Friday 24 Feb. Margaret suggests a drive along the coast, from Chonchi to Queilen. It's absolutely magnificent in the clear weather! We see hundreds & hundreds of miles of snowy volcanic ridges, mountains, islands, and puffy low-lying clouds across the water on the mainland. Along the road are masses of bright orange flowers, deep ruby red flowers, yoked oxen, caballeros, home-woven baskets, and I finally do see a Green Flash! Dozens of Slender-Billed Parakeets (enicognathus Leptorhynchus) in flight right beside me all suddenly turn on ther wing. It's a wall of shimmering green, just for an instant. A thrilling instant, indeed.
On the afternoon return drive, the cobalt mountains of the morning have turned periwinkle, nearly a perfect match for the sky. So we are left with this long, thin, white horizontal Rorshak test of snow floating in blue, teasing us with various interpretations...
Saturday 25 Feb. We've overnighted in Castro, parked up by the water. L & M stay on to explore further the island of Chiloe', OJ & Womble cross the Canal Chacao by ferry (a 12,600 fare this time, as opposed to 10,900 the first time. Keep those receipts, folks!) Olwyn suggests a night seaside at Pangal on the Bahia Maullin. (2,500 pesos overnight parking; water, baños included) It's lovely walking on the beach, and further on down where the bay runs into the Oceano Pacifico the waves are big and wild.
Sunday 26 Feb. The tides are changing swiftly, I'm out on the beach at Pangal early, alone. A few days back in a lifestyle I love absolutely (yes, even the hours/days spent hunting for diesel, water, bread, bananas, and sitting in garages) and it's like I have never been away.
In time we leave for Puerto Varas, an upscale town with a splendid view across Lago Llanquihue to the Volcan Osorno. Loads of fun things to book here - rafting, kayaking, hiking, skiing, climbing. Olwyn's ankle hurts from all the walking on the sand yesterday, so I go into town alone & have a look at the colonial German architecture, the tidy streets. Back home before dark, we're still enjoying crab bought from the dock a day or two ago.
Monday Feb 27 And speaking of garages, That is where we are now! Maureen is getting a leaky fuel filter replaced, and a stuck rear door opened. John & Olywn have a solar panel doing strange things. And so it goes....
No comments:
Post a Comment