Return to Patagonia
December 2006 - January 2007
Page 2
A 25-hour trip through the fjords and channels from
Chiloé to Puerto Cisnes.
The truck in the center was the produce store for passengers and for
fishing villages along the route. It carried fresh vegetables and
fruit.
Palena, a beautiful town in the Andes mountains, about 5
miles from the Argentine border. This is the next mountain pass south
of Futaleufú.
This is a good destination for rafting and fishing on the
Palena River.
Roses abound on a summer day in Palena
Angelina was visiting Palena with her family from Rio de
Janeiro
River crossing on the Palena
No professional gauchos here, just local guys trying
their luck at steer riding.
California Valley near Palena, Chilean territory since
1962, when the Queen of England arbitrated the border dispute with
Argentina.
There is no knowledge of who named the valley and why.
Lupines were in bloom all over the area. I had never seen
so many colors of lupine.
California Valley
Trevelin, Argentina, settled by Welsh people tired of being used
by the English. They came to Chubut Province in the late 19th century
to raise wheat. The product was a success. The difficulty was in
getting the grain to international markets. Now the area is an
important producer of livestock and hay. Descendents of the Welsh
have preserved artifacts in museums, and offer typical Welsh tea in
several restaurants. Nearby Esquel is a very popular ski area. Even
closer is the spectacular Alerce National Park.
Back in Chile, with a short visit to Futaleufú, a
popular area for adventure river sports such as rafting and
kayaking.
Espolón Lake, near Futaleufú. I hopped
aboard a small boat which transports the locals from one end to the
other, about 90 minutes each way. It was Sunday, so the 17 players on
the soccer team joined us for the trip back. They played the weekly
game in Futaleufú, and then returned home in the country. Four
sheep were also loaded, two of them alive. Then we stopped along the
shore to pick up various people who had called by radio to catch a
ride back to town. We were about 30 people arriving. There were about
six life jackets in the boat. None were worn.
A favorite spot to visit on a sunny day, at the Petrohue
Falls with a view of Osorno Volcano.