Turning off the short Tarmac section, we came to a wide open valley with a rough gravel road with a huge sense of isolation. It felt like there was no one else in the world here, dry, desolate, a light wind kicking up the dust from our wheels. The horizon shimmering, it was beautiful.
Towards the end of the valley we climbed out leading to a tight and technical gravel/rock climb, out onto the head of the valley, following a river bed up to our lunch spot — with expansive views over nothingness.