Wednesday 15th JanUshuaia to Tolhuin
Early night last night,as we were both excited or maybe apprehensive about starting riding in the morning, big thank you to Steve who paid for our meal last night. Both up around 6 pacing the little room that has become our home for the 10 or so days, bit crapped now with all the bike gea thrown around. Breakfast and final packing all done, let's go!Final pre-ride photo shoot then wobble down the road, pretty experienced now and know Ushuaia like the back of our hand so ignore the Garmin instructions and head straight to National Route 3, though all the back streets and jitties and  like true travellers got lost, soon back on track.  Bingo notices a cycle path adjacent to the road, so we join that only to be met with a bridge just down the road, only just wide enough for the bike and panniers, first test to see if I could keep the bike straight, no dramas straight through, just as I get through that Bingo said did you see that rabbit, now way I was concentrating to much.First part of the day we had a few climbs, bikes rolling well, no thanks to BA (this won't be the last time I mention them) steady away 5 mile climb out of the city, nice road and drivers seem very considerate, great to be back on the road.  drivers and motorbike riders giving us plenty of encouragement. Massive bird of prey swooped down over our heads, as Bingo is the resident ornithologist, he was right on the case, Crested Caracara, (Caracara plancus) another one ticked off.
Both of us enjoying the cracking scenery over the foothills of the Andes, stopped a few times to admire the breathtaking views and take more photographs. Onwards and upwards, stopped for a coffee (it was only 10:00) in a motorbike museum on the side of the road, the route is a mecca for motorbike touring.  Chatted to a few of them, funny how they look at you a bit strange when they realise how far we are planning on going, the proprietor of the museum, had a Doors soundtrack blasting out "oh show me the way to the next whiskey bar" well thats thats my ear worm sorted for a while.
On we go to the next and final climb of the day 10 mile up the Passo Garibaldi, gets my head thinking least I will get a biscuit at the top, nice climb easy gradient, just what these touring bikes are made for, none of us pushing the pace, enjoying the ride. Just as came over top, little bar on the side of the road, with a nice view of the river, stopped there for some liquid lunch, Bingo had a disaster as he put his beer on a roppy table, it duly slipped off smashed the glass, so he had the walk of shame back to the bar, the lady was not around so helped himself to a replacement all good.Final push to the digs in Tolhuin, however we was both in need of food, a message to self eat when we stop for a beer! so had a food stop just outside Tolhuin in nice a little place Parilla Rio Turbio, with only 3 ish miles to go we rolled into the little town with no made up roads or street names, finally found the place with help from the local fire brigade. We think we have paid for the digs via paypal but not initially sure, will check later, at this rate we will be on Interpol's most wanted list.
All in all a good start to the tour