Being December and arriving from Australia via South Africa, I thought the
conditions particularly severe.
Having only an inadequate pair of sandals, I made a beeline to shoe shops and
spent a small fortune on a pair of wonderfully comfortable light-weight Merrell
hiking shoes, hoping they would keep my feet warm.
The rest of the day was spent frequenting the numerous shops and stocking up on
everything needed. The bike shop, Ushuaia Extremo, did an excellent job of
reassembling the bike.
Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego National Park – 50 km
Dressed in my warmest clothes (including my brand-new shoes) I biked into the
National Park. The park gate was 12 kilometres from the town centre and a
leisurely ride along a dirt road. Although bitterly cold and feeling I resembled an
icicle, the scenery was spectacular. The end of the park road indicated the end or
start of Route 3, also referred to as “The-end-of-the-world”. This might’ve been the
end of the road for many, but to me, the park marked the beginning of my route
through the Americas. After a short (and relatively quick) amble around the park,
upon returning tiny snowflakes fell from the sky. Regrettably, they melted instantly
and I can’t say I’d cycled in snow.
After much deliberation, I purchased rain pants and a beanie to ward off the
anticipated cold weather. Both would prove well worth the expense in the months to
come.