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11/12/2013 Piedra Del Gato to 30 km south of Villa Amengual
D60, T3/7, Av17, max66, Tot 23,164, 13,367
Overcast, mild
It was an interesting place to awake , on the top of a cliff down to a river. The morning was spent chatting, drinking mate and coffee, and discussing route plans with Guy and Tina.
We finally got away about twelve. The river Cisnes was alongside the road for sometime. This huge clear river full of holes was perfect trout habitat.
We fished on a few occasions and at one rest area by the river cal fished in the hope of catching lunch.
Here we met up with Sven and Sabina, Regina and Mike the older French couple, two Germans guys and one other rode past.
Cyclists are concentrated down here because there really is only one practical route here in Chile.
Callum caught a couple of trout, one of which was pilfered by some animal where he had left it on the river bank to continue fishing.
The one still in his possession was eaten in the roadside shelter.
The road was a pleasure and the scenery, coupled with the mild temperature just added further to the experience.
Hills were gentle and always followed by a nice little descent.
Ar0rock. in Villa Amengual, we bought supplis and landed on the side of the face, amongst some small vegetation.
Possibly it had a nest here. . There would not be a living animal that could access such a place, short of a rock climbing human doing so with much difficulty.
The bird settled there for awhile then, launched itself into an updraught soaring along the wall of rock and vegetation.
Just down the road a bit, the time now was 2045, we found a likely spot to camp by a river.
I was calling out to Cal about the situation, when out of the scrub on the other side of the river came >
A condor was soaring high above this monolith of a rock. The Condor descending from the heights and landed on the side of the face, amongst some small vegetation.
Possibly it had a nest here. There would not be a living animal that could access such a place, short of a rock climbing human doing so with much difficulty.
The bird settled there for awhile then, launched itself into an updraught soaring along the wall of rock and vegetation.
Just down the road a bit, the time now was 2045, we found a likely spot to camp by a river.
I was calling out to Cal about the situation, when out of the scrub on the other side of the river came the two young French guys, it was so funny to see them emerge from the forest.
They had walked their gear across the river.
They said they would help us but for such a short stay it was not worth it.
It was now 2100, we still had energy and decided to ride on in the hope of finding something better.
Still riding on undulating pavement past farmland. Much of it roughly cleared with timber wind rowed between pasture.
Soon we came to a river crossing the road, no access was possible to the river so we got water and moved on, though only for a few hundred metres. There was an old gate into a logged bush area on the other side of the river.
As they are wholesalers and don’t have credit card facilities it is difficult. I am hoping to be able to use a credit to pay a retailer of theirs and receive the money that way.
Purchasing this Hilleberg Tarra will ensure us we have no problems in even the worst conditions should they arise.
In doing so I will have no need for my tarp and poles which are quite heavy.
All reviews I have read on this tent suggest it is the best 2 man tent many have tested.
Most nights are spent camping so its cost is fully justified.
Along a straight stretch of road another couple of riders were heading north, the two guys were from France. I had just said to Cal it would be great to get some first hand info off some riders coming from Ushuaia.
The guys had reached here in 6 weeks with head winds and a week off.
This was excellent information, we can now continue our leisurely pace and still have plenty of time.
I told them to do the Bolivian side of Titicaca and Chacapoyas to Cajamarca in Peru, for me two of the most enjoyable routes to date.
They were both riding Surlys.
On the way to Mañihuales, my rear tyre was holed, whilst patching an English couple pulled up, we had a good chat with them.
Arriving in Mañihuales, we headed to the Casa de Ciclista, the English couple stopped but decided to keep going, the day still had many kilometres in it.
It was a great spot, Jorge has just a couple of rooms out the back of his bike shop.
There is a cold shower, oven, toilet and a great ambience.
Wifi is an added bonus.
Outchile found a retailer happy to take a credit card, so the tent was purchased. It will take 5 days to reach Coihaique. Hernan and Angel from this company have been most helpful. They import some leading brands into Chile. They can be contacted on +5622 895 5094
They are sending it to the post office there. Fingers crossed!!
Dinner was a couple of empanadas at a local store here and a good chat with the owner while we ate them .
Mañuales is becoming more populated because of gold mining and zinc deposits. The road when fully asphalted is going to bring more people no doubt.
 Alongside the Rio Frio
 Back on the coast Fiorda Queulat
 Perfect Condor nesting habitat.
 late the other night
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 Lure retrieval was also a good chance to freshen up
 The luxuries of a car and time for school
 The summit up from the coast. before descending down to Piedra del Gato
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