Sunday, January 12th
Distance – 96KM, 90% ripio
We got a slow start out of Cisnes. The concept that there are no stores, restaurants, or petrol stations open on a Sunday morning is quite foreign – Nosotros somos los extranjeros. Still, it gives us time to chill and relax on a beautiful morning. When we get to the restaurant for breakfast, there are bunch of locals getting loaded. Nice to see the world works pretty much the same no matter where you are.
Early morning clouds burn off
There is another glacier close to our route north, and Martyn has not seen one yet, so we decide to make a detour to see it. This is our first view. It is much more impressive than Glacier Grosse.
A hanging glacier.
As you get closer, it becomes even more impressive. The blue ice is stunning.
Hanging glacier.
No matter how old we get, it seems funny to goose someone right as the picture is being taken.
Mac gooses Hoggy
It turns out that there is a small boat that takes you out for a closer view of the glacier. This is Chile and a lunch break is a must so service is suspended for an hour, even though there is a line waiting. We decide to wait, sunbathe, and amuse ourselves.
Selfie in front of the glacier
For some reason, Charlie has a goal to introduce his testicles to fascinating sites; I think he missed out on playing rugby as a lad. Given that he couldn’t get close to the glacier, he decide the melt water would do instead.
Charlie introduces “the lads” to a glacier
The reason you can’t get to close, is that pieces a are calving off the glacier all the time. Here you see a big fall coming off. Even a couple of miles away, the noise is deafening.
Ice breaking off the glacier.
Up close, the glacier is even more impressive.
Glacier and glacial lake.
I think we make the picture.
Up close to the glacier.
Our battery glitches are not over yet. The missing case is causing the new battery to rattle about. The rag we’ve used to stuff it has worked itself loose. An old inner tube is pressed into service to stop the rattle.
Fixing the battery rattle
Puyuhapi was settled in late 1800s and early 1900s by German settlers. Evidence still abounds. The street names are all German – apart from the obligatory Bernado O’Higgins street. Lots of buildings look like they were transposed from the Alps. At night, we follow a group of 10 Germans to dinner. We figure they are sure to have researched the best place to eat – nothing like a bunch of Englishmen stereotyping Germans. We are not wrong – the food is excellent.
