Monday March 10th 2025 Palo Santo to Las Lomitas
Booked into the digs soaking wet, the proprietor great guy said I would come and pay him, after we had cleaned up a bit, typical Argentinian guy flip flops and Messi shirt, very accommodating, went back to see him, said we would rather pay by bank transfer if possible. What a palaver, even he got the hump with it in the end, then just popped in the next room and got a card reader, room all sorted only cost £10, then asked us if we wanted to have cash back, top guy, got another 40 thousand out (£40). He said the restaurant down the road opens at 5? if not he will order a take away for us.

Off we go down the road fully laden up with Argentinian peso bring on the food, to no avail; typical Sunday evening in North West Argentina, none of the restaurants open, well there was only three to be honest, went back to the digs and got the very nice guy to order us a take away, Pizza and chips, but wont be here till 8pm as normal. Ended up watching the rugby on catch up, with a few beers, so not so bad after all, but was very hungry.

Breakfast as with no yoghurt or chocolate, rainy Sunday yesterday no provisions, left the digs just after 6, but need to wait 20 mins in a mosquito infested bus shelter for the light to improve, message to self need to delay the start till 06:30 now! As soon as we got going, the things don’t bother us, they probably think, not going near them blighters, smell worse than a dead rat!

Same again today, push on, have a target destination Las Lomitas circa 97 miles away, big ask but these puppies are up to the task we think, also in mind is getting some more Peso, so on the look out for any ATM or Banks, chance would be a fine thing but you never know. With the light getting better, and still a little overcast with a few spots of rain, made the riding conditions perfect, made excellent progress again in the morning, honest the porridge is not infused with any other substances, just pure grit and determination. We hit the first little crossroads down to a little town Bartolomé de las Casas with an ATM, down a ripo road and only 07:30 in the morning, both agreed to press on. Flying now my new group set working like a dream, the little electric motor humming away with not a care in the world only joking like I said earlier all done on the Atlee Avenue Puppies.

Just as we was purring along Bingo spots a Mob of Rheas playfully trotting along the undergrowth, first time we have seen them in a long while, but very nice, love the way they just nonchalantly wander around the pastures, just like Bingo and Gringo really. Pushed onto the next possible ATM (this is very important) Comandante Fontana, this time we went for it done the dusty ripo roads, people looking what they doing here, you could hear them say, getting some dam money i was saying!, finally got to the bank, it was open and got money as simple as, whats the problem, I don.t really know, but it is chaotic to say the least.

Back to the road, and ride, ride, ride little country song by Lynn Anderson, getting set up for Texas here we come, not quite just me getting carried away with myself. Just a ride to Las Lomitas now concentrate on the now Dale, as my Mum always said to me.

So that’s what we did, good solid ride today, not much after the Rheas, just one to add to the collection and low and behold the bird of the day on Bingos app Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) and some great interactions with a few groups of Gaucho’s not sure who is surprised the most when we meet them, couple crazy guys on bikes and some cool dudes on horses with a pack of very well trained dogs, great to see.

As we tranquilly rode into Las Lomitas, like two modern day Gaucho’s, riding the town like we owned it, well it was Sista time everyone was in bed! had a beer in a little corner shop to get our bearings, then headed to the digs, all sorted but nothing open till they all wake up again.

Great ride just over 100 miles, good going with these beasts, plenty of life left in these old puppies yet, just need a little Sista myself, aint going to happen.

To much work to do getting the routes sorted and having some refreshments.