Rodeo in the pampas while waiting for Patagonia…

Set off to assault South America on the handlebars of their finally broken Yamaha YBR 125s, our two youngsters PE and Beru cross the pampas to party in an estancia with the gauchos, the famous Argentinian cowboys. Third episode: rodeo !

Wednesday 28 January 2009 – Buenos Aires, 0 km
First roadbook: direction Tandill, a city in the middle of the Argentinian pampas, 450 km south of Buenos Aires … And first sensations on the road! Objective: to join an Argentinian friend in his estancia to discover the life of the gauchos (the Argentinian "cowboys"). Let’s go !

Running in motorcycles

Leaving Buenos Aires hassle with the local ring road, but the first feeling of freedom from the first kilometers … We drove until nightfall to sleep not far from Ayacucho (Ruta 29, 70 km from Tandil) . We are planting for the first time – and in the dark! – our tent in a field near the road. Not easy the first assembly … Fortunately, we understood the trick and we gain more than a meter in length (pleasant for Beru’s long legs) !

Due to the running-in of the motorcycles, we first drove at 60 km / h, then we gradually increased the pace until we now reach 100 km / h. But our cruising speed is rather around 90: we are not in a hurry and we do not want to be imprudent, especially since the side wind is strong, even very violent! We got used to it and we adapt our behavior accordingly.

As novice bikers, we also taste the joys of strong drafts when passing a truck, but we get used to it and this allows us to respond to the very many (90 per day!) Honking and other signs. that bikers, truck drivers, etc..

Thursday January 29, 2009 – Tandill, Ruta 76
We started looking for our friend Alfonso’s estancia without knowing the place, the name, or the address, but simply because during a dinner he had put a cross on our map of North America. South! Almost discouraged after having scoured all the agricultural cooperatives, we finally managed to join him !

20 km of track at night

At night, we traveled 20 km of tracks to reach the 2000 hectares of his estancia lost in the middle of the pampas, in the cloud of dust released by his 4×4 which shows us the way…

The next day, this same pick-up allowed us to take a tour of the property explained by its owner: meeting with bulls, cows … and wild ostriches (the first stop was precisely to find the nests and birds’ eggs).

Rodeo in the pampas !

Friday January 30 – On horseback in the pampas
We continue crescendo, with an outing on horseback in the pampas. Mounted on gaucho saddles, reins in the left hand and sheepskin under the buttocks, we are off! But not so fast for PE: his nervous horse makes him very uncomfortable on his mount !

At a walk, trot and gallop, we end with an improvised polo game for several hours: a real pleasure without a motor! Also in the equestrian series, we meet in the afternoon at the annual gauchos festival. On the program: rodeo (for us, as spectators only!) On wild foals (very impressive!) And folklore cowboy party in the evening. We pitched the tent there to fully enjoy the moment: great encounters with locals of all ages !

The next day, awakening difficult and long drive to pass through the magnificent Sierra Montana before arriving at our objective, Bahia Blanca.

Monday January 2, 2009 – Bahia Blanca, Ruta 3
The break-in is over, we carry out the first check-up of the bike and off we go to the "Deep South", along the Atlantic … Next episode: Patagonia !

PE and Beru

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