The stories being told around the dinner table the night before by our guides about how strict Chilean customs could be (they threatened to fine one group after finding a pine seed on top of their car !) had us all imagining a difficult day ahead that might include (god forbid) a full luggage and body search although Henley reckoned that by placing his smelly jocks on the top of his suitcase that he would at least get out of the former !
What confused us was that we were told that it was easier to simply tick the section on the customs form "Are you bringing in any organic material into the country" as Yes rather than No to avoid any confrontation with Customs !!!
As to what we'd then say if asked what it was that we were bringing in was beyond all of us !
We left San Martin by van travelling 30 kms to help expedite what was expected to be a long day and to avoid a long rough downhill section where a number of injuries (included a busted femur) had occurred on recent trips.
Finally let loose we cycled 30 kms on a rough as guts rocky road to our lunch stop on a beautiful lake. Kev was having great difficulty riding on this type of surface because of his arthritic wrist - no doubt caused by his home based work and excessive use of his middle finger over the years !
Thankfully Chilean customs while being convoluted did not involve any strip searches. The image of H standing naked & spreadeagled while Customs searched his body cavities for any hidden seeds is too horrific to imagine !
Once cleared by customs and with our bags x-rayed, we cycled another 11kms on a beautiful sunny afternoon to our ferry pick up point.
After nearly 2 hours of waiting we finally got on board for a magic 90 minute journey along yet another lake with distant views of a snow capped volcano -a real treat !
All that remained after a long day on the go was a long high speed descent (15kms) on a narrow marked bike path.
The path included a whole range of hazards from large rocks to driveway washaways to horse crap to cars and pedestrians using the path !
I was incredibly lucky when at speed on one of the steepest sections I suffered a pinch flat after striking a large rock hidden in the shadows
I battled like crazy to react in a manner that didn't send me over the handle bars - first centralising the wildly swinging handlebars and then secondly feathering the brakes as my tyre quickly deflated to the rim !
Thankfully luck was on my side as I pulled up shaken but still in one piece on my bike !
With tube fixed I regrouped with the others for our ride into the small village of Choshuenco where we finally arrived at 7pm to complete a huge day !
It was time to celebrate our arrival back in Chile and my survival by taking in a round of drinks and enjoying the lovely lake side surrounds !
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| Start of the rough stuff ! |
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| Back in Chile - Waiting for our ferry |
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| Another Volcano |
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| Looking back to San Martin |
Keep the narrative (saga of H) going Mega. Tell H I await his version. Can he type with the non arthritic finger or is it still in use for other purposes? Julia's bike will now be very second hand and therefore significantly depreciated in value. Bring it back to Oz for me please That specialised unit is to be lusted after.
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