Ushuaia

 In contrary to what the title says Im not in Ushuaia. Im back in Natales already, but no worries, this was part of the plan. I finished cycling in Ushuaia a couple of weeks ago and hitchhiked back. Except for a burnt tongue (all Argentinian drivers slurp and share mate while driving) it was much cheaper than taking a bus, which were all fully booked anyway.

So the cycling went pretty well. I had a great time in the hostels along the way. Only Christmas, was as expected spent alone in my tent on the pampa. New years eve will make up for it though, we will board the ferry to Puerto Montt tonight and I think they have prepared something nice for us.

So last week I left Puerto Natales. The pictures will tell the story again.

Shrines dedicated to some kind of Saint who saved someone who was almost dying from thirst. Im sure that person must have been a cyclist.

The roads to Punta Arenas were straight and windy again.

I left just before 5, but made 100k nevertheless by 11pm. Theres nothing I like more than cycling into sunset.

The next day was a challenge. Heavy wind and a snowstorm! I had no feeling in my legs after this one and my knee was aching for several more days.

Days are long and although I cycled 100k again most of the day and the next night were spent in small cabibns like these.

The next day I arrived in Punta Arenas and took a hostel for 2 nights to give my knee some rest.

The cemetery was the main attraction here.

I surrendered to the temptetion to go on an expensive boat tour to...

...Isla De Magdalena, 40.000 Magellanic penguins onb one tiny island.

It was amazing. The penhuins were not afraid of the 100+ tourists and even very curious.

Posing was not uncommon.

The next day I took the same boat accross the Straight of Maghellan to Porvenir on the island of Tierra del Fuego.

After some hilly coastal roads I cought a nice tailwind.

And neglected this advice

...to see King Penguins. This is the only place outside of Antarctica where you can see them in the wild. 

The next morning I crossed the border again.

Eventually I spent the night in an abandonned school. There are better places to spend Christmas eve, but I was tired and slept early and long.

The next morning I wanted to ride far, but the wind kicked my ass and I spent another night camping on the pampa.

Argentinians have their own peculiar way to make traffic safer.

The landscape was changing again.

I even saw a beaver and a few dams earlier that day.

Thanks to this sign I was able to pass my book to Hannes, whom I wouldnt see anymore.

I climbed this road the next morning 300m up from the lake. The tourists coming down in jeeps all took pictures me. Very funny situation.

Last day on the bike for a long time.

And thats Ushuaia. The Southernmost city in the world, 2900km, 2 months and an amazing trip south of Puerto Montt.

Ushuaia is not only capital of Tierra del Fuego.

Closest city from Antarctica.

So many people I met here actually went there on a cruise (unfortrunately a little above my budget)

No English pirates allowed here.

The seafront was full of statues of heroes of the Antarctic including this brave Belgian. The first to survive winter there.

Had a few beers here.

I climbed up to the glacier to have a nice view of the city.

The next day I started hitchhiking back to Puerto Natales. I made it here quiet easily in less than 2 days. I will surely try this again later on in the trip. Hitchcycling is really cool and I had the chance to practice my Spanish a lot during the 12 hour trip.
So now Im in Casa Lili in Natales again. Happy New Year everyone!