Perito Moreno, Patagonia, Argentina: 342 kms (29420 kms)

I don't quite know what drugs him upstairs was taking when he came up with Patagonia but they must have been very strong. The scenery upon leaving San Carlos de Bariloche was spectacular and once again the weather has assisted our appreciation of what lay before us. But it seems that Argentina definitely drew the short straw in the picturesque scenery stakes as most of the good stuff can be found in Chilean Patagonia, which is unfortunately where we are not! In Argentina, once we departed El Bolson, we've had to put up with the rigours of riding Ruta 40, which traverses land devoid of contours for hundreds of kms. It would also appear that despite how south we have riden the current landscape has the appearance and characteristics of a desert, strange given that in two days time we'll hopefully arrive in National Park Los Glaciers. But it has been a thrill to ride hundreds of kms of gravel, the net result of which has thrown up new developments for TransAmericas. On Friday Matt mounted a truly amazing comeback in the fall-down stakes. On the banks of a lake in the National Park Los Alceres he dropped his bike, no doubt in awe of the superb scenery. Then, only 3 hours later, he dropped it again in spectacular fashion whilst negotiating a road under construction. He now has a pair of battered panniers and an ego to match. The score now reads Stuart 9 - 8 Matt. I'm now riding Black Yammy like a geriatric hoping he claws one fall back through a lapse in judgement. I may just have to contemplate sabotage as well.