Adventures of North Star
Follow the Adventures of Kim and Steve aboard their yacht North Star!
09 July 2019
08 July 2019
04 July 2019
02 July 2019
31 May 2019 | Copra Shed, Savusavu, Fiji
05 May 2019 | RDM
04 January 2019
28 April 2018
28 March 2018
05 March 2018 | Queenstown view from the top of the gondola.
11 October 2016 | Marina Taina, Tahiti
21 May 2016 | Tahiti, French Polynesia
14 September 2015
12 September 2015 | In Maupiti
17 August 2015 | Huahine, French Polynesia
13 July 2015 | Anyse Amyot-North End of Taou
20 June 2015 | Fakarava-South Pass
18 June 2015 | Fakarava-South Pass
11 June 2015 | Fakarava-South, Harifa
06 June 2015 | Fakarava, North Pass
Mendoza, Argentina to Santiago, Chile by bus
24 August 2013
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Over the Andes Mountains by bus.
Facts
The Paso Internacional Los Libertadores, also called Cristo Redentor, is a mountain pass in the Andes between Argentina and Chile. It is the main transport route out of Chilean capital city Santiago into Mendoza city in Argentina and so carries quite heavy traffic.
Switchbacks on the Chilean side of the pass
From the Argentine side the route to the pass is a slow, gentle incline until entering a tunnel at approximately 3,200 meters (10,500 ft) elevation. On the Chilean side the slope has a far higher grade, and the road descends down a long series of switchbacks to make the descent.
The Chilean tunnel entrance in winter
Opened in 1980, the tunnel is 3,080 m (10,105 ft) long, and serves as an important land crossing between Chile and Argentina. At the middle of the tunnel is the national border, which is the termini of Chile Route 60 and Argentina Route 7. The path can be closed during winter because of heavy snows blocking both ends and the threat of rockfall.
Its name comes from the 4 ton Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (Cristo Redentor de los Andes) statue placed in 1904 near the entrance of the Argentine side at an elevation of 3,832 m (12,572 ft).
Our take on the crossing.
We were dropped off at the Andesmar bus station in Santiago at 8:00 am. The bus arrived shortly after 8:30 and we headed off toward the snow capped mountainside to the west. The ride started with a gentle slope up and then increased in angle as we got toward the border of Argentina and Chile. As the snow capped mountains came into closer view the ground around us began to show signs of the dropping temperatures. First, patches of snow dotted the rugged landscaped and then an entire mountain face and finally snow everywhere. The roads were clear, the skies blue, the sun hot and the temperatures were unbelievably warm. We entered several tunnels through the mountainside. Somewhere inside one of the longest tunnels is the border line between the two countries. We arrived at the border behind seven other large buses. Argentina is on holiday Monday so the road on Saturday was very crowded heading into Chile. We spent some of the time waiting on the bus. The bus was very comfortable. The seats were oversized and leather. I think this particular bus was very new, with only six passengers on the lower level where we were and thirty six passengers total. We had cama style seats that have a foot rest that folds down and the seatback will lay flat like a bed. You had the option to enclose yourself in a curtain all the way around from the windows to the aisles if you needed some serious sleep. There was also a tv for a movie, but we had our own scenic movie playing on the clean and oversized windows. When it was our turn at customs we started in one line then moved over to the next line for more stamps and paperwork. Then all of the large luggage was unloaded from the bus, run through the xray scanner. Then the hand luggage, scanned and sniffed by one of the dogs. After three hours, we boarded the bus and continued on through the ski lifts and ski lodges, some on the Argentinian side and some on the Chilean side. On the Chilean side, on of the lifts is situated right over the top of the upcoming switchbacks and continued up the mountainside. We were told there were twenty seven switchbacks but we aren't sure if this is the correct total. To look over the side of one of the switchbacks was breathtaking, in more ways than one. Some had guard rails some didn't and the drop was straight down. We also went through some covered areas to keep falling rocks and possibly snow drifts from accumulating on the road. We arrived in the bustling city of Santiago around 7 pm. The time does change so we gained an extra hour.
Over the Andes Mountains by bus.
Facts
The Paso Internacional Los Libertadores, also called Cristo Redentor, is a mountain pass in the Andes between Argentina and Chile. It is the main transport route out of Chilean capital city Santiago into Mendoza city in Argentina and so carries quite heavy traffic.
