End of the World!!!

Port Entrance
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Was awoken early by the budget group preparing breakfast at 6.30 and some of our group also getting up.  Found out later that although our place was noisy, at least we didn´t have drunken people falling on top of us like Anna, or were subjected to a kids party at 4am like those that decided to camp.  Headed out and stopped at a fantastic bakery where we stocked up.  Arrived in Ushuaia before lunch and headed to the tourist office to learn about the different excursions.  Also managed to collect three more stamps for the passport!  Ushuaia is known as the end of the world, as it is the most southerly city and is where the beagle channel is located in the tierra del Fuergo (Land of Fire) area of Argentina. Had lunch and headed to the campsite, a rugby club, where we would be staying for the next few nights. This was located by a lake, in woods and although the ground had knolly bits, managed to find a relatively private area.  Helped with campsite duties whilst Julie went on a ´supplies´mission with the food buying bunch.  SAS (another overland group) turned up and my secluded spot now had neighbours.  Bummer!  The German vampires were here again (Rotel tours), having first encountered them in El Calafate and seeing them again in Torres.  So called the vampires as they have a bus and then trail another bus sized vehicle behind that basically contains beds in compartments, like coffins we think.  We cooked inside and the place was pretty crowded with all the overlands but at least there was constant hot water. 

View from Pampa Alta
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The following day headed to Terra del Fuego National Park and did one of the smaller walks to the Pampa Alta viewpoint, where we could see across to the Beagle Channel.  It was an interesting walk, alongside the End of the World train for a bit, then up through the woods to the top point and passing a beaver dam on the way down.  Then managed to catch a lift down to the bay where we got another passport stamp, and posted some postcards from the end of the world - all officially marked.  Julie and I then headed into town for some shopping and managed to find the distance sign that we had been searching for.  It´s not marked on any map but is in the middle of the shopping street.  Once I noticed it and started talking photos everyone wondered what was going on and then did the same.  We then headed for a Tendedor Libre lunch (even bigger buffet than the one in El Calafate and complete with sprouts (sounds weird but vegetables tend to be peppers and things).  before joining Ket, Urvi and Anna for a flight around the Beagle Channel, to the Chilean border and around Ushuia.  There were amazing views from the plane and the area was fantastic.  We had been worried that the weather wouldn´t allow us to fly but we managed to get a window of good weather for us.  Other people in our group couldn´t go up earlier in the day.  Headed back to the campsite and was on cooking duty so made BBQ today, great Argentina steaks, chicken and lots of salads. 

View from Pampa Alta
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Had a bit of a lie in the following day and headed into town for an internet day and to get everything updated and finally respond to some emails. And so this gets my site up to date for the moment before heading out on long truck days over the next three days before reaching Puerto Madryn.  Tomorrow we crossed two borders (crossing into Chile for a short time), one ferry crossing and 11 hours driving.  It´s going to be a long day.  About 10 or so of the group have decided to jump off and fly to Buenos Aires early and spend time there to avoid this section so we will have more space on the truck at least!