Ride to Portillo

Originally posted to El Cantar de la Lluvia on Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Since the weather was nice, on Sunday we went off for a ride with the Adach guys and gals. We met at 10 am at Américo Vespucio and the Ruta 5. Destination: Portillo ski center, 2860 metres above sea level.

(Paul)

Andresius, Gise, DreamT and Romi arrived later, after we had set off.

(DreamT)

(Barbara)

Ben Kenobi recommended a "parador turístico", but his suggestion wasn't too popular. I had no complaints about my empanada, but when the others arrived, they were advised to eat elsewhere.

(Paul)

(Barbara)

(Paul)

Don Jano stayed behind so I wasn't alone in obeying some of the more ridiculous speed limits that had been temporarily set for road works and such.

(Barbara)

We stopped at the last petrol station this side of the border, and came across several classic cars that had apparently come over from Mendoza.

(DreamT)

While everyone else had lunch, I scooted off behind the petrol station, and found this:

(Paul)

(Paul)

All tanks full, and we set off.

(Barbara)

(Andresius)

The state of the road, particularly inside the tunnels, was not good at all.

(Barbara)

(Andresius)

Some of us had some fun on the dirt roads that ran alongside the tunnels.

(Andresius)

(Andresius)

Like some sort of giant segmented snake, the trucks climb and climb and climb.

(Barbara)

And finally we got to the top, to the ski center.

(DreamT)

(Paul)

(Barbara)

(Andresius)

(Paul)

(Paul)

Don Jano's contribution is always special.

(DreamT)

(DreamT)

(Andresius)

(Andresius)

We decided not to go beyond the Aduana, since the line of cars coming back in to Chile was quite long.

(Paul)

(Andresius)

(Paul)

(Paul)

(Paul)

(Paul)

(Paul)

(Paul)

(Dkid)

And finally, a group pic in front of the Hotel.