11/21-And So it Begins

Yes, we have left Puerto Montt! Markus said we would aim for a 9:00 am departure, but probably wouldn’t be ready until 9:30 or so. Yeah, we were ready to go BEFORE 9:00! 

Billy ready to go!

Alex and Markus putting the finishing touches on Violeta and Max. 

As Markus and I had figured out the other day, we had just a short distance to go to get to Ruta 7. 

The ice bike path out of town. Sadly, it was only lasted a few miles. We had a fairly steep hill with no shoulder that was a bit nerve wracking because there was quite a bit of morning traffic. Partway up, we decided the sidewalk was a safer bet. 

We were making our way out of town in the sunshine…oh yeah, did I mention it was sunny? 

It got even sunnier than in this photo…until it started to rain. We stopped and put on all our rain gear. It rained for about 1 1/2-2 hours. No photos during that time. 

Eventually the sun came back out. The rain gear came off, and it was quite enjoyable. 

This was actually at a spot where we took a pee break. 

I even had fingerless gloves on which allowed me to take this photo while riding. 

Pretty little bay. 

This guy was pushing a wheelbarrow with a boat life ring in it…strange. 

We had a ferry to catch at about 27 miles in. 

The boat in the far distance was our ferry. 

Bikes lined up on the ferry. The ferry cost about the equivalent of $3.00 for the bikes. 

We went upstairs and had a snack. 

Snow in the mountains! 

After we got to the other ferry terminal, we sat down for some lunch. 

This is the town on the other end of the ferry ride. 

Lunchtime. 

In Chile, they have to put on the package that it is high in calories, high in fat, and high in sugar. Even if the food is imported, there will be a sticker on it. 

Every road off a ferry is an uphill. We had a good climb off this ferry. My new Garmin is doing exactly as advertised regarding climbs, even if I’m not running a route (which I’m not because the Carratera is all just Ruta 7). 

We had about 6 miles to go to get to where we planned to camp. We went by this incredible cemetery. There were two women across the cemetery on the far side. When we stopped to take the photos, the women yelled out, “Hola!”. Lots of people said, “Hola” to us today. Very friendly. 

We first went to the place Markus had seen on Google maps. The owner wasn’t there. His brother told us of another camping place close by. We went there instead. 

It’s a nice campground, privately owned. It cost us 5000 pesos each (about $5.00).There are showers (lukewarm, but good enough. The grass is a little long, but very cushy. There are several dogs and one cat (also various farm animals). The cat is very friendly. 

Our campsite. 

It jumped up on both Alex and Markus’ laps. 

Nothing like trying to work on a spoon carving with a cat on your lap!

Later when we were cooking dinner, on of the dogs joined us. It put on its best begging face, but we resisted. 

Please can I have some food!

See where the cat is? It wouldn’t come down while the dog was there. 

We had a great first day. Not too much rain, finished with it early in the day, and hada good amount of sunshine. The three of us are well matched, cycling wise. Alex and I are pretty much the same speed going up the hills. I know it’s only been one day of riding, but I’m really enjoying riding and camping with Alex and Markus! 

The Final Day in Puerto Montt-Last Minute Things

Tomorrow we hit the road! Today we have taken care of last minute things. I didn’t really have anything I had to do, but Alex and Markus had to mail their big bags home. We walked back to the Mall to the post office. Box shipped, we then went on the hunt for an outdoor shop called “Andes Gear” (in my mind, I kept picturing “Andy’s Gear”). The Mall is huge. It is on par with the Mall of America in Minnesota. 
Multiple floors. 

We had looked up the location on Google Maps. We went into the building, but couldn’t find it. We asked a information person. She said it was on the second floor. It wasn’t. We found another shop, but it didn’t have what we were looking for. We asked them. They told us wrong too. Finally we asked another person who told us it was on the first floor, but in the other building. Over in the other building (where we were yesterday) we took the elevator down. There was a Mall employee and we asked her. She pointed us in the right direction, and we found it. I was thinking maybe I would get some rain shell mittens. They didn’t have any. That’s okay, I’ll be fine. 

