Over the Andes Bike "Ride"

Yesterday evening I went to a presentation at my local REI here in Eugene, OR, by a woman named Jude, who along with two friends rode for 3 months in Patagonia, essentially from Buenas Aires to Tierra del Fuego. She talked and told some stories, and showed a slide show. She also has a blog that she wrote during the trip: http://overtheandes.blogspot.com/ I haven't had a chance to read all of the blog, but see that it has some of the same pictures, and many more stories and so on. It's a really amazing trip. They did it totally seat of the pants, or as she called it a "SOPA" (Seat Of Pants Adventure). What that boiled down to was the fact that they didn't plan squat. They basically packed up their bikes, some clothes and gear, and flew down there, unpacked their bikes, bought a map, and just started riding. No set plans of any kind, no routes known ahead of time, bought and carried food along the way, etc. They have some great pictures, and some of the scenery is amazing. Also, some insane conditions at times, like this: http://bp3.blogger.com/_heWRvjK67EM/SAFZfQOHnjI/AAAAAAAAAQk/8-pVXDViw_A/s1600-h/P1080855.JPG They do have some riding experience (varying), and Jude is/was a bike mechanic (her last day was yesterday) as well as she's a cycle touring guide. The youngest woman was 20, and Jude is 25 I think. Pretty cool. p.s. one funny thing that sticks out to me was how Jude said she never eats mayonnaise, but on the trip, to get calories, and in part as its what they could get at times, they were wolfing down mayo - including putting it on cookies!