Flat plains of dry grass lie on the other side of the Strait of Magellan at the end of mainland South America. This was the land of the Yaghans; the indigenous people who had the honor of being regarded as the southernmost living tribe in the world. The biting winds and the frigid cold has changed little since those days. For us it was to be the ending of our long journey south.

After arriving in Punta Arenas – the Chilean penal colony turned hub for gold prospectors and sheep farmers at the southern end of the South American mainland – we took a ferry to the quiet town of Porvenir on Tierra del Fuego.

The first two days of cycling on the island we cross through very desolate, treeless lands. The Patagonian pampas continue, and we are treated to endless views over colorful grasslands being maintained by huge herds of sheep and guanaco.

The winds here are fierce but mainly in our favor; pushing us from Chile across the border back into Argentina.

Passing quickly through the disappointing industrial town of Rio Grande, we found ourselves cycling in the last valley before the forested lands and mountains would return.

Long before arriving in the small town of Tolhuin, we were aware of the famous bakery La Union. Owned by Emilio; this is the last safe haven for passing cyclists on their way south.

The smell of fresh baked goods draws in people from far and wide, and we were more than willing to spend a few days here…

sampling some of many types of homemade breads, pastries, empanadas, chocolates, and cookies.

Our bellies full and our hearts anticipating the long awaited finish, we ride around Lago Fagnano…

until the imposing Martial mountains come into view.

But before our final descent into Ushuaia; we have one more mountain pass to conquer.

And on the top of Paso Garibaldi – while our minds are trying to reach back to the hundreds of hills we must have gone up during these past 20 months – we are rewarded with a magnificent view across the waters of Lago Escondido.

On the other side we plummet back down into the snow-covered evergreen forest…

And we pick up a stray dog…

who decided to follow us all the way to the Plaza Civica in downtown Ushuaia.

Where Michiel’s mum…

And both my parents surprised us with an unexpected welcome. (photo courtesy of John Luck)

When all the festivities were over we rode up towards Hotel Del Glacier, where some new friends were waiting for us; our adopted dog still in pursuit… (photo courtesy of John Luck)

After 605 days on our bamboo bicycles we are now done; it is over. Riding down from above the Arctic Circle in Deadhorse, Alaska, we have tried to bring some actionable attention to an issue that we both belief is – and will remain – crucial; how to quench a growing thirst on an increasingly populated planet, and do so in a sustainable way. We tried to help some people, and we hope we inspired some people. We made a lot of new friends and learned many things about ourselves and about the world we live in. We hope we made a small difference…