Short ride on a cold windy day. Ended in a ski town.

I took my time leaving this morning as I knew it would be a shorter ride. A cold headwind kept the 42 kilometer ride from being trivial, but I was still in San Martin in plenty of time.

The main street of Junin de Los Andes. Businesses are spread out, so not much of a main street feel to it.

After a few kilometers, back in the more open countryside again. Fewer trees here, but more later in the ride.

A welcome sign for a park as well as mountains ahead. This is a more touristy part of Argentina than I’ve been before. Traffic was busier on the road as well.

A sign marking the 100 year establishment Fort Maipu – my rough translation:
“we do not have meat, bread, or grass, nor tobacco and even the stockpiles are concluding, but we are Argentines and we have duties to finish”

The last 8 kilometers gradually got busier as I came through edges of San Martin. There is Chapelco ski area some 19 kilometers from town and this appears to be the place with lodging, ski rentals and similar services. It is close to ending of the ski season but the ski area is still open and reports 10 cm of snow at the base and 160cm of snow at the summit. My route from here to Bariloche should bring me slightly closer and also close to the elevation of the base.

What I found interesting was a surprising amount of English on signs such as this one advertising a “winter sale”.

While ski season may come to a close soon, there is also a bike shop that advertises rentals.

This town is not larger, so I was surprised to find a double decker city tour bus.

Even more surprised to find two of them.

I’ve made a reservation at the language school in Bariloche, so won’t cycle all the way down to Puerto Natales prior to Puerto Montt. This gives me a week before I need to arrive in Bariloche and my plan is to take it slow through the upcoming scenic area. The combination of hotel and town were nice enough that I’ll start with a rest day here tomorrow before continuing south.