Flew from BA 1100 kms west to Mendoza on a hot afternoon...the plane skirted around massive thunderheads all of the way and we had to circle notçrth of the airport for 1/2 hour before landing to avoid a huge rain and hail storm. Bumpy landing but wçall was good. Check out this picture of the clouds above the airport after the storm the undersides were all covered with cones that looked like the start of tornados.

Checked out the scene in Mendoza for a couple of daze including a great winery (Bodega Eschoriaheula). Apparently there are over 800 winerys in the area....the surrounds of the city are completely blanketed by vinyards with the snow capped Andes in the Western backdrop. Some of the vinyards and bodegas have recently been bought up by big french, itialian, and US companies and more vines are being planted. Still can get a great bottle of red for under $5.00 CAD.

Put the bikes together (only a few missing parts this time) and started our journey north to San Juan. Made it there in 2 days covering almost 200 kms. Most of the road was pretty flat but considering the heat - which was up to 44 c, 112 f it was a bit too agressive for the start.

Been in San Jaun for 2 days recovering now and enjoying the New Years festivities. Lots of fireworks and surprisingly no midnight gun shots to the air which seems to be the tradition in other Latin American countries.