January 6, 2008

Continuing Northward

Leaving Bahai Blanca behind, we continue on National Ruta 3 northward.


Our first gas stop gives us the opportunity to talk with a fellow from Buenos Aires. He is ridng a silver Gold Wing, only the second one we have seen on the trip. Seeing the bike makes us feel like we are getting back in the big city. I expect there are more Goldwings in Calgary than there are in Buenos Aires, a city of some 18 million people, but it reminds us of home.

We arrive in Azul hungry, hot and ready for a break. A restaurant on te highway looks appealing for some reason and a quick call on the CB to Tweety confirms that we should stop for a break and eat. The service was impeccable, the food delicious and the break welcomed.

Back on the highway we run across another of the many toll booths we have encountered. If one is traveling by moto, you must carefully read the signs leading up to the toll booths. Many of them allow motos to pass by the toll booth to avoid paying. The “bypass” is usually no wider than a footpath and sometimes juggling the fully loaded Beemers is necessary to get past.

The night was spent in Las Flores, a quiet town, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. We wanted to have a nice short ride into Buenos Aires leaving plenty of time for “unforeseen circumstances.” Also we knew it was going to be hot entering the city (38 degrees) with heavy traffic and we wanted to be as fresh as possible.