Finished with our Mall adventure, we walked back and went to the same coffee shop we went to the other day. They also have food. I had an “Italian” sandwich with chicken. It was pretty good. We also had Limonada con menta. Then I had pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. We wanted to eat there once more as we probably won’t have that kind of opportunity for awhile. 

All quite good!

We were going to get pizza for dinner, but we decided we are too full, so we’ll just go to Vikingo and get empanadas. 

Tomorrow we ride!!!

Day 5 in Puerto Montt-Chores and Sightseeing!

Yes, there was finally a break in the rain, enough that we could get out for an extended amount of walking. 

Markus and I began the day by walking to a nearby panadería y pasteles tienda. 

I should have taken a photo inside. There were many delicious things. I got a Berlin Crema, and a blueberry cake. 

We were so close to the water, so we walked on down there. 

La playa. 

Los pelícanos 

Pelícano in flight

Boats 

This is the bike path along Ruta 7 (the Carratera Austral). This is where we will start. 

After breakfast we decided to take advantage of the halfway decent weather and take the scenic route to Jumbo. 

Puerto Montt has many cool murals. 



We climbed all the way to the top of these stairs. If you look closely, you can see el perro waiting for us halfway up the stairs. There are a bazillion dogs here! Every yard has at least one dog, and several dogs are just roaming. The only ones that bark are the ones in the yards behind fences. 

Looking back. 



Markus

The house in the middle does not look like it will stay on the hillside for much longer. 

Pano from the top. 

Alex getting some extra exercise. 

We made our way down a new road toward Jumbo. 

A pedestrian bridge over the new road (we didn’t use it).

Jumbo is down there. 

At Jumbo, we got ingredients to make a casserole tonight. We also got the food for the beginning of the ride (I have managed to fit it all in). 

After we got back, and had some lunch, Lani and Steve came over. They gave us the scoop on where to get pesos for the least fee. It was at the Mall. 

The Mall is huge! Multiple floors, most everything you can think of…even Dunkin’ Donuts. 

Goin’ in!

The ATMs have a flat fee no matter how much you take out. So, of course, you want to take out as much as you can. The fee for Banco Estados was 5500CLP (about $5.50). We were also able to each do two transactions. Unfortunately, the biggest bills it gives are 10,000. It reminds me of Nepal where we had a big pile of money. 

So, the tasks have been completed (laundry is hanging up to dry). Tomorrow Alex and Markus have to mail their giant Ortlieb bags home (along with a few other odds and ends they don’t need). Then just packing and loading up! Here’s a couple of final photos. 

See? It really is Spring here!

These birds make a really funny squawking sound. 

Day 4 in Puerto Montt-Moving Day!

Don’t get excited. Not moving on the bike. I just moved in with Alex and Markus, who moved into the apartment next to the one they were in. This one is exactly the same layout as the one I was in with Lani. I had payed for another night in the other one, but by moving today, Steve could sleep in a bed, instead of the couch. Now I am in the room that was the same room as Lani (the twin bed room), and Alex and Markus have the double bed room. 

After moving all my stuff, I finally broke down the bike box, and took it to the dumpster. Billy is still in the other apartment with Lani and Steve. I’ll move him here tomorrow. 

This bike box managed to survive 6 flights in its lifetime. 

Goodbye Priority Bike Box! You served me well!

So now we will stay here for three more nights. It is still raining most of the day, but we get brief moments where it’s just barely raining. It would be nice if we could get out and explore. We might take a bus to Puerto Varas to a museum there. We’ll see. 

Alex and Markus got there stuff organized. Alex took the giant Ortlieb backpack bag upstairs. It was like in the movie “Wild”. 

You can do it Alex!

Climb that mountain!

We cooked our dinners, and it’s almost 9:00pm. Another day in Puerto Montt has slipped by…