Skip to content

Chills and Mills

Two Brits on an adventure

Home
Blog
Watcha packin’?
Route
Countries
- France
- Spain
Contact

Contact

Name(required)

Email(required)

Comment(required)

Follow Blog via Email

We post a new blog every couple of weeks or so. To get new posts straight into your inbox, enter your email address below and follow our journey!

Chills and Mills on Instagram

Our first few days on Tierra Del Fuego have been BEAUTiful. Stunning views, dreamy gravel roads and a whole range of free sleeping spots, from ultimate cabin porn to leaky roadside sheds (from where we share this post). Not even the strong winds and rain forecast for the next few days can dampen our spirits. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cycletouring #bikewander #cycleadventure #biketrip #cyclist #cycling #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cyclesouthamerica #instacycling #cicloviajantes #cicloviajeros #worldontwowheels #slowtravel #worldbybike #fromwhereiride #findelmundo #tierradelfuego #genesisbikes #biketocamp

Once more unto the breach. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ About 570 km stands between us and the so-called “Fin del Mundo”, the end of the world. We know we’ve been away for ages but we can’t quite believe we’re nearly there. Since we left the Carretera Austral the reality of going home has been steadily sinking in. After planning routes and following maps for so long, suddenly we’re left wide open - we need to find jobs, somewhere to live...oh, and we’re getting married in September. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Our first step for easing back into life at home? Keep cycling. We’ll pedal from Heathrow to Cornwall via our parents in the southeast, while conducting the job hunt from the road - suggestions on that front much appreciated. Anything to avoid moping on the sofa in front of Bargain Hunt, right? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cycletouring #bikewander #cycleadventure #biketrip #cyclist #cycling #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cyclesouthamerica #instacycling #cicloviajantes #cicloviajeros #worldontwowheels #slowtravel #worldbybike #fromwhereiride #tierradelfuego #findelmundo #shotoniphone

It was a joy, if a little knackering, to get off the bikes and explore Patagonia by foot. Taking it at this pace forces you into a different style of travel. I noticed from the photos I took everything was more close up, wanting to remember the tiniest details along the way (AKA getting carried away with macro mode pt.2). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #biketohike #hikepatagonia #patagonia #nature #lumix #macro #hiking #parquepatagonia #cerrocastillo #patagoniatravel #patagoniatrip #travelstories #hikingstories #worldbybike #biketrip #cycletouring

It’s difficult to convey just how vast and empty Patagonia is to someone living on a tiny and congested island called Great Britain. But imagine for a moment driving up the M1 from London to Nottingham: Luton, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Rugby, Leicester and Loughborough, and of course all the towns and villages dotted in-between; traffic jams; speed cameras; roadside AA vans; service stations with a WH Smiths, M&S, Pizza Express and Travel Lodge. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Now imagine doing exactly the same journey but there is absolutely nada from start to finish except for a handful of estancias, most of which you can’t even see as they’re situated at the end of long and winding gravel tracks. This is exactly what it’s like cycling the 215km between El Chaltén and the next town El Calafate. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ New blog up: “Out of the Carretera and into the desert: cycling through the Patagonian steppe”. Link in bio. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cycletouring #bikewander #cycleadventure #biketrip #cyclist #cycling #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cyclesouthamerica #instacycling #cicloviajantes #cicloviajeros #worldontwowheels #slowtravel #worldbybike #fromwhereiride

Nothing like a good collection of Patagonian cabin porn to make the imagination run wild 😉. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cycletouring #bikewander #cycleadventure #biketrip #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cyclesouthamerica #worldontwowheels #worldbybike #patagonia #cabinporn

We’ve had our fair share of disappointing sunrises of late. Making the effort to be up at ungodly hours only to see dark peaks covered in clouds which block the sun. So when we tentatively poked our heads out our tent to this mesmerising light show, we felt well and truly compensated. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #sunrise #lumix #cycleadventure #biketrip #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cyclesouthamerica #worldontwowheels #slowtravel #worldbybike #torresdelpaine

“You’re going up *that* hill”? The eyebrows rise, the shoulders shrug. Doubt is etched in the faces of curious tourists asking us about our route. We’ve climbed high-altitude mountain roads, crossed the Andes and ridden over 100 miles (yes miles) in one day. And yet I still let strangers plant tiny seeds of self doubt in my mind. I stare up at the hill ahead, a little anxious, my energy now lowered just a tad. And it’s an absolute piece of piss. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Next hill, please.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cycletouring #bikewander #cycleadventure #biketrip #cyclist #cycling #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cicloviajeras #worldontwowheels #slowtravel #worldbybike #fromwhereiride #womenwhoride #genesisbicycleclub #torresdelpaine

Guanacos have a way of suddenly appearing over the brow of the hill, as if out of nowhere. They don’t bat an eyelid when cars and huge lorries screech past. However when they see a cyclist approach, they stop dead in their tracks, stare us down and sound a warning call to their friends. We want to tell them they should be more concerned about the speeding vehicles, but it must be something about the way we move - positively puma-esque if you ask me. Incidentally, their warning call sounds much like a dirty laugh from an old lady who smokes 50 a day. No lie. Youtube it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cycletouring #bikewander #cycleadventure #biketrip #cyclist #cycling #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cyclesouthamerica #instacycling #cicloviajantes #cicloviajeros #worldontwowheels #slowtravel #worldbybike #patagonia #guanaco

I remember when I first saw a picture of the mystical mountains of Torres Del Paine, 10 years ago on my first trip to South America as a baby backpacker. It captured my imagination and ever since then I wanted to visit Patagonia. We’ve now seen a whole lot more than what’s in this picture, but to cycle through here felt like a fitting farewell to the Andes. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cycletouring #bikewander #cycleadventure #biketrip #cyclist #cycling #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cyclesouthamerica #instacycling #cicloviajantes #cicloviajeros #worldontwowheels #slowtravel #worldbybike #chile #fromwhereiride #torresdelpaine #genesisbicycleclub

Time to refuel. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cycletouring #bikewander #cycleadventure #biketrip #cyclist #cycling #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cyclesouthamerica #instacycling #cicloviajantes #cicloviajeros #worldontwowheels #slowtravel #worldbybike #chile #fromwhereiride #genesisbicycleclub

While the scenery on the Patagonian steppe is a little less varied than along the Carretera Austral, you see a lot more wildlife. Rhea (a cousin of the ostrich), flamingoes, armadillos, guanaco, hares and foxes are regular fixtures. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cycletouring #bikewander #cycleadventure #biketrip #cyclist #cycling #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cyclesouthamerica #instacycling #cicloviajantes #cicloviajeros #worldontwowheels #slowtravel #worldbybike #chile #fromwhereiride #choike #rhea #patagonia

Once we crossed back into Argentina after finishing the Carretera Austral, we were faced with a total 180 on the scenery front - think less green valleys and snow capped mountains, more semi-arid steppe for miles and miles as far as the eye can see. At first it was a shock, but we soon adjusted - after several months of sensory overload on the Carretera Austral it was nice to be just us, the bikes and our thoughts. It’s all about balance after all. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #cycletouring #bikewander #cycleadventure #biketrip #cyclist #cycling #travelbybike #adventurebybike #cycletour #cyclesouthamerica #instacycling #cicloviajantes #cicloviajeros #worldontwowheels #slowtravel #worldbybike #fromwhereiride #argentina #patagonia #genesisbicycleclub

Instagram
Twitter

Blog at WordPress.com.