Day 158: January 20, 2008 Comodoro Rivadavia

  Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina
Sunday, January 20, 2008

Day 158: January 20, 2008 Comodoro Rivadavia

Although it was overcast when I got up at 8:30, the sky soon cleared to give us another beautiful day on the Patagonian coast. I had a leisurely Sunday breakfast and then strolled on the street. It surprised me to find the internet locutorio open. I stayed there until they closed for siesta. My stomach was still not settled from last night's disastrous meal so I forewent lunch and laid down for awhile. When I felt better, I got in the car and put 20 liters of gas in the tank. I headed to the rotunda south of town on Ruta 3 where I headed west. The rotunda is in a low area between and slightly below the high cliffs at Rada Tilly and high hills, about 15 km to the west, comprised of strata that would overlie the Rada Tilly cliffs. I thought I remembered seeing roadcuts the high hills, in 1998, that might be usable.

Oil Wells West of Comodoro Rivadavia

My memory was playing tricks on me. Although there are roadcuts, the best exposures are on the drilling platforms, which now host active YPF/Repsol oil wells. Fortunately, I wasn't planning on sampling this part this year because I will need to go through a barrage of paperwork to get access to the well areas but it should be doable. I've done a lot of work with YPF in the past. With Tuity's help, it should be possible to get access on my next trip to the area. I was glad to see that there are a couple of campgrounds and water at the base of the section. The area I want to sample is between Km 15-35. At the top of the rise is a sudden transition to a perfectly flat meseta, stretching almost to the horizon, the next level above that seen at the top of the Rada Tilly cliffs.

I turned around and wrote some notes before heading back, satisfied that this area could work. As I descended back down to the lower meseta, I continued to scan the roadcuts and well platforms. I'm pretty sure I can make a complete section out of these exposures.

Approaching the junction with Ruta 3, I caught several glimpses of the sea through saddles between the low hills just west of the rotunda. I returned to the hotel. The señora told me that the TV in my room was now operating-it hadn't been-so I went in and tried to find some news, without luck.

At 7:00, I went back to the internet locutorio. There was no word from Angel so I'll spend Monday night in Comodoro. Feeling neither hungry or like spending a lot of money on a meal that I probably wouldn't finish, I bought a small pizza at a pizzaría around the corner from the hotel. It tasted okay but I couldn't eat it all. I returned to my room and watched TV until I fell asleep.