Leaving Salto del Lara.
Last night, Google maps took us on a very long winded route via small gravel tracks to Camping La Isla. This morning we were back on Highway 5 within 5 minutes. However, this meant we passed nowhere to buy bread rolls for lunch. It has developed into a habit that we buy bread rolls and have them with cheese and tomatoes for lunch.
As we get further south it gets greener and more lush. In Chile it is spring from September to November, so the verges are full of spring flowers. We have left the vines behind, just the occasional vineyard. There are some fruit orchards, but the terrain becomes more hilly and huge forests of pine and eucalyptus take over, with some large saw mills and wood treatment plants.
The weather today is different too. We have become accustomed to blue skies and sunshine all day. It has been cloudy and overcast and threatening to rain, on occasions. Where we stopped for lunch, there had previously been some rain. We did get through the day without getting wet, though, and later there were some breaks in the cloud and some sun.
Lunch was rather unconventional. Tea with fruit cake and cherries. We had a change of plans. Rather than continue down the rather tedious Highway 5, we would head off into the Chilean Lake District.
Villarrica
We took road 199 to Villarrica on Lake Villarrica. The road continues to Pucon. Pucon is on the map as a centre for adventure sports, also set on Lake Villarrica, under the smouldering volcano of the same name. All pictures we have seen show a snow covered peak overlooking the town. Sadly the cloud has not permitted us a view of any volcano.
We stopped in Villicarrra in front of two mini-markets. I wanted to buy a bottle of wine, but neither shop sold it. Instead I bought us icecreams.
It was our intention to camp at a site in Villarrica. However, we couldn’t locate the site . There was an abandoned looking field, but no sign of any camping. We decided to continue on the 10 kms to Pucon.
Pucon
The road was busy, particularly with traffic coming from Pucon. Being Sunday there were obviously many visitors. The lakeside is lined with expensive houses, apartments and hotels. Pucon used to be the summer playground of the rich. Now it is a year round adventure centre, apparently, absolutely overrun in peak season, February.
Our camp at Pucon could be very nice, but the showers/toilets are dirty and uncared for. We are in a nice grassy spot though, next to a large Dutch truck. It’s owner has a young border collie, which Dennis has taken a liking to.
After we had set up camp we decided we needed some exercise and a walk along the lake into town was in order. The town was very busy. It felt very much like a Canadian ski town. At the end of the street there were some volcanic shaped hills, but not the snow covered majestic peak seen in photos.
We came across a supermarket, so went in for the bottle of wine I had been unable to find earlier. We came out with wine, chicken and more vegetables. I had planned a different menu for dinner, but we finished up eating the chicken and drinking the wine, of course.
The border collie is chasing around and looking up at the sky. I think he is after the ibis that are flying around and making a lot of noise.
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And here’s me thinking bread was a no no because it makes you fat! Not working for you old fella, you look like a Norwegian racing sardine. Let me know if you want some dietry advice.
Laughing…not eating enough of it, obviously! If only we had pies here…:)