Sunday 18 February
The Carretera Austral, Route 7, the only road through Northern Patagonia, stretches way further south than La Junta but if you're not into hiking, it's more of the same; glorious mountain view after glorious mountain view; so we headed north back to Chaiten.
We really enjoyed the excursions down random side roads today, stopping for bird watching here and there and trundling along at our own pace, which is why we like a road trip.
Back in Chaiten, we found the only restaurant open on a Sunday afternoon and ordered huge pizzas at 4 pm. This for early dinner and in bed at the least shabby hostel by 6.30pm! Noisy guests and definately no blackout curtians here but I managed to get to sleep; Neil didn't.
Monday 19 February
A 2.00am alarm and 2.20am on the road to the ferry at Caleta Gonlazes. A 60km, mostly dirt road through the National Park in the dark.
We arrived at the edge of the water and joined the queue of cars parked in the pitch dark. Everyone else had obviously slept here in their vehicles. Overlanders had even put up their rooftop tents.Waiting in the dark we ate left over pizza slices. The ferry arrived late, all the vehicles drove on and we got underway quickly.
This is part of Route 7, there is no other way through the mountains here. After a 40 minute ride across the fjord, this ferry docks and all the cars drive convoy style about 20kms to the next ferry. After another wait in the dark, another ferry arrives and then the trip to Hornopiren takes 3 hours. Most people, including Neil, stay sleeping in their cars but the sunrise and scenery is really beautiful.
We take the slow and scenic route along the coast.
The little churches, shrines and cemetaries along the way are really interesting.
Roadworks and bad gravel roads slow us down but we arrive at Lake Tagua Tagua by 4.30pm. Here we have to take a little boat from the dock over to Barraco Lodge.
What a beautiful lodge with great views and friendly owners.
After a fabulous dinner with good wines, we sleep so well in our luxury quarters.
This is part of Route 7, there is no other way through the mountains here. After a 40 minute ride across the fjord, this ferry docks and all the cars drive convoy style about 20kms to the next ferry. After another wait in the dark, another ferry arrives and then the trip to Hornopiren takes 3 hours. Most people, including Neil, stay sleeping in their cars but the sunrise and scenery is really beautiful.
No comments:
Post a Comment