Anillaco - 750 KMS

The high valley west of La Rioja is covered with thousands of acres of olive trees giving it a dull green hue as you descend into it - a bit more interesting this particular morning as massive thunderstorms loom in the western hills and patches of rain make curtains across the valley.

Pedaled downa side road into this little town called Anillaco around lunch time and were greeted by a truck load of grinning pudgy Policia signaling us to come with them down another side road to the Police station. No no come around back the said in Castillano, so we fllowed dutifully wonering what trouble we were in. Although they wanted to see our documentos, questioned us about drugs (le gusta drugos? marijuana?), I´m sure they were just bored and saw this as some way of justifying their existance. After admiring Al´s clipless bike shoes & pedals and my altimeter watch (how much money? is alwasy the question) they felt we were respectable enough to continue on have have lunch in their little town. Only after reading the guide book at lunch did it start to make sense - this is the home town of former presedent Carlos Menem ( actually a Sirian imigrant) who lives in the nearby Casa Rosada and this oversized police force must be looking after his domain. Also later saw the runway in the desert the guide book says is big enough to land 747´s and the huge (but perpetually empty) high end hotel.