A cool wander around Puerto Montt,
Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Fri 7 May 2010 03:02
the time breakfast has come and gone the sun was out. This was the pattern
for the rest of the day sun then a slight shower, the maximum temperature
was 12 C and min 6 C compared with a week ago at 39 c, I think we have worn
more cloths in the last week than we have in the last 4 months. Alex is
having trouble with this clothing issue he is very happy in a set of
swimming trunks and that’s it, and in El Salvador you can do that, so when
we say put on coats and other layers there are many protests. There is a
certain freedom in being in warm climates, I have 5 sets of swimming shorts
and all I have done in rotate through them after swims for 5 months, we may
ware flip flops but that is about as far as you go on foot ware, and then
you through on a T shirt, that's it, even when it rains it is warm rain, or
you enjoy the fresh water wash down, a lot is to do with the humidity. So
life is simple, washing is simple, as you do not sleep under anything just a
slight breeze from a fan. I suppose this is a real part I enjoy the simple
side of life we living.
Coming down here you head into seasons (see the photos of the boys in the
autumn leaves in Santiago park) and a cool day, where you rug up to go
outside, but again it has it's advantages as well, of contrast and feeling
free of humidity.
Today we got out to explore we headed along the water front, the town is
very Norwegian in feel, some tall modern buildings (see in the two shots of
the water front) and the hills rising up, but it only goes in 6 blocks, and
the town snakes around the northern end of the Reloncaví Sound which the
town holds. The water is crystal clear due to the cold I suspect, and very
flat similar to what you get in Scandinavia around the islands, but a rocky
shore line. Off in the distance about 10 miles away you can see the low
lying Isla Chileo (which has a lot of character apparently and we will visit
when we come here in a couple of months). The odd small wooden fishing or
crab boat was entering the port, otherwise it was very quiet. This town is
about 200000 in population but is the center for all connections up and down
the coast, you cannot drive south from here far as the mountains (Andes)
come down to the water, so the ferry and water is the transport otherwise
you need to cross the mountains into Argentina and then back into Chile this
is what the buses do that go from here south to where we are going, and it
is a long 45 hour bus trip.
We found some old trains that boys played on and then a great local library
which was nice for the boys to read books and play some games (new to them)
we will do this again tomorrow before we board the ferry. By lunch we were
wanting something warm, and we found a local café/restaurant (unlike
Santiago there are a lot of bars here not cafes) and order the daily special
(this is something we finding very effective as it is 3 courses and cheep
but filling and it seams to happen everywhere, but only for lunch), so the
boys and I dug into soap and shepherds pie (of sorts) and warmth seeped
through us.
I also made my way to the local bus station again a center for transport
around here, and worked out our possible trips when we return here in 2
weeks and found a new hotel as want to find something with more space.
Both Tracy and I continue to look around and talk to locals and people seam
really content and happy in Chile, things seem to be going well, certainly
from what we gather there has been significant improvements in the last 20
years and the general standard of living has increased.
Both boys are back to full speed and wanting to get into everything, which
is nice after 3 weeks of sickness between us.
Tomorrow we spend the day getting on to ferry and continuing our explore of
Pt Montt before we pull the lines at 4 pm and start our sail down the
Reloncaví Sound.
Our trip tomorrow will take us 3 nights and will take us down from Puerto
Montt through the northern inside passage and then we go outside for 8 hours
and then reenter the southern inside passage to take us to Puerto Natalies,
see the map it should be good if the weather holds.
