(SOS Village), before coming
back again into Argentina.
ARGENTINAVisiting National Park
El Palmar » Santa Fe » Rosario » Colón » Pergamino » Luján (SOS Village) and passing by Buenos Aires city. From there,
crossing the provinieses of Buenos Aires and La Pampa, arriving in Neuquén
» Zapala » San Martín de los Andes » Villa la Angostura, crossing
into Chile.
CHILE
& ARGENTINA
Entering through Osorno,
towards Puerto
Varas (SOS Village) and Ancud (SOS Village), returning again to Argentina » Bariloche
» El Bolson » PN Los Alerces » Esquel » Futaleufú, going back to
Chile to cycle the Carretera Austral.
Puerto Puyuguapi »
Cisnes Medio » Coihaique » Chile Chico, returning to Argentina
to ride the mythical Route 40 in the southern tipo f the country.
Perito Moreno » Bajo
Caracoles » Tres Lagos » Chaltén » PN Los Glaciares » Río Turbio,
crossing into Chile. Puerto Natales » Punta Arenas » El Porvenir »
San Sebastián to Argentina. From San Sebastián » Río Grande » Tolhuin
» Ushuaia » until Bahía Lapataia, end of the road.
Returning to the pedals
to go back home riding across the patagonic coast through Río Grande
» Río Gallegos » Comodoro Rivadavia »Puerto Madryn »Viedma » Bahía
Blanca » Necochea » Miramar » finishing the trip in the SOS Children’s Village
of Mar del Plata.
