Tres dias and three dead-ends

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Three days and three dead-ends


uno - I tried to go southwards from santiago to place called Rancagaua, so rode the metro all the way down the line, only to find there are no connections from this place to rancagaua, which (in theory) ought to have only been about 20-30 kms further south. So i was slung-shot back to Santiago, and forced to find accomadation on very short notice.

dos - Next day, not detered, i eventually find the station that deals with intercity buses and get myself to Rangcagaua, Horay! but my sole reason for going there (a national park) was inaccesable due to road works. Grrrr. Luckly by this stage a young student named Rocio helped my onto a bus to Talca, further south (appx 130kms, i think?)

Tres - In Talca, i organise myself to camp at a small reserva, close by in Maule. Well this abandoned old shack with no clear natural beauty that i could see in the surrounding area was not for me, and the only occupants (two hungry dogs) were not very accomodating.


At this point i was at my wits-end, but by some act of los dios i ended up camping that night in a real national park called Siete Tazas (7 cups) and had a few good days there and pulled up suprisingly well after the 22km hike.


While getting to Siete Tazas was easy getting back was, well....interesting. You know your in a pickle when you miss the only, Only bus back back to any kind of civilisation, thats when the locals with a beat up old ute (everyone drives a ute) offer a ride back into the nearest town (45kms away)

So after the third time we broke down, it was getting a little annoying i´ll admit it. I honestly don´t know how that truck worked at all, but after sucking radiator fluid out of some pipe, sticky-taping up some valve and giving it a several push starts we made it back to town. And i was able to camp at their place i.e. a lumberyard.

but thats all behind me now, and i´m really looking forward to getting the dust out of my eyes and a food, shower, sleep combo package somewhere, back here in Talca

My next move is either chilling out in Chillan or getting dirty in the mountians again, its a 50-50. Stay tuned for more

Chao! and thanks for all your comments, keep em´coming

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Photos

Me in Santiago
On top of the Cerra Santa Lucia. If i don´t look that happy, its because i´m worried about the camera getting flogged.

A city of 6 million
the santiago skyline

Collectivo in Talca
Riding the collectivo for 300 pesos (about $1AUS)

Siete Tazas
well about four of them anyway

The Seventh Cup
I was determined to swim, but was not that keen to get hypothermia

Broken down
in case you cant see, he´s hotwiring the car with a knife. Thats rural chile for you.

Comments

[sara]

wow!
omigod greg it sound so fun wellmaybe not fun but definately exciting. i am so jealous of your adventure. keep living it! have fun! MWA

[Manda]

Sorry dude
Hey Gregory James, sorry I missed your calls this morning, believe it or not I slept in this morn... worked last night. Counting down, one more week of school to go. Love Manda PS - I had my b'day dinner at Amigos! T'was fun times.

[Pedro]

Immersion.
The photos are great, increasing the reality of these crazy situations I can only imagine.

[camille]

sauges n eggs
hey son looks a beautiful place aventures ahead seem all full of surprises 4 u luvu yr mum

[cindy]

??
yo greg, ive figured out how to log onto the net in my shop while im at work so i can read all your stories and feel like im already outta here! whoa getting paid to plan my trip and immerse myself in your tales. keep it comin i love it! xx cindy