Spring? Maybe soon......

We arrived in Villarrica, a town on a beautiful lake in the shadow of an active volcano yesterday. And we haven´t seen the volcano since- too much rain between us and it. So today we do internet stuff and maybe shop for warm woolen things to help us survive the cold, wet spring that El Niño has brought to this area.

Our loop through wine country out to the coast went well, good scenery, challenging roads, etc. The beach at Pichilemu was pretty, though far too cold for swimming. It was windy most of the time, though warm. As we got back to the Interamericana, a check on the forecast for Patagonian towns seemed to indicate good weather. So we hopped a bus and buzzed several hundred kilometers south, to start our ride through the Lakes District into Argentina, and finally over to the Carretera Austral. But now the crap weather may have us pinned down a bit, though I have hopes for a rain shadow on the east side of the Andes.

Overall, we are having a good time, though accomadations, even low-end, are too expensive. That and the weather are really our only complaints. The food is good, Chileans are fun, our spanish is sufficient, and the riding has been challenging but enjoyable. Roads are surprisingly well-signed, and even directions from locals are shockingly accurate. Well, except for that one bridge, but that was our fault- the lady was right, there was a bridge where we wanted to cross a big river, but she didn´t mention that it was still under construction, and only the Dukes of Hazzard could make it across. Fortunately there was a guy with a rowboat, so that saved the day. Oh, and the coffee is horrible horrible horrible. But that is ok for now.