A little detour to ponder life

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We decided to cycle over to Cucao today to visit the ´wild and mystic national park´on the west coast of the island. I confess to having expectations of arriving at a coastline similar to Tasmania's wild and isolated west coast as I set off that morning.

The ride over was mainly enjoyable but had a few horridly steep climbs half way along the lake. Christie´s knee was pretty sore again at the end of the ride.

We walked down to, and then along, the beach with wind and sand blowing in our faces. I managed to get lost cutting back through the dunes and we ended up wading through a horrible bog. We stumbled back into our hostel with muddy, stinking feet.

Highlight of the place was probably the German cooking at the hostel, and the ambience of the little restaurant. It was a long way to cycle for a bit of ambience.

Disaster struck when I finished my book, only to find that Christie had finished her last book and left it back in Ancud, so we now have two people and only one book to read. Tensions are high.

Nothing really resolved about what do do from here.

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Where: Chonchi to Cucao, Chiloe
Days Distance: 36.6km
Total Distance: 846km
Weather: Mainly sunny with a few clouds. Strong onshore wind near Cucao.
Mood: Smiling, but unsure
Route: 4km of paved road going out of town (turn left at main highway for about 100m, then turn right). About 9km of alternatingly good and bad ripio to the Eastern end of the lake (food and drinks available hill) then further 25kms to Cucao and Hostal Parador Darwin where we stayed. Recommened. Ride along the lake is about 8km of flat, 5kms with some short but very hard steep climbs (loose gravel, very corrogated) then 12km flat ride into Cucao.

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Photos

Not much thinking happening hear
A lot of swearing, puffing and moaning though. Add ripio + hill and it is a lot harder than it looks.

White flower
Should I pick it's petals for inspiration? Nah, just waiting for Christie to push her bike up the hill.

In the distance ...
Cucao's up there somewhere in the distance, unknown to us so were a lot more steep little hills.

Christie
All is good with the world again having arrived at Parador Darwin and with wine and lunch in hand.

Blurry me ...
After her third wine, Christie becomes a photographer ... in her defence she did take some that weren't out of focus. I just prefered this one and it's my blog.

me again
Thought I better show you why I prefered the out of focus photo. You agree?

Cool plants
Apparently you can cut the stalk off these things and eat them or drink water from them. They also make good clotheslines.

Christie
Carrying on without the bike? Our romantic afternoon walk to the beach.

The beach.
Yawn.

Cucao Church
figured that Chiloe is famous for these wooden churches so better take a photo.

Comments

[Shaun Field]

Don't give up Guero
You can't give up on the challenge now John. But if you do decide to come back there will definitely be a few pints/G'n'Ts waiting for you.