This morning we left the coast and headed through the desert - drove most of the day through the driest places on earth arriving early afternoon at San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
Its a trippy place - kind of what Burning Man might be if it stayed open year-round except more expensive. We're looking up at some of the highest place in South America (Cerro Sairecabur, 19,850 ft/6,050 m, a 5 hour climb from the base of ~17,500 ft, with oxygen), which is next to a salt lake and salt flats. Sand skiing/boarding is popular because the grades are steep and the sand very dry. Strange people migrate here. Its fun!
Tomorrow Gustavo wants to ride 600 km (a long day even on good roads) - except he wants to cross the Andes - we are at 2000 m now and we'll be climbing to over 4500 meters on a two lane road and then down to about 800 meters in Argentina. I'm skeptical! There's always a problem/delay here; did I mention a border crossing?
Nick
via BlackBerry