Switchbacks on the Chilean side of the pass
From the Argentine side the route to the pass is a slow, gentle incline until entering a tunnel at approximately 3,200 meters (10,500 ft) elevation. On the Chilean side the slope has a far higher grade, and the road descends down a long series of switchbacks to make the descent.
The Chilean tunnel entrance in winter
Opened in 1980, the tunnel is 3,080 m (10,105 ft) long, and serves as an important land crossing between Chile and Argentina. At the middle of the tunnel is the national border, which is the termini of Chile Route 60 and Argentina Route 7. The path can be closed during winter because of heavy snows blocking both ends and the threat of rockfall.
Its name comes from the 4 ton Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (Cristo Redentor de los Andes) statue placed in 1904 near the entrance of the Argentine side at an elevation of 3,832 m (12,572 ft).
Our take on the crossing.
We were dropped off at the Andesmar bus station in Santiago at 8:00 am. The bus arrived shortly after 8:30 and we headed off toward the snow capped mountainside to the west. The ride started with a gentle slope up and then increased in angle as we got toward the border of Argentina and Chile. As the snow capped mountains came into closer view the ground around us began to show signs of the dropping temperatures. First, patches of snow dotted the rugged landscaped and then an entire mountain face and finally snow everywhere. The roads were clear, the skies blue, the sun hot and the temperatures were unbelievably warm. We entered several tunnels through the mountainside. Somewhere inside one of the longest tunnels is the border line between the two countries. We arrived at the border behind seven other large buses. Argentina is on holiday Monday so the road on Saturday was very crowded heading into Chile. We spent some of the time waiting on the bus. The bus was very comfortable. The seats were oversized and leather. I think this particular bus was very new, with only six passengers on the lower level where we were and thirty six passengers total. We had cama style seats that have a foot rest that folds down and the seatback will lay flat like a bed. You had the option to enclose yourself in a curtain all the way around from the windows to the aisles if you needed some serious sleep. There was also a tv for a movie, but we had our own scenic movie playing on the clean and oversized windows. When it was our turn at customs we started in one line then moved over to the next line for more stamps and paperwork. Then all of the large luggage was unloaded from the bus, run through the xray scanner. Then the hand luggage, scanned and sniffed by one of the dogs. After three hours, we boarded the bus and continued on through the ski lifts and ski lodges, some on the Argentinian side and some on the Chilean side. On the Chilean side, on of the lifts is situated right over the top of the upcoming switchbacks and continued up the mountainside. We were told there were twenty seven switchbacks but we aren't sure if this is the correct total. To look over the side of one of the switchbacks was breathtaking, in more ways than one. Some had guard rails some didn't and the drop was straight down. We also went through some covered areas to keep falling rocks and possibly snow drifts from accumulating on the road. We arrived in the bustling city of Santiago around 7 pm. The time does change so we gained an extra hour.
Comments
| Vessel Name: | North Star |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Tayana 52, Center Cockpit |
| Hailing Port: | Clearwater, Florida |
| Crew: | Steve and Kim |
| About: | |
| Extra: | North Star is a 1988 Tayana 52, center cockpit, a Robert Perry design. |
| Social: |
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North Star's Photos - Main
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Dive Sites Eagle Rock, The Zoo and the Great White Wall
52 Photos
Created 2 July 2019
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39 Photos
Created 29 March 2018
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Curio Bay and Yellow eyed penguins.
60 Photos
Created 18 March 2018
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O'nou Tahiti Graffiti Contest, Michael tattoo, roulottes
26 Photos
Created 2 June 2015
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Panama Canal Crossing and Shelter Bay Marina
31 Photos
Created 1 January 2013
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Back to the marina we go. The damage done by the lightning strike.
14 Photos
Created 7 May 2012
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Caouan, Tobago Cayes, Union Island, Mayreau
39 Photos
Created 25 May 2010
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Trip from Jolly Harbour north to Deep Bay
25 Photos
Created 16 March 2010
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old photos from Virginia to USVI'S
65 Photos
Created 12 March 2010
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additional photos from earlier in trip some of BVI's to St Kitts
120 Photos
Created 7 March 2010
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About Us
Who: Steve and Kim
Port: Clearwater, Florida
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