MUD!

Germán meets mud

Left Tolar Grande, elevation 3445 meters (11,307 ft) expecting a few challenges - an understatement.  

We rode 196 km (121 miles) in 7.5 hours IN THE MUD to San Antonio de los Cobres, 3,775 meters or 12,385 ft. The road was closed for washouts and deep mud - but we are macho... 

The weather service promised clear skies - they lied, we were chased by a storm and high winds all day.  

We finally crested the Andies at 4,700 meters (15,519 feet) IN THE MUD.  

At one washouts we had an option - turn around or push the motos through a rushing stream and up a steep bank. We chose option 2.   A 4x4 followed us and couldn't make it.  

Did I mention the last portion of the route is populated by convoys of monster semis servicing the lithium miners - we probably had to pull over or maneuver around 50 monster truck-trailer rigs (in the mud).

I'm  attaching a foto of German after the only fall of the day.  We can't decide if it's Argentina or Mars.