Wednesday 4th February: We arrived in El Calafate after a day of mostly ripio roads, our last border crossing between Chile and Argentina, with Torres Del Paine in our rear-view mirrors. El Calafate is full of more wonderful scenery, which we are experiencing for the next two days of rest.
Friday 6th February: The team headed out for a scenic drive southwest of town. Our destination: the famous Perito Moreno glacier. After a very enjoyable drive along a winding and hilly country road, we were treated to spectacular views of the glacier ahead. We arrived at the approach road to the glacier, only to find it was closed to all traffic except tour buses. After pleading our case to the local authorities, the Austins were given special dispensation and we happily churned up the hill to the parking lot at the top, with jaw-dropping views of the world´s most famous glacier.
We took the handy foottrails to get even closer to the mass of indescribably blue and white ice and to hear it serenade us with creaks and groans as the ice field slowly advances into the fjord. We were even treated to thunderous crashing of icebergs calving from the forbidding ice face. A very humbling experience for all of us.
