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Published: January 23rd 2008
Volcano Lanin
extinct, unlike it´s northern brotherThe arrival into Pucon marked the last section of our biking trip. We wanted this to be fun and most of all a success; we had several aeroplanes to catch and a late arrival to the airport could make things ´poco complicado´(a little complicated). To ensure this, we left behind excess gear, to be picked up at the end of our trip. Being the hi tech, effecient cycling team that we are ... this gear was mostly made up of Aroha´s and Penny´s wardrobe shopping, plus winter woolies that had been useful at 55 degrees south, but now was only useful for luxurious pillow padding as we are well into warmer temperatures.
Unbelieveably, Pucon was a shopping gem and well knock me down with a rubber jandal (of which we have purchased 6) if we didnt bike out of that town with another 5 kilos of hand woven wool products squished into the panniers - Penny!
The first day of this last cycle leg began with rain! .... So a day in the thermal hot pools was really our only option. To our amusement, the entrance sign clearly stated that sexual activity was not allowed in or around the
monkey puzzle trees
Lanin National Park pools!!
The weather cleared and it was time for action (of the bicycle variety), beginning with cycling over the Andes from Chile into Argentina. This provided dramatic changes both in the landscape and culture - making an exciting and rewarding ride.
Wanting to keep the wind behind us, a small bus ride (with a very handsome and helpful driver) was called upon to allow us several days cycling in the Lanin National Park, enjoying volcanic and lakeside scenery, and monkey puzzle tree forests. With very unfortunate bad luck, Kate was unable to even up the fishing score with Penny, due to both a licence and fly fishing rod being legally required to fish in this top notch fishing region - our spinner hook and empty strawberry tin can was illegal. Thank goodness Aroha can read the Spanish warning signs, as it was only a matter of time before Kate would have caught a fish larger than Penny´s, only to have to have it confiscated by the fishing ranger she had just been chatting to 5 minutes earlier! Brownies, Rainbow, Salmon, and Carp are the fish of the region - Penny´s fish yet to be identified due to lack
of identifiable mass.
Out of the Lanin National park and onto the pavimento led us to cycle through the famous 7 lakes district. With no wind and clear skies, a fantastic three days of fast cycling and swimming in clean lakes surrounded by Beech forests and Argentinean holiday makers was a grand finale to our trip. This last cycle ride did not occur without incident however: one more styley wool product was purchased as we passed through our last town (guess who), and slightly more importantly: Aroha´s trusty derailer (the thing that that moves the chain to different gear cogs - for our non cycle friends) unrepairably broke 18km from the finish line! Turning down all other options, Aroha with the largest of grins arrived at our final destination with the cudos of having ridden the last hilly leg with a single speed bike :-).
With some sadness, today our trusty bikes and woollen purchases are being packed into boxes. However the good side of this is that they will next emerge in Aotearoa. Mean while, we´re off to explore a completely different area - the desert and salt plains/lakes of Bolivia.
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Ruairi
non-member comment
A Symphony Of Sights
Dear Penny, Kate and Aroha Congrats on finishing the long and winding road - what a fantastic trip! Now that the biking side of things is over enjoy the wonderful symphony of sights and sounds in the deserts, salt plains and lakes of Bolivia. It is a tough life. I just loved the shots from Lanin NP - inspiring - have to get there one day. Take care of each other - lots of love, Ruairi