Distance to Date: 4692 km, 2909 miles

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And soon we find a problem with the rear rim. Yikes. This one broke, and another is on its way. La Rioja. In the plaza. We find a bike shop to get the rim replaced. Now this is new. That is, using a 36-hole rim with a 40-hole hub. Our tandem hub has 40 holes, but getting a 40-hole rim in this part of the world is impossible. The mechanic says it's possible to use a 36-hole rim -- not use 4 holes. So we get a rim that is as strong as possible. Good to go. Out of La Rioja we meet Juan. He's also a cyclist, and he had done a trip some time ago around the northern part of Argentina. He invites us to stay with him. He grows olives, and so we camp in his "olive garden." Now, there's Dago. Dago is a 1-year old puppy at 50 kg! He thinks he's a lap dog! Onward we go. Some 90 km later, we stop in Chumbicha for the night. Tauru gets hungry and finds donut-looking pastries. Next, some homemade bread. The following morning in Chumbicha. Time to get up. We shoot for Catamarca some 70 km away. The bike takes a break. In Catamarca, we find a Carrefour supermarket, which brings back memories of Ushuaia some 5 months ago! It's always fun to hang out in supermarkets! In Catamarca, we camp behind a gas station that's also a truck stop. They even have free showers! Yay! Given the truck situation, we build a barricade around our tent and line it with reflective things in order for trucks to see us if they're pulling in for the night. Bye-bye, Catamarca. Finally, our first day of heat! Since Ushuaia, it's been cool or cold; but here it's hot. Hot! We stop often to rehydrate. Most gas stations along the way have water spigots. Tauru fills up at this one in La Merced. Out of La Merced, there's a mountain pass. We walk the 80 kg or so bike and gear over the pass. La Merced is in the distance near the top of the pass. This is the kind of road sign we like. Downhill coming up! Christi takes a break at the top next to some "interesting looking" shrine of some sort. What is it? A first for us ...plastic bottles being offered in memory? We continue on. Over the pass, we coast for 12 km down to a new environment. We are no longer in the desert; we are in green-country. We stop for a break and meet a farmer who brings us a sack full of mandarines and oranges. Like 20 lbs of it! Yikes, what to do? So we eat as much as possible of them and put the rest on the bike. Can't throw food away... especially when it's given to you! Well, it turns out that the rear rim that was replaced in La Rioja may be decent, the spokes are not. They're cheap, and they can't handle the weight of a tandem. Tauru replaces two broken spokes in the rear wheel. Traffic on RN38 that goes to Tucuman, a major city in the north, is really bad. Cars and small trucks battle with large trucks, motorbikes, bikes, and sometimes even horse carts. Unfortunately, things do happen that makes everyone sad and temporarily more cautious. Behind the white truck is a motorbike. The ambulance to the left doesn't seem to be in any rush to head back to the hospital. This is one of the wonderful moments of traveling. We randomly meet Miguel and Lucien in Monteros and are invited to their home for dinner. Yes, there are dangers out there in the world, but goodness still overwhelms. Goodness is infectious. Page 1 Page 2