We thought we should have a photo showing that we have now reached the pinnacle of strength and fitness...
Got there eventually...!
Look at us now - first attempt success!
We had a fantastic Christmas - started with dinner at midnight (typically time for Chileans) on Christmas eve of a huge spit roast, with 9 fellow cyclists.
After a brief sleep, we cycled to the harbour, and ate breakfast in the sunshine, and after a choppy crossing had a fantastic day pedalling (but mostly freewheeling) with a powerful tailwind.
Boxing Day was equally fantastic - another amazing tailwind and then we camped with King Penguins - the only colony outside of Antarctica or the Falklands. Totally amazing to see them at such close quarters, minding their eggs, squawking and waddling around unfazed by our presence. Bizarrely we were left alone to camp overnight, so wandered down in the evening to drink mulled wine with them...
and back again for breakfast in the sunshine too...!
New Year was awesome - there is an infamous bakery about 100km from Ushuaia, and Emilio who founded it, has created a little room in the back for cyclists nearing the end of their journey to sleep, eat lots of empanadas and other bakery goodies. He was fantastically welcoming, we joined his family for dinner, and then went down with the whole town for the customary fire of some unsuspecting cartoon character!
We added a contribution to the wall of cyclists annotations...
On the last day, cycling into Ushuaia...
I guess, firstly, it has exceeded all my best expectations, and there aren't really enough superlatives to describe so many aspects to the trip.
The people we have met throughout have been unbelievably friendly, very patient with our charades and nursery Spanish, and always quick to offer water and shelter - all a cyclist really needs.
It has been a great pleasure to be part of the international cycle touring community - it has been a very colourful addition to the road, with so many amazing characters who we have had the pleasure of sharing a quick encounter or many miles together.
And most importantly, Cat...
...she has been an awesome companion on this adventure... looking after me when I had delhi-belly, getting cold waiting for me on windy days, and enduring my snoring (allegedly!)... It has been so fantastic to have such an excited fellow peddler, who has shared many spectacular views and fun days, and who laughs when the challenge has seemed extreme and the weather ferocious. I couldn't have asked for a better Amiga for this trip of a lifetime... already planning cycling from Mexico south to Salta, where we started this trip.
Thanks for reading my ramblings here, and for your messages of encouragement while Ive been on the road. I hope we have inspired you to start your own adventure!
