VIÑA DEL MAR, CHILE - VENTICINCO DE MAYO PAMPA, ARGENTINA

FRIDAY, THE 13TH of May, 1988.
This morning marks three weeks on the road
from Cartagena. Just a few days till the end....
"ALL THE WAY TO BA !!!"

From the coast we ascend rapidly into the Andes
for the last time. Today we'll cross over. East of
Santiago a cold rain begins to fall. It turns to snow
at 2500 meters.



By the time we reach the world famous Portillo Ski Area it has piled
up two feet. Slow going here. The snow is as slippery
as mud. Plows keep the way open for us. At the border
there is a big snowball fight as we await the other racers to catch up.

ARGENTINA



This crossing is about the only way to get into Argentina -
no off road here. Along the entire 5000 Chile - Argentina
mile border there are only three or four road crossings.
Just after the border, the Rallye passes 23,000 foot Cerro
Aconcagua, highest in the Western Hemisphere. Unfortunately
it's impossible to see.

After the mountains, a rapid descent out of the snow,
through the pine forests, and by early afternoon the wide
open Pampas are spread before us. We say Adios to the Andes.

Mendoza is a great little city of beautiful women and
great wine. Too bad we couldn't spend a little time
there. Just enough to gas up. We're on to Venticinco
de Mayo Pampa, a farm town in the shadow of the Andes.
A straight gravel road goes past huge estancias with
thousands of head of cattle. It really looks like the Front
Range in Colorado and Wyoming.



A huge Parillada is held in the town square. An entire
side of beef is skewered and turned over the fire.