Team Lost and the Big Top. We were at the mall in the outskirts of Puerto Montt and realized the circus had come to town; and I don’t mean us.
We left our beach camp Sunday at noon and drive three quarters of an hour south to Quemchi where lunch was awaiting us.
It’s our favorite eatery in this part of the world and we enjoy it as a treat. On this our third visit we had oysters and clams to start.
I had roast lamb…
…my favorite and lamb had crab claws her favorite.
Flan for me (I said this is a special meal for us):
…and chocolate cake for the chocolate queen.
Rodolfo and Paz seeking perfection in local products. Nothing they say is raised more than 60 miles from their restaurant.
The local fishing fleet.
Layne slept on our way to the ferry. I drove enjoying the pastoral scenery of this island.
The ferry was waiting. They’re building a bridge to replace the 25 minute ride but for now three ships circle the strait providing continuous 24 hour service.
You drive on, a crew member comes by with a credit card ms hind and you $21 for your van and at the other side you drive off. No fuss, no standing in line.
As we arrived in Pargua another ferry was leaving and then our ramp hit the cement landing pad and off we went, by chance second off the ferry.
“Improving Chile” on the PanAmerican Highway.
Volcanoes everywhere. You get used to them sitting in the background.
Puerto Montt again. Last scene in November - before Ushuaia.
We went to the mall to do some shopping. I saw my old neighbor on 36th Avenue in Santa Cruz advertising a store. Jack O’Neill, inventor of the wet suit, now in Patagonia.
Lunch. Mongolian beef and not bad.
Rusty needed his nap time aboard.
Ram 1000. My fantasy solo camper. It’s got a diesel engine so you’ll never see it in the US. The Promaster City, similar, has been discontinued because Americans don’t like small cargo vans.
The suggestively named hardware store. A huge Home Depot with a bit of everything, camping gear, lumber, tools, work clothes and paints and electrical stuff and appliances. Pretty amazingly comprehensive.
I needed Bruce to waste time with me talking rubbish about manly stuff.
Then we went to get gas and at the Copec they also have a drinking water tap. Fill the thirty gallon tank. Give the station dog some treats (when Rusty wasn’t looking).
Horatio stopped by. He’s emigrated from Spain and runs his motorcycle rental agency dropping off motorcycles for clients around Chile. He loves RVing.
Cool! Hot showers for 85 cents each. Delicious. Thank you Copec.
And then some food shopping at jumbo. We spent the night, too tired to sleep, at a truck stop.
That was a busy day. Haircuts on Monday. Lunch with a friend on Tuesday and then the lakes and fresh Rusty paperwork to cross into Argentina. It’s always something on the to do list. Phew…
