Sunday May 8, 2016, 223 miles (359 km) – Total so far: 17,060 miles (27,455 km)

We left Antofagasta and re-entered the Chilean Atacama Desert. Fortunately, the notorious Chilean winds continued to be kind to us. We had talked with several cyclists heading north through Chile that had a really tough time. The onshore winds are really fierce and can blow a bike off the road or can head you this time of year. Most people either wait it out of walk through the gusty parts.

We enjoyed the varied scenery and camping as we worked our way through the desert and back to the coast. The weather is getting colder as we head south through winter. We are in the tent early and don’t get out until the sun warms up a bit around 8:30. That puts us 12 hours in the tent and gives us plenty of reading time on our Kindles. There is nothing like crawling into the sleeping bag early and reading with the quiet desert winds ruffling the tent. The last two mornings have been cloudy and cold so we do have to stay bundled up until riding time. Jocelyn is not only the navigator but also the cook. The extra food and water weight can be difficult as we climb out of valleys but it is a necessity. About every 60 miles or so there is a posada or inn that serves delicious food. There we will consume our calories and buy more water. The next two days will take us along the coast, and warmer we hope, as we continue to Santiago.