Distance today = 49.05 km; Total distance = 14,820.43 km; Location = Vicuna Mackenna – 33 55.784′ S, 64 23.609′ W; Start time = 0912, Finish time = 1644

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/246031153

This was one of the easiest days of running so far on the world run. It was imperceptibly downhill – so much so, that you could virtually refer to it as being “as flat as a …..” (Watto, a simile, please). The temperature was perfect, and the light cloud cover helped even further.

Amazingly, I saw a bird fall from the sky today and land about twenty metres in front of me on the road. It kicked one leg for a few seconds and then was dead. There was nothing else around, so I guess it died of a heart attack or some other natural cause. I’ve never seen a bird fall dead from the sly before.

I also had a fall, but it was my best fall yet. The four lane highway with tarmac shoulder has given way to two lanes with a hard packed dirt shoulder. I tripped on a wooden peg that was protruding about a centimetre from the dirt, and landed in a soft section of dirt – no scrapes or bruises of any kind.

I’m beginning to realise what a big country Argentina is. For those who aren’t aware, it’s the seventh largest country in the world by area. In comparison, Australia is the fifth largest. Argentina is approximately 3,600 km by 1,200 km. I’m crossing the narrow 1,200 km width. My friend, Tony Mangan, is currently running the 3,600 km length. He’s way down south now, approaching Tierra del Fuego.

Tomorrow will be more of the same. The countryside is one of flat farming terrain, and is very reminiscent of central New South Wales. As I said, it makes for very easy running.