Day 85. Thursday 21st. November. From El Trabon, Santiago to Eco Camping La Caletillla, Pichilemu. Chile. 122 miles or 196 k’s.

With some regret, we moved on from this lovely campground. Actually, it’s the back and front yard of a private house but with plenty of grass and space for campers. Grape vines, olive, apple trees and a soccer field, set the scene. Lovely warm showers and even hot water at the hand basin!!! After saying a brief goodbye to a German couple who were in high spirits after having the sale of their Texas registered, Ford van, camper conversion, sold to another German couple, starting out on their travels. They are now planning their flights home.

First, an oil change.

Our destination tonight, the coast, about 190ks south of Santiago. But first, it’s time to replenish the oil in Poki and fit a new oil filter. I remembered passing a small garage, on our way into the city, yesterday. It didn’t take long to find it and there were no cars being worked on. Great! In no time we had selected the right oil and the owners helper was draining the old oil. We had been using 20w-50 for the hot climate in the north, but we are heading south, into colder weather and a lighter oil would be better. 10w-40 Mobil synthetic. Expensive but it should last us till we get to Montevideo, or similar. We carry several spare filters as they are unlikely to be available here.

That done, the next requirement a supermarket. The garage owner told us there was a Walmart, just up the road. Jen googled it and the result was, 36k’s. We opt for an alternative and find all we need.

It’s a beautiful day and by 1.30pm we need to stop for lunch.

Afterwards, heading south west, we are soon on lesser roads and after huge fields of strawberries, we are into forestry. It looks like Radiata pine? Passing several logging trucks, we are surprised by the young age of their loads. They can’t be much use for other than fence posts!. We could be driving in New Zealand. Narrowish, undulating roads and pine trees both sides with grass berms.

Pichilimu

It’s a reasonably sized town and compared with much of what we have seen of Chilean towns in the north, this is quite civilised, with a good variety of shops.

Our camp though, is par for the course of camps here. Very little maintenance or pretense of sophistication. Rustic, would best describe it. Though it seems there is hot water in the showers. Previous visitors have been quite scathing of the place. We have a sheltered space with a sand base for the caranex, and will deal with rudimentary facilities.

This is rated as a surfers beach. After a walk down to the beachfront to check it out, it’s time for dinner. I think we will both sleep well tonight, after a disturbed one last night. Planes seemed to be flying in and out all night!

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