Our Five Days in This Park

We have spent a lovely five days in this National Park. Here in Chile there is allowed just a couple of hotels to operate within the boundaries. This one “Salto Chico” run by Explora Group is the only one which runs a a fully organized program so everything is there for you. Guides to take you on any of the 25 organized hikes and as I already showed you a wonderful stable operation, and everything you could wish for is here for the asking. The hotel has accommodation for 100 guests and has 135 staff so you can see why we have enjoyed it so much.

As you walk in to the lobby you see a sign which I think sums it up very well.

“ Never stop Exploring”

And another one

“We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time”

We did a small hike on the first afternoon but Patagonia is known for its changeable weather and how the wind can blow so Tuesday morning we walked to the Grey Glacier. I now know how Shackleton must have felt on his way to the Pole. One step forward and three backwards

The next days walk was much more pleasant and we walked round lakes and were so lucky to see many guanacos

We then went on to the Estancia (Spanish for Station Property) outside the park where we we had a bar-b-que lunch. Notice the way here in Chile and Argtentina they cook their lambs.

We then hiked for another couple of hours getting wonderful views of the Tiers of the Park

The view we have from our room window is of the Massiff, its round on the side where we got these good views of the Tiers.

Tomorrow we leave here and back to Punta Arenas airport to fly to Santiago and then on to Lima and Machu Picchu.

Torres Del Paine National Park

We left Punta Arenas and drove the six hour drive out here to the National Park. This is our first view of one of the most beautiful views I have seen. Afraid Lake Louise has lost its spot as my most beautiful snow scene with lake

As we got closer to the hotel

View from through the room window

View from our bed

There is even windows in the bathroom so you can see the view from the toilet

This afternoon we went horse riding, not a bad backdrop eh!

Constable Plod, these next are for you. How would you like stables and tack room like this

As you can see this is only one half of each, Not bad eh, You must put this place on your must-see list. They tell us their are miles of trails.

Patagonia - And no sign of a Toothfish

Well, here we are in Punta Arenas. We arrived yesterday and once off the boat and to our hotel, we hit the markets in the square across the road . Then this morning we went on a City Sights Tour and then this afternoon to Fort Bulnes to see where the first Chilean settlement was.
Naturally,all places seem to have one of these boards. Written by the same person who wrote that speech for the Olympics.

I know what you are saying, your mother looks like a bag lady, but why is it that I always seem to attract a dog wherever I go

Poo is so wrapped in everything penguin, he just had to have a scarf to match his new hat.

Have spent some time each evening resizing some of the photos on this blog. Thats the problem with spending nights in hotel rooms. Would much rather be sitting in a National Park round a campfire like we did in North America. Poo is just like at home, turns on the TV and promptly goes to sleep. May as well, its either in spanish or has sub-titles.

We leave here in the morning for the six hour 4wd trip out to the Torres Del Paine National Park. Will be there till Friday when we come back here and fly to Santiago so dont know whether we will have internet connection while at Salto Chico or not, so till then, keep safe and love to all.

From the “Mare Australis” 18-21 February 2009

This has been a relaxing few days on board this luxury ship. (But still not our cup of tea.) I think we really needed it after the wonderful hectic time we had on the icebreaker. We are enjoying the easy life and the ship excursions, but I know when Saturday comes we will be ready to be up and going again

Sunrise from the top deck

Our cabin

One of the lounges

The Beagle Channel (again) we have actually sailed up or down this channel five times on this holiday

You can tell the strengths of the winds here by looking how the trees grow

Poo enjoying himself on the deck, and by the way, he is enjoying himself elsewhere, this ship has an openbar, we expected house wines, but no, anything you ask for. Carlos the bartender, makes a wonderful Long Island Ice Tea, need I say more.

We made a very enjoyable excursion to the Piloto and Nena Glaciers. Lots of waterfalls at this time of the year as the ice melts

Even though we have seen so many glaciers in this last fortnight, you still look in awe

Poo just waiting for ice to fall

And it did, but just a little bit

Another excursion to more penguins. This time they were Magellan Penguins

But ….none of our visits to penguin colonies goes anywhere close to the wonderful penguin experience we had on that first landing from the Akademik Shokalkskiy in Antarctica. They were just so friendly, they were trying to get into our kayaks, to chew on our trousers and someone took off their parka and in two minutes flat this was what we witnessed. It must have been so much warmer than that cold ice.

Poo is so wrapped in penguins he has himself a new hat

Cape Horn - 19th February 2009

Well we boarded our boat the “Mare Australis” and oh boy ,so different to our last eleven days at sea. We are in the minority now, the only two Aussies on board, the others mostly Europeans, and wow, this boat is getting up there towards the QE2. but still has a little way to go. We were much more at home on the Shokalskiy , we have had many laughs at watching “would be if they could be’s” trying to get on and off the zodiacs in their patent leather shoes and designer false fur coats. Poo and I are still wearing our yellow coats and rubber boots. At least Poo isn.t entertaining everybody with his jokes like he was last week as there ain’t many speaking English.

We sailed round Cape Horn and then made our landing at the bottom of the cliffs. A hundred and sixty steps to the top to view the lighthouse, the chapel and the memorial built to remember all the sailors who have not made it round this treacherous coastline.

As I stood and looked out to sea, I remembered as a young child, my grandfather telling me of how rough the passage was as he sailed round as a teenager when he left England to make a new life downunder.

Our first view of Cape Horn this morning, you can just see the lighthouse and flag

The steps we climbed

We made it to “Cape Horn” Cabo De Hornos

A view of the lighthouse, one Chilean Naval Officer and family spend twelve months living here, but no doubt for eight months of the year, they would see more visitors than if they lived in suburbia.

The Albatross Memorial in memory of the sailors who have lost their lives here

Back on Land - For one day 18th February 2009

Yesterday we landed on hard ground again, after two days of rocking and rolling up the Drake Passage. But we weathered it well. Neither of us was seasick. We are in Ushuaia again and spent yesterday on the Southernmost Railway in the World. We went to the Tierra Del Fuego National Park on the Railway and then continued on by car. Lovely scenery but as I said to Poo the sights we saw in Antaractica are going to be hardtobeat.

This afternoon we board the "Mare Australis" for our trip round Cape Horn and then thru the Chilean Fiords to Punta Arenas. More zodiac landings for the next few days but we are like pros now and are taking to it like ducks to water. This ship is much bigger than the icebreaker we have been on but I doubt if we could ever top the Akademik Shokalskiy for the wonderful time that we have had.

Talk to you again next time we are in email territory, Be good

Kayaking What Fun!

Kayaking would have had to be the best part of this trip. We have enjoyed the whole trip but to us kayaking amongst those snow covered mountains and mighty icebergs was just the most wonderful thing to be able to do and words just cant describe the feeling of what it was like.
We had ten paddlers, so thats just five kayaks and our leader so it was just so peaceful and serene to be out there. Having the lessons was worth every bit and no we didnt have to do a wet exit, I think Poo and I did us proud.

The kayaks were so easily lifted from the ship for each landing




The kayaks on the shore all ready for us



Dan our Leader




Just to prove that we did do it





Thought we were on the Titanic








We were able to do eight kayaking trips in all,and in both day and evening, and as you can see these evening times were so special





Icebergs everywhere

See What I mean