Tom - Day started well as I dropped the bike again getting it off the side-stand fully loaded. As it was on grass it dug in and toppled and I'm too bloody weak to stop it going. Must start the press-up again, and concentrate on what I'm doing.This time Tracy was handy to give me a lift.

After yet another breakfast of ham and cheese we set off along the last remaining unpaved section of Ruta 40. The scenery is stunning and the wind is unrelenting. The road is mainly unpaved and washboard shaking the bike to bits. It's a bit difficult to get the speed right as the surface changes but we perceive gritting our teeth and leaning into the wind. I let some air out of the tyres and set the shocks to soft to try and stop the shaking, it helps.

Tom - Petrol stations are scarce so we stop at every one, this one was in the middle on nowhere is covered in bike stickers including ones from previous Globebusters trips.

Gas station (refuge)

. Fill up, including new spare bottle, adventure biker or what!

Earlier in the morning we had been passed by a guy on a new GS with Chile plates, we had crossed several times over the past few days so he was obviously heading to Ushuaia like us.
As we approached the end of the gravel we came across a convoy of 4 wheel drives stopped by the side of the road as we got closer we also saw the GS standing by the side of the road but looking a bit worse for wear. There appeared to have been an accident involving the bike but not clear what happened can only surmise that a gust of wind took him off the road. The rider was in a lot of discomfort and was not fully conscious so the guys in the 4x4 decided to take him to the nearest town Tres Lagos for medical treatment, having to leave the bike on the side of the road. Mmm not a good idea. The wind was as strong as ever we followed on. Gave us a bit to think about on the road thankfully the paved road started again after a short distance.  

 After about 60 miles of gravel and wind he was only 100 yds short of the pavement and his trip would still be on.
 
We reach the turning for the town at least hopefully the ride will get some pain relief now, we press on, a couple of miles down the road Tom decides to turns back, it was not good to leave the bike on the side of the road and the least he can do to help is to ride it back. You would hope if ever in the same situation someone would do it for you. We turn back to town to offer Toms help. The 4x4 drivers are a group of Dutch and German friends with a guide. They check with the rider and it is agreed they will take Tom back to get the bike. Just as they are about to leave, the guide stops them explaining that the ambulance and fire truck we saw on the road has picked up the bike. 

The detour and stop has cost us an hour and some petrol so we arrive at El Calafate as the sun was going down. . and low on fuel.
 
We ride down the highstreet and meet some Aussie bikers who are staying at the same hostel as a couple of Canadians on a KTM. We head there and meet up again with Lindsay and Marion, great to see them again.