“Treat for the eyes”
It’s already been an exciting ride and we’ve only been on the road for 2.5 hours. About 30 minutes into our journey from Mendoza, we got pulled over, had our documents checked, the whole shebang. After everything was cleared and my heart rate stabilized again, we were on our way. The plan is to make it to Valle Hermoso, a beautiful camping area located close to a famous ski hill called Las Leñas, about 5 hours southeast on Route 40 from Mendoza. We left at 9 am and hope to make it there around 5 or 6 pm, with stops to set up a fire and our camp.
Currently, we’re sipping maté and listening to some Argentinian jams after a quick stop at a gas station for the baños. We met an amazing couple, Hugo and his lovely wife (I can’t remember her name), who were heading the other way, up to Mendoza in their Ford Bronco. They had traveled all the way from Buenos Aires, down to the very southern tip of Argentina, and finally up Route 40, the road we’re about to travel. We bonded over travel tips, had a laugh, and then were on our way. Both in their 70s, just ripping around the country. #Goals.
Yesterday was all about organizing to prepare for the unknown. Ruta 40 is treacherous at times, and for that, we made sure to have a 4×4 (a Nissan Xterra rented from a friend of Emi’s) and had it looked at by a mechanic ahead of time to prepare for travel (oil change, tire pressure, fluid check, electrical system, lights, etc.). We also made sure to have the right paperwork for leaving Argentina and entering Chile, as we will be driving up through Chile back to Mendoza. Every country is different in what you need in order to drive, drive someone else’s vehicle, cross borders, etc. Here in Argentina, because we are driving his friend’s vehicle, Emi needed to go to a lawyer of sorts and get a document signed that says he has permission. In Canada, we do not need to do that, for example.
Start to research and make lists at least two weeks prior to your trip. The timeline on opening hours, holidays ect will also differ. So give yourself some wiggle room. As far as equipment goes, we try and get what we can from family and friends. You’d be surprised what people have just lying around. If you borrow something from someone, make sure to write down what you took so you remember to give everything back!
Go through your typical day and make lists of everything you use. Even if you don’t think you will need it, put it on the list for now; you can eliminate the non-essentials later. Make one list for every category.
- Kitchen/ cooking utensils
- Bathroom
- Bedroom
- Emergency auto / First aid
- Clothing/ foot ware
- Camping equipment
- Groceries
By organizing your lists into categories, you’ll ensure you don’t forget anything important and can easily borrow or purchase the items you need. As you start to organize, this will also make it clear where everything is located in your vehicle. When you’re living out of a vehicle and can’t find a $%#’n fork, you’ll wish you did this step, lol. It doesn’t need to be pretty; you don’t need color-coded stickies—just start writing. Here’s our first set of lists. As you can see, it’s more of a brain dump than a list. We didn’t end up bringing everything here, but it’s better to think of everything than forget something later.
We’re excited to hear about your journeys too and also tips and tricks that you may have! Feel free to leave us a comment or just say hi! Before we head out we made sure to stop by my absolute favorite cafe in Mendoza, “Paloma Bakery House” to have one last fancy coffee, and stock up on their beautiful selection of coffee beans. The Café has a gorgeous patio, fast WiFi, lovely lighting and is Dog friendly. Checks all the boxes, and its close to Parque San Martin, an incredibly beautiful park full of life at all hours, but especially lively at about 4 or 5pm when everyone is off work, and holds an amazing farmers market every Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy your day wherever you are! Here’s the cafe location. Xx
L+E