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Stage 2022/13 [SA013] | ||
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Payogasta - Cachi - Molinos |
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| 60 km / 37 mi | |||
| 250 Hm (garmin edge 1000) max. Altitude: 2400m | |||
Cycling Argentina's legendary Ruta 40: Stage from Payogasta via Cachi to Molinos. |
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 At the entrance to village of Cachi we make a quick photo stop under the blue sky. On average, Cachi has 345 days of sunshine a year and even in wintertime the temperature rises well above 20°C in the afternoon. A pleasant climate, not only for people but also for grapes. Although the place offers extensive infrastructure for travelers, we did not manage to exchange US dollars into Argentine pesos. |
 In Cachi we cross the Rio Calchaqui and from now on we cycle west of the river. We leave Cachi heading south and just behind the outskirts of the village the pleasant asphalt road stops. From here it's corrugated washboard and gravel again. |
 The road follows the Rio Calchaqui, which repeatedly squeezes through narrow valleys before the landscape opens up again and offers the impression of a wide high plateau. |
 The region around Cachi is known for the large number of Cardón cacti, which can be found at altitudes of up to 3400m / 11200ft. Such a Cardón cactus grows up to 12m / 40ft high and has a lifespan of 250 to 300 years. Only at the age of 40 to 50 a Cardón cacti bloom for the first time and produce fruit. The weight of these cacti is also impressive: a cardón like this easily weighs 8 tons. |
 Ruta 40. That's the name of the game, especially for cyclists. |
 Group picture with Cardón cactus. Given the many sprawling branches that the cactus develops as it grows higher, it is a mystery to me how the Cardón maintains its balance and doesn't fall over. Maybe equilibrium is not mandatory for Cacti. |
 The next few kilometers are characterized by countless Cardón cacti that stand to the left and right of Ruta 40. The road leads steadily downhill, we are only a few meters above 2000m / 6500ft. |
 Interestingly, there are no Cardón cacti in the area of the Rio Calchaqui riverbed. Maybe the cacti are unable to cope with the occasional flooding in the flat area beside the river. |
 Shortly before the town of Seclantás it becomes uncomfortably windy. How dry and dusty the landscape is can be seen in all its glory now that the wind is blowing towards us. In Seclantás we take a short break at a gas station with an attached shop, then we continue. |
 Just a few minutes after our break we discover that Ruta 40 between Seclantás and Molinos is closed due to construction work: This section of the road gets a paved surface! The signposted diversion initially leads south along the Rio Calchaqui. That's good news, but only for cyclists who stop by in the next few years. The risk of encountering an insurmountable obstacle on the road closed to traffic seems too great to us and we decide to take the detour. |
 Shortly before Molinos we come across Ruta 40 again. On the bridge over the Rio Luracatao I wonder how a heavy truck would pass this narrow bridge. At the same time, I can't remember seeing a single heavy truck in the last few days. Could this be somehow related? |
 In Molinos we find everything we needed for the night: excellent accommodation with friendly hosts, good food and red wine from the region. |
On the section from Payogasta to Cachi, Ruta 40 is paved. After many days of loose gravel, sand and corrugated washboard roads, the pavement is a nice change, although the fun only lasts about 10km, because the asphalt road ends in Cachi. Anyway, we enjoy the gentle gliding along the flat road all the more, framed by the high mountains of the Andes around us.