Ruta 40

Perito Moreno, Argentina

The next morning we wake up very early to take off for Perito Moreno It's a long drive up the old Ruta 40. Ruta 40 is Argentina’s Route 66. It’s a long highway (perhaps an ambitious word) that stretches the length of western Argentina. On our last trip I had forgotten something important in Barriloche and ended up hitchhiking for about 3 days trying to catch up to the truck as there are no buses that transverse the mainly unpaved portion of the old Ruta 40. Not only were there no buses, but very little traffic in general. So little in fact that I stopped hitchhiking and started just standing in front of whatever vehicle was trying to pass by. They didn’t have to give me a ride, but they at least had to tell me why.

We finally make it up to the small town of Perito Moreno, where we have dinner and stay in the little cabin like shelters there. That night, for some reason, Kate, Naomi, Andy, Leigh and I decide to go out in search of some trouble. We end up playing pool until stupid o’clock and get back late.