My Christmas Gift

I would like to share what I consider my Christmas gift from Miranda.

Last Friday as Julie and I just started our Video chat, Miranda came in and shared some wonderful news. Andrew, her boyfriend of almost 3 years asked her to marry him. I was not surprised however because prior to leaving on our journey in October, Andrew and I had talked and he ask for my permission to marry Miranda. While it wasn't mine to give, I appreciated the respect that Andrew displayed. I must say that Julie and I are very pleased to be able to have this upstanding gentleman join our family.

Congratulations Miranda and Andrew

Love, Dad

Christmas from "World's End"

December 24, 2010

More Pictures of Tierra del Fuego

Merry Christmas from Ushuaia, Argentina at the bottom of the world. We are thinking about all of our friends and loved ones as we prepare to celebrate with our new friends that have been made along the way. We miss you all very much and wish we could be with you, but there is no chance.

I would like to share with you Christmas as I see it in South America. It appears to be substantially less commercialized. As we have traveled south, we have watched for trees and decorations and signs of Christmas. As it approached more trees appeared in windows and more store windows displayed shopping ideas, but for the most part only since December 8, Argentina's last official holiday before Christmas. Very very few Christmas ads are on TV and very little fan fair is made. I have to say that I am enjoying the subdued atmosphere. Summer holidays for the Latinos, I understand they stay home with family until after Christmas and then start their summer holiday season. Grocery stores appear to be much busier as people prepare for the family feasts and we saw one car with a new bicycle hanging out of the trunk. Asking our hostel host, Lucas, about shopping hours, Christmas day most things are closed, but he has never heard of Boxing Day and says the 26th is a regular work day. Enjoy the pictures and Merry Christmas from Michael and I.

FIN DE MUNDO (End of the World)

December 23, 2010

END OF THE ROAD, END OF THE WORLD, FIN DE MUNDO, AT THE BOTTOM, WORLD'S END, WE ARE UPSIDE DOWN LOOKING UP, ITS ALL UPHILL FROM HERE, NORTH IS THE ONLY WAY, OUR TURNING POINT, WE ARE COMING HOME…….

Michael, John, Sharon and I ride out to the National Park where the road officially ends. On the way stopping at the campground to see Patrick and Jana, German couple we met in Viedma. Time for pics with a drink of Scotch and a stoagie (Michael and John) I stopped smoking 15 years ago, yesterday. We waited for crowds of people from a couple of buses to clear and rolled our bikes in. Then John informs us that today is his birthday. Congrats John. Met a biker (Romeo) from Ecuador and he helps to take pictures of us. Talked to numerous people about our rides, got congrats and then some tour operator tells us to move our bikes so their customers can get their pics.

We obliged. John and Sharon want to take Beagle Channel Cruise tour for his birthday. Patrick, Jana and us tag along for a "Three hour tour". Beer is included.

Do you remember the Galapagos Islands "Post Office Bay"?  Well, the post card that I took from there to deliver on our route home belongs to Brian and Marie Baker of Everson, Washington and their post card has been to the end of the world too.. This card will be delivered on the last day on our ride home.

WE MADE IT!

December 22, 2010

Norma cooks us all breakfast of bacon and eggs, toast and coffee (we pay for it). Then on the road to Ushuaia. Last 220kms. Almost surreal. We have been planning, living for and anticipating arriving in Ushuaia for the last 5 years and today is the day. Sharon says it may bring John to tears. We didn't see it happen though. Wind was at our backs for most of the ride. Got to listen to my bike through earplugs. Little rain on the 300 meter pass. Last week, Uly and Annaleen rode the pass in 6 inches of snow. Today we are lucky, it was 8º with only a little drizzle, on the way over. We arrived about 1:30pm, about 13 hours after the summer solstice, on the first day of summer, longest full day of the year. WE MADE IT!

Checked into the Hostel La Posta. Gorgeous, probably the nicest we have seen on our trip. Had no private rooms left, so we have to accept a dorm room. Still nice and only $70pesos per person ($17.50can) Good price for Ushuaia. Tourists are captive here, so prices are high, go figure. Ushuaia is the southern most city in the world, no other is further south and we made it…

Boat ride, 220kms of gravel road and a border crossing.

December 21, 2010

The bikes had to be tied down. 50kms to cross the Straight of Megallenes, the waves can get quite large. Sailngs the week before were halted due to the winds. 80 knot winds are common down here. Gravel road was great. Wind blew the dust sideways for most of it. Border crossing lineups were larger due to Christmas season travelers. We arrived to the Camping Nautica, where we bunked down on mattresses in their gym. Norma, cooked us a pizza to tide us over until the restaurant opened at 8pm. Due to the latitude, daylight is almost 20 hours a day.

Oil Change day

December 20, 2010

Maintenance day for the bikes. Went to the Lubrication store to buy oil and the owner we extremely helpful. Thinking that it would be simpler and cheaper, he got in his truck and had us follow him to a oil change facility. They wanted $120us to do a 3 litre oil change on each of our bikes. We said NO and Rau'l had us follow him back to his store. Got us to park in his yard and supplied us with an oil catch bucket. He was completely accommodating, helpful and friendly, I wondered his motives. But as we got to know him more, it became clear he was sincere and just wanted to help up. One of the nicest people we have met on our trip. He came  out and gave us metal water bottles and ball caps for each Michael and I. We gave him and some of his colleges, Canada pins that we had brought. IT IS CHRISTMAS….

Met John and sharon for buffet Parrisha lunch and met them later for a movie. The movie was crappy , but the theatre was one of the nicest I have ever visited. Leg room was massive and there was a 1 foot shelf attached to the backs of the seats in front for your popcorn and pop. Seats were 50% wider than the normal that we are accustomed to so our shoulders never touched.  People could even pass in front of you without you having to get up. On either side of the movie screen were antique projectors. We ate caramelized popcorn too, from a bucket. Our soft drink was a Pepsi from a can.

Punta Arenas Pics

December 19, 2010

We saw Uly and Annaleen off, as they continue their trip with her family. Took a walk about town all the while thinking about our loved ones and Christmas. Caught up on some emails and met John and Sharon for dinner.

Punta Arenas

December 18, 2010

Punta Arenas is about 500 kilometers from Ushuaia.

After a great breakfast Edwardo made for us (one of the best we have had on our travels), Uly and Annaleen want to check out a Penguin colony 50kms out of town on gravel road.

 Edwardo

 Uly's picture taking handiwork.

Thats what we brought these bike for. $1500pesos entrance fee to enter the area then, we drove 10k to the ocean to find private property and these people want another $5000 pesos ($10.74can)each to walk down their boardwalk to view some birds. Sorry, but we saw enough penguins in the Galapagos. Went back to town to the tax free zone and picked up our Scotch for the ritual drink when we arrive to Ushuaia, as everyone that been there and come back has said everything in Ushuaia is very expensive. We parked our bikes at the hostel and walked down town for dinner supplies, a tour around town, up to a view point and a cup of brewed coffee. This town gives us a good feeling. Once back at the hostel John and Sharon have replied to our email and they have agreed to our Mussel stew dinner invitation. Great to see them again also.

Uly and Annaleen are picking up her parents, brother and sister-in-law from the airport, so they won't be joining us for dinner. They are all leaving for Torres del Paine in the morning.