Rather than fly I opted for the scenic 8 hour bus ride . Booking through BusBud.com I was able to reserve one of the top front seats.
Bus service in Chile and Argentina is fantastic.
Unfortunately I fell asleep during some sections of the journey.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
From Mendoza I did the second half two more times as my local bus to Aconcagua took the same highway. Well worth doing if you get the chance.
By luck I had cloudless skies and the French Base Camp (4200m) to myself.
Aconcagua has a notoriously unfriendly micro climate.
On my return to Mendoza I met a guy from South Africa who was forced off the other side of the mountain at 6600m by weather. The climbers had been slogging through a metre of snow and it finally got too dangerous to continue.
To celebrate I had a big chunk of Argentinian barbecue beef. And fresh baguette.
Goodbye winter. Average temperature in Mendoza, Argentina in January is 26°C (79°F).
Did I hear something about Malbec?
I fly to Santiago today. Looking for the best hiking and cycling I can find.
Coddiwomple (v.): to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination
If all goes well I’ll be headed for Patagonia via Chile in January. I was last there February 2015.
Goal will be hiking, cycling and kayaking during the South American summer.
Lonely Planet named Chile their #1 travel destination for 2018.
Click PLAY or watch a travel promo on YouTube.
Chile is far from perfect. Here are all the things I don’t like about the nation.
I may be spending more time on the Argentinian side this time.
I’m actually working a lot this summer. Gymnastics video editing. Gymnastics clinics and camps. I won’t get free until mid-September.
But I did get a week in a rent-a-car doing some of the best hikes Squamish to Pemberton. Those trip reports over on my hiking blog.
I carry this for shopping. Especially for cycling to the grocery store. US$29.99 on Amazon.
I bring it along when I travel to have easier options for short trips.
There are lighter packs, I should add. The ChicoBag does not fit in your pocket.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I bought an older model camcorder (February 2016) because of the price. Around $200.
I want zoom. 57x is more than I’ll ever need.
Photos at 2.07 Megapixels (1920 x 1080).
No Wi-Fi.
It’s tiny. I can carry it on my hip. And on the trail.
Canon – VIXIA HF R700
I’m just now debating whether to video in AVCHD 60fps or MP4 60fps?
The trip report is up on my hiking site. A great adventure.
I’m already planning a return to do a couple of weeks on the Carian Trail. Perhaps April 2019.
My favourite photo from Antalya.
Antalya is the fifth most populous city in Turkey and the capital of its eponymous province. Located on Anatolia‘s flourishing southwest coast bordered by the Taurus Mountains. …
Antalya is Turkey’s biggest international sea resort, located on the Turkish Riviera. … A record 12.5 million tourists passed through the city in 2014. …
In 2015, the population was 2.288 million but it feels small city to the tourist staying in the ancient walled city, Kaleiçi;.
Myself and the rest of the very happy tourists enter and exit most often via Hadrian’s Gate.
I stayed only two nights my first visit prepping for a week long hike along the coast.
On my return I had more time to enjoy the sights.
They love statuary.
Evening walks are lovely.
Everyone who’s been to Antalya can recommend it. It’s very tourist friendly.
Rick McCharles 