Blogs

Second week's report: High elevation Inca territory.

Arrival in Peru and the first week of travel:

We are deep in Inca Territory - the riding is amazing! Updates will be coming soon...

Check out rider Mike Corcoran's blog! It's filled with great photos and full ride reports. Thanks, Mike!

We are headed south again, through Mexico this time. Follow us daily as we travel, by linking in to our SPOT track here:

http://bit.ly/AerostichToursSpot

You can even follow along in real time, from now through the 12th of February.

The password is: aerostichtours

We all arrived back at the start/finish point of the tour with no incidents or accidents, exclaiming over and over how unusually nice the weather had been for the entire trip. Everyone is now on their way home, except one rider, who had already decided to spend the next several months exploring Chile's beautiful length. Stay tuned for several photos to be uploaded next week.

The last day of riding was almost uneventful compared to previous days, but we took the opportunity to travel a 30 mile or so gravel side route to another remote ranch and stop for coffee and pie. This 10,000 hectare ( 23,000 acre) estancia handles a herd of over 12000 sheep and 1800 cattle, many of which are available for a grilled barbeque upon request. A small museum in the dining room featured a foot pedal operated metal lathe and a hand operated corn shucker.
 

We have spent two inspiring days near and inside the Torres del Paine National Park. After recrossing the border back into Chile we spent the night at an estancia that is very remote but just across the lake from the famous towers, or horns of magnificent granite, jutting straight up inside the park. The peaceful setting was accentuated by the startlingly clear skies and deep blue water. The next day we rode nearly 100 miles inside the park, stopping often to gape skyward at the abruptly rising peaks, so famous to climbers and trekkers around the world.

Another windy day, but beautiful! We couldn´t quit stopping for photos today. We had bright clear skies and could begin to see the stunning Mount Fitz Roy from 100 miles away, jutting straight up into the heavens. We got closer and closer and it filled the view screen until we just had to stop and stare. I cannot imagine anyone climbing this spire, or any of it´s immediate neighbors, but a special few have done so, battling ferocious winds to summit. I am very impressed!