#47 Making it into Reece's Top 5 Ride - Tucuman to Tafi

To make it into Reece's Top 5 Ride is to be something special, something magical, something transcending just pretty views or nice scenery. As we've journeyed across South America we've seen many amazing places, but to get into the Top 5, takes a certain something, a je ne sais quoi, an X factor. I don't even have 5 right now, maybe 2 or 3, and that's after 17,000km travelled. So what was special about this one?

Tucaman and the sights before it had been uneventful, but the day started with a bang, well actually more of a dislodgment, slide, wipe out a few trees and a large crash. Not us or another vehicle fortunately. We were to begin our mountain ascent to Tafi del Valle, then to Cafayate, when we found ourselfves trapped behind  a large line of cars. We later found out that a giant rock, literally the size of two camper vans (and this isn't an exaggeration) had dislodged in the night, slid down the mountain and taken out half the road.

You can just see the cars winding their way up

When the road had been cleared we began an incredible winding jungle ascent. Luscious green mountains, vinecovered trees, a raging winding river, all shrouded in a thick mist. We slowly wound our way up, passing through little streams traversing the road due to the rain, trying to keep on the road as I stared left and right.

When we emerged over the valley it was to a Scottish Highland-esque scene, calm, tranquil green land with cute cottages and it even included a lake. Although the town of Tafi del Valle was quiet touristy, we found a campsite with a view and met some locals who shared their asado with us (any Top 5 should include a meat element).

Now scenery is one thing, but a Top 5 requires an extra element, such as weather. Well we awoke to a thick dense fog/cloud on the road ahead and had no choice but to dive in. As we drove it consumed us. With range of sight of about 5m - 10m  we wound up the valley slowly and cautiously, trucks materialising suddenely before us, then disappearing just as quickly.

Once again, we emerged, passing through the veil of fog to a bright and sunny day. Looking to the left you could see the clear line, from the darkness to the light.

We waved farmland goodby and entered dryness. Green farmland morphed into dotted green, then to the brown dryness of the desert, broken with cactus and desolate shrubs. A long stretched out valled surrounded by tall peaks.

You have to remember we`ve seen all this in the space of two days, and this isn't even long driving. We had originally planned do this in a day. Finally, with one more card to play the land changed again to the land changed once again to wine country. Beautiful vineyards surrounded my magestic mountains, Cafayate.

And that my friends, is how you get into Reece's Top. Well actually my ride goes a little further as we were soon treated to a whole host of new sights and new experiences, but that is for another blog.