Seven Lakes Route

Driving into Junin de los Andes we saw gas and got gas, which is the rule down here and added our sticker to the collection.

The drive on the 7 lakes route is a must do!They have actually renamed the old highway 231 going from Junin de los Andes to Bariloche via Villa la Angostura the ruta 40 to make it look like more of the 40 is paved (signs say ruta 40 ex ruta 231).

The 235 km is paved except about 25 km of very good gravel road in the middle, but with all the stops (and Saturday summer traffic) it takes about 5 hours.

On the way to Bariloche there are a couple of towns that make you think you are in Sun Valley, Idaho.

The drive around the lake into San Carlos de Bariloche is stunning. This is a tourist town, where there is a chocolate shop in every block. We had a couple of down days here to rest up on the way south.

Walking along the lakeshore we came across the teleferico so took a ride up.

We had the best ice cream we have ever eaten here in Rapanui in Bariloche. This is the line up at midnight.

The day started with almost no line at the gas station unlike yesterday, a bit cool at 13 degrees, but sunny.