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Published: July 22nd 2023
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As our bus made its way down the highway after the trip to Osorno volcano, our tour guide Jenny stood up with mike in her hand.
“We are going to take a boat ride in Lake Todos los Santos”. Yup, that would be our next destination. Los Lagos region where Puerto Varas is located, is famous for its beauty of lakes. Lakes, rapids, waterfalls are scattered throughout the region and water sports like river rafting are popular in the region. Lake Todos is about 76 km east of Puerto Varas. Well, it’s just one day here for us, so more we can cover in a day is a bonus for us.
Yes, we had to buy a separate ticket for the boat ride as it was not included in the tour cost. But I tell you, it’s worth every penny. I climbed up the deck although it was a bit chilly in the morning. But my toque was good enough to protect my head and ear. I went to the starboard side of the deck and looked around. The beauty was unparalleled. The calm and quiet turquoise colour water with rolling hills touching the river bank was picture perfect
. It’s peaceful and serenity blanketed everywhere. As the boat was cruising through the lake, I could see some houses deep inside the woods in the hills. Oh my! Why couldn’t I live in a place like that, far from the madding crowd and amid the beauty of Nature? I could sit down there dawn to dusk watching the fade-in and fade-out of the days. No complain, no desire – just watching the Mother Nature. “
I want to drink life to the lees”, - who wrote that? Oh yes, I do remember – Lord Tennyson in Ulysses. Exactly! That’s the life I would like to drink, sometimes watching the slight morning drizzle gently bathing the green foliage, sometimes embracing the last rays of sun kissing the tree tops calling it a day. I came out of my trance when the boat took a turn somewhere in the lake. On the other side, I looked at the horizon. The volcanoes and rolling hills made an artistic composition that can only be painted on canvass of Nature. I continued to absorb them in every molecule of my brain. Years from now, they will be my treasure memory. Some day in my twilight
of life when I will try to forget the cacophony of a busy world around me, these images will keep me alive. They will help me to forget the noise around me, and they will help me to live another day.
All good times come to an end. We climbed down the boat after a pleasant ride in Lake Todos los Santos. I will remember it for years to come.
“We are heading out for a bit of hike to Lake Petrohué.” Jenny was businesslike. But she was keeping an eye on everyone. It’s a big responsibility, no doubt.
“What about it, Jenny”? I asked. I read about it a bit before I came to Chile, but I wanted to hear from Jenny.
“We will visit the Petrohué waterfalls, and then we will hike down the Petrohué river to find different interesting spots along the river”.
Actually, Lake Todos narrows down near Petrohué where the tremendous water pressure due to convergence of the lake creates rapid waterfalls that widen to Petrohué River. Once we were done at the ticket counter, we were on our own. I liked it. That gives me the freedom to move
around the way I like it, and not how my guides ask me to follow. Well, let’s face it – in some travels like this, we really don’t have much choice.
Ryan and I took the pathway amid the bush to reach at a viewpoint that suddenly opens up the world around you. Petrohué waterfalls exploded with vast water from Lake Todos making its way past the rocks and crevasses to meet mighty Petrohué River. The turquoise water was flowing down the river like a dancing little girl. The river was not very deep everywhere, but the mighty water force bouncing on large rocks created turbulence spraying mist in the air. Green hills on both sides of the river with Osorno volcano on the horizon have drawn a perfect landscape on the canvass of Nature. What a view! I could live with such a picture perfect beauty of Nature all my life, I suppose! But I knew in my heart, that was my momentary euphoria; I have to return to the world of rat race in a few days time. I sighed. Ryan and I took a narrow pathway through the bush along the river. Some areas of river
bank were steep and we had to be careful navigating our way. The pathway forked out to other narrow pathways, some ideal for hiking. We were keen on venturing, but we sure didn’t want to get lost in the dense trees and bushes. Jenny gave us a time limit and we finally made our way to the entry point where others were waiting. It was past noon time and we were getting hungry. The bus rolled along Highway 225 and after 20 minutes of drive, we arrived at the gate of a nice, sprawling restaurant overlooking Lake Todos and the mountains. A perfect place to take a lunch break that blended with our mood. While waiting for the food, we went out to the deck behind the restaurant to take some clicks. It was cold, and windy. But that didn’t deter us from venturing outside. A lovely place in the middle of abundance of natural beauty, tastefully planted all around us by Mother Nature.
When we hit the road again after the lunch, it was overcast. The bus drove through the narrow highway under canopy of green trees. The shadows from the trees on the lonely highway, roadside meadows
touching the mountains at distant horizon portrayed beauty of a world that is merely untouched, yet elegant. Fairy tale small houses popping up here and there beckoned me to spend rest of my life. I could go to sleep there dreaming my dreams and waking up every morning looking into the innocent eyes of Guanaco standing by my window.
Jenny fixed us with Victor to drive us to Puerto Montt from downtown Puerto Varas. It was raining when we arrived Novotel in Puerto Montt. Ryan hit the bed soon we checked in. He was tired. I was standing near the window. A light blanket of rain made Lake Chapo and distant hills a mystic, silhouette gift of Nature. Sea Gulls were flying over the lake searching for the nest to call it a day. I needed this solitude; a perfect ending of a remarkable getaway to feel and absorb the beauty of Nature. I know, I could be passionate with Nature sometimes. But that is me! It’s in my blood. I am not sure when I would be back again. When I will be back home to Canada, these will be all memories, sweet flashbacks. For now, I left
my footsteps far behind in the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Lake Todos and in the lonely slope of Osorno Volcano. I whispered standing near the window – “
Take only memories, leave only footprints”. I will be back again.
Next, Punta Arenas! Stay tuned.
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Lakes, rapids, waterfalls...
Taking only memories... leaving only footprints. Great photography.