Alex turns 2, Sun out over the mountains
Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Sat 15 May 2010 01:24
had wrapped the presents last night. We had a birthday breakfast with lemon
me rang pie (it seems to appear at all meals in Chile), and then a present
opening of some present we bought here, the rest will come when we return to
the boat.
Today was decided to be a a "slack" day in the schedule so nothing planned,
so we decided to wander down to the park on the Fjord edge, the boys climbed
away, but the skies where totally clear and sun was out, so Tracy and I
decided we would take another shot at the mountains of Torres Del Paine,
which we had mist 2 days ago. So I wandered up town, and asked some taxi
drivers and got a ride price made of gold, so then found a local car rental
company and hired a 4 x 4 (as the roads out there are all direct). We hired
it for the day and headed off, getting lost on the way out of town (there
were 2 possibilities and we took the wrong one,) we realized our mistake
when we arrived at border crossing into Argentina (lucky not too far away).
On the way back to correct our mistake we found a group of eagles feeding on
a dead fox, which Tracy was able to get some good shots. With the skies
clear and on the correct road we headed out around the fjord we went on
yesterday, and then off between the mountains to about 150 km, a good part
of it on dirt, which we did some sliding, (glad I had a 4 x 4). But there
were no clouds and the sun was clear so we were able to get to a spot for a
great view as you will see in the photos. It shows the Torres Del Pain about
2 miles away and the towers rising, we spent some time just taking in the
scene on our own. Now cold as even with the sun the temperature is still 3
degrees we headed back to a café we past 50 miles earlier for a hot
chocolate. It was a nice wooden café home made pastries and we settled in,
before heading back to Natales, taking in the scenery and the farming
around, as we now not in a rush, and we had our own freedom.
We have enjoyed our time in Puerto Natales, it is nice "frontier" town, all
in wood and tin, ready for the adventurer while also serving the local
cattle farmers, but the building are timber, and streets clean. It reminds
us of some of wilderness towns in Alaska where people are getting on with
life, and fit into the environment, lots of landrovers classic version, all
muddy and working vehicles going about town.
For Alex's birthday dinner we went to a great Pizzeria (one of the best we
have ever had, honestly as good as Italy, even an Italian couple said this),
it is also rusky and homely feel, (see last photo) and we had dinner and
cake there for Alex again, See photos.
Today was a day of mixed feelings, we have a celebration of Alex's second
birthday in a spectacular surrounding on a totally clear day, and we
received news of the passing of my uncle Paul(who was more like a father to
me) who lived the outdoors and mountains in his youth, and encouraged and
provided opportunity for people to experience the environment and provided
the fatherly guidance after my father died, while having a huge valued life
in education. In many ways as I went around the amazing mountains today, I
thought of him, as he would have loved this place, and had a spectacular
life of value and I decided to celebrate both his life and Alex's today, one
finishing and one starting!!!.
