April 18,

We were awake by 0600. Jeff started the stove up. Around 0630 we got up, readied, packed and had our Javas and breakfast of toast – will miss this bread. We left around 1000, texting our host to let her know. I enjoyed this place, its surroundings, and the wood burning stove. One of our church members has one and I see the appeal! But it was raining and started pretty much after we woke up… and has not stopped.

Anyway, we were heading back to Chaiten. It is a long drive. We decided to stay on Route 7, the main road, even though it was not paved for a big section and smaller ones. It was still supposed to be faster. As soon as we hit the gravel, we noticed the road is surrounded only by farmsteads. This was a different view. We could not see the snow capped mountains. So at least we had a change of scenery to occupy us some.We saw two gauchos (a father and son, maybe?) and four working dogs moving a cow herd using the gravel road – the main road we were driving on – as a connection into a new pasture area. So this may be the main road/route but is it the best road? The route we took four days ago – where we diverted to take the lady to Puerto Ausen, was a better road. But we would not have seen the gauchos herding today if we’d gone back that way. Anyway, the pavement came and we came back along where we had already been.

At 1250, we saw a sign advertising “Latitude 45°, which is halfway from South Pole to the Equator… Interesting, we did not remember seeing that before. The skies continued with the rain, and the clouds swirling about the mountains like ribbons encircling when we could see mountains. Mostly the sky was just a white fog. The area that was gravel along the hairpin turns was a longer stretch, like 10 miles…we did not remember it being that much before either.

We had some peanuts to munch on, but kept on, stopping once for a pit stop. We caught glimpses of the snowy peaks, but rarely due to all the clouds and white-gray sky. There did seem to be more waterfalls than we recalled…because of the rain?? We also saw a couple more vibrant rainbows. Those are always an added benefit, and the past two mornings at our place we saw one each day. They always make me think of God’s promises!

We finally arrived in Chaiten by 1700- or 1600, as they are on Santiago time which implements daylight savings time. The whole country doesn’t change their clocks, obviously. Anyway, we went to the ferry office but it was closed. So Jeff contacted our place and they sent him directions. We found it and the guy led Jeff to the place. I stayed in the car as it was raining, but like that…it stopped. I came to the place with a load. The host showed me some stuff that he’s gone over with Jeff. Jeff brought in the rest of the stuff we’d need tonight. The host left and I set about to fixin’ supper, as Jeff went to a store for wine. This town is very small. We have stayed in this town before…hope we don’t have a power outage. We are trying a different place in the hopes it would be warmer…but it is not.😞

Anyway supper was the last of the eggs, mushrooms, onion, and red pepper. We also had toast and a cucumber. Settled in…we have an earlier than normal start tomorrow.