We almost didn’t leave Barcelona. When we showed up at the check-in counter we were told our flight was eight hours late and essentially cancelled. The airline, Aerolineas Argentinas, had arranged a hotel for us and all the other passengers, and a new flight eight hours later at 2 AM. This meant we would miss all our connections and we would have to spend a night in Buenos Aires and rebook our flights from there to Punta Arenas, Chile.
While we stood in line at the airline ticket counter to try and rebook something, I checked my email and noticed I had received a message from Expedia, with whom we booked our original flight, and they had already rebooked us on Air France to Santiago via Paris, a flight that would get us to Santiago on time for our connecting flight to Punta Arenas. This is the advantage of booking with a service like Expedia because they act as your travel agent and will do the rebooking for you without any further hassle or expense.
Our new flight departed only two hours later than the original flight but we made all our connections and some 28 hours (and five movies) after leaving Barcelona we arrived in Punta Arenas near the southern tip of South America.
But how do you get two bicycles into an ordinary taxi? Well, you take them out of the boxes and put them on the back seat. Jan took a second taxi with most of the rest of the luggage.
We will stay here another day to get organized and then we will head north toward Vancouver. Whether we will cycle all the way home remains to be seen, but it’s an attractive option worth pondering.
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Well Paul & Jan, we are astonished. Now in the tip of Chile. Woooow. Good luck and health on your next legs up north. Greetings from us in Holland.
Lol!! Where is Jan in that taxi?
Kind of like “Where’s Waldo”! There was a suggestion that I ride in the trunk, however I decided to take another cab with the rest of our luggage. We aren’t exactly travelling light 🙂
That was my question too, Theresa! But love the tip on getting the bikes in a smallish taxi … one person hitchhikes, of course!
And what a great option to ponder … I have no doubt you’ll meander your way all the way back north! I’m in your rainy town right now at YVR Mtn Festival … bit chilly.
THank you for sharing all the photos, trip logs, and fun. Really love reading and seeing it all.
Where is Jan? LOL
That’s a good tip about Expedia. Hope the 5 movies were entertaining.
Diane and I saw a presentation at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival a few years ago about a couple that cycled from the tip of Patagonia all the way to Central America (including going through Columbia). At that point she flew home to get back to school, and he spent an additional 3 months to complete the trip back to Vancouver. I’m not sure of their names, but they might have some info online that would be helpful or interesting for you.
I can’t wait to follow your journey. I will leave Australia in September to cycle Patagonia to Vancouver too. My route might be different but it’ll still be helpful and interesting to see what you do
Where did Janice get to sit? On the roof? 😉
My bet is Jan hired her own taxi – and got a better than Paul’s !
You’re right. Jan took another cab with the rest of the luggage.
FROM NOW ON I WILL BOOK MY FLIGHT WITH EXPEDIA BRAVO EXPEDIA AND NICE TAXI DRIVER TO ALLOW YOU TO PUT YOUR BIKES LIKE THAT IN THE REAR SEAT! LOVELY! BESITOS A LOS DOS
Really keen to hear your comments on the state of the S.American roads and how you find the strong winds that area is renown for. Patagonia has long been on my cycle tour list, but the reports of strong headwinds have put me off so far.
have to read all the comments how you two are doing,lots of work involved.take care.