We'd set out in a search vehicle from our Eco Lodge accommodation - Henley was lost somewhere in the middle of a Volcanic desert ! While he might have had enough water for a day or two the sight of a couple of overhead Vultures suggested that maybe a prime Heney sized fillet was somewhere nearby to be had !
Our final day of cycling started once again on a cool misty day this time only 15c below the days forecast top !
The first 40 kms to lunch were flat bitumen with bugger all to see because of the low hanging mist.
We attempted to amuse ourselves by creating some form of pelotonic discipline but while the POMs held up their end of the bargain by leading out the Aussies wilted citing the typical type of cycling excuses - " My nose is running", "I have to stop and take a picture", "My shoelaces are tied together" etc etc !
With the peloton not working that well we tried some novel uses of the go pro mounted pole while cycling but achieved nothing more than an unco-ordinated version of not so synchronised cycling !
With lunch taken in a lovely ranch style hotel complete with a roaring fire just outside of Melipeuco we re-emerged to find that the sun had finally burnt away the cold mist providing for a beautiful sunny finish to our Patagonian cycling adventure !
The only thing in our way was 10 kms of climbing into the Conquillio Volcanic National Park plus a "bum busting" 8kms across an old lava field landscape on a road filled with ruts, rocks and shifting sand !
With self flying the drone the others had spread out. At the official entrance to the National Park H said he'd go on ahead by himself (always a disaster waiting to happen) indicating that he'd stop for a regroup after another 6kms !
By the time i'd arrived at our accommodation Pommie Kev, Julia and our guides had indicated that H was nowhere to be seen !
H was eventually found 2kms further along the desolate track where he stood emitting more steam than the nearby 3125 metre Liama volcano supposedly the most active in Sth America !
After calming down it became apparent there'd been a breakdown in communication with our guides and H. So with the overhead vultures disappointed that they weren't getting a meal we took on board H and his bike and headed further into the Park viewing some of its beautiful sights including some amazingly colored lakes.
Back at our Eco Lodge with its sloping bedroom floors and beds we spent the evening reminiscing on a fabulous adventure while thanking our guides Herman and Tolkay for their fantastic support !
Well done all. Another cycling adventure done and dusted. There can’t be too many left that you haven’t done, except across Russia maybe!
ReplyDeleteMore about the model car disply please. Bugger the bike rjding, get to the good stuff.
ReplyDelete