We arose at 7:00 and were on the road out of the city by 8:15. As we drove north we could see a huge cold front coming up from the south. We drove past millions of hectares of vineyards and olive groves. As we neared San Juan , we took a shortcut through the agricultural area and picked up the highway that heads east to Córdoba. We stopped for lunch at the Difunta Correa sanctuary. I first heard of the sanctuary in 1984, but had avoided stopping there on earlier trips because I had heard that it was so tacky. On this trip, though, such a cultural experience seemed appropriate.

Difunta Correa means “dead messenger.” The story stems from a woman and her infant child who were lost in the desert. She climbed the small hill, at the shrine, and died. When she was found, her breasts were still giving milk and the infant lived. It was interpreted to be a message from God. The Difunta Correa became the local patron saint of travelers. Tens of thousands of people visit the site every year. The main chapel is the gaudiest religious shrine I've ever seen. There is a heavily glazed statue of the women with the infant at her breast. The many chapels are loaded with offerings and engraved plates of thanks. Several were just sets of boobs with words like “Gracias Difunta Correa.”

After lunch, we pushed on along the east side of the Sierra de Valle Fertil. At a pit stop, Motley found a small boulder covered with 3 cm garnets. It became known as the pepperoni rock. We arrived at the Valle de la Luna as the sun set. I bought a beautiful garnet specimen for 5 pesos! Even though it was dusk and the park was closing, the ranger allowed us to go to the Valle Pintado overlook which did not look too pintado in the twilight, but everyone had a good time with their first experience as techeros. Techeros are roof-riders who take advantage of the railing around the top of the Green Machine to get the best imaginable view of the countryside.

The last 140 km to Villa Union went fairly quickly. The road is still in great shape. I was really impressed with how nice the Valle Fertil road is now. It used to be nothing but potholes. We went straight to the Norbanepat Hotel. I was happy to see that the note my group left in 2001 is displayed under glass on the main counter. The hotel is now finished and is very nice.

We ate pizzas at a restaurant on the central square which was a good meal. There was a lot of music from a neighboring fiesta so Victoria and I practiced our tango steps. I went back to the hotel and showered going to bed at midnight. Todd and I shared the room.

We were awakened at 2:00 by the owner who said some students were still out and were hanging out with a disreputable guy, who turned out to be his daughter's ex-boyfriend. Norberto and I drove around the square and herded the five students back to the hotel. The owner then locked the door. There was apparently a curfew he neglected to tell us about.

At 4:00 we were awakened again by the owner who told us that students weren’t back to bed. He said they could be thrown in jail. Knowing that Motley and Samm were the probable culprits, I told him that was fine with me and went back to bed.