I´m Back

It has been some time since the last post and I am sorry for that. It is my sincere hope that I did not lose a large number of my reading audience. It might be the case that my mother is the only one who will read this and I´m okay with that.
I last left you on my way to Junin De Los Andes and boy was it a magical little mountain town! I did not get the opportunity to wet a line but I did take the opportunity to swim in the very river that people fish for those infamous trouts. They were none to pleased with your boy as I was floating by and snaggin their lines. That day will go down as one of the best I have had so far. The river was crystal clear and warm with a strong current that made for just a great swim. Later that day BQ and I managed to find a pick up volleyball game with some of the local boys. All was going well, we were enjoying the sun and sport until one of the bigger boys (maybe 17) called me a chica (I think). I think he was reffering to my hair and not my play so I let it roll off my back. besides I didn´t feel like getting my bottom kicked by a school boy...again. That night I feasted on trout and stayed at a very accommodating inn.
Crossing over into Chile was a breeze it took all of 45 minutes with zero fees, so that was a good thing. The bus dropped our sorry rears off in Valdivia and we got busy trying to find a place to stay as it was difficult with the festival going on. Valdivia was a relaxing time; nice people, good seafood and a nice view of the river. I tried renting a kayak to make the loop around the city but they would not let you go outside the area that was marked off (about the size of a olympic pool). In all it would be an excellent place to spend some quality time getting to know your grandmother a little better.
Niebla was the next stop. It is located about thirty minuets from Valdivia and it is a costal town over looking the Pacific. We stayed at a campsite with an incredible view and met some good people there. Our stupid children´s tent makes for a good conversation starter especially when they arrive while we are still sleeping side by side with our feet hanging out the front. Making it to Niebla allowed us to claim a coast to coast excursion in one months time. Is there any significance it that claim? I don´t know.
From Niebla we headed to Pucon, Chile by far my most favorite stop on the journey thus far. Pucon is located in Southern Chile and is their adventure capital. The town itself is amazingly clean and beautiful with an economy based on tourism so it was also over the top friendly which was nice. We stayed at a super cool backpackers hostle with people from all over and enjoyed the change in company. Our first full day in town we went rafting on the Trancura river in the class 4 section. The experience was tits! The river was vastly different from my excursions down the Niangua. Although I had the same rowing partner as I always had when conquering the mighty Ni it was the first time we were able to have a coherant conversation at the end of the float. The following day called for a 4:00 am wake up call which I was not to happy about. I made this decisios by listening to the ultra enthusiastic people who had gone before I to make an attempt at climbing Volcon Villarcia. The currently active volcano hovers over the small mountain town and is a steep climb of about 3600 meters. The climb was maybe the most physically difficult thing I have done (Enter Zeke with a girly man comment) as it became steeper and steeper as you worked your way up it. On top of that it was necessary to wear ice climbing gear for a good majority of the five hours it took to summit it. As I climbed the last 20 meters exhausted and only going forward because it seemed to be easier then going back down all pain subsided when I reached the top and took in the view. It was an incredible natural high of the purest kind. Atop the volcanco was a massive smoking hole (Also of the purest kind) about the circumference of a football field. We were unable to see any active lava that day as there was too much smoke pouring out but you could hear the laving crashing against the rocks (at least thats what the guide said he could be full of bull whooey). The trek down was only bad for the first thirty minutes as we got to slide down on our bums the majority of the way. That day I went from freezing cold temps at 6:00 am to beach bummin it on the perfectly chilled lake at the edge of town at 6:00 pm. Quick side note: That night a group of us got together at our place mainly those who made the trek that morning and some who were to depart the following morning including a couple Aussie boys named James and James for a BBQ. The two James seemed to have thought that they had already made the hike as they drank with us right up to there four am departure. Needless to say they were unable to complete the climb.
Thats all I have for now as I am heading to San Pedro to see what they got cookin up there. I already have my next post in mind so look for it soon, it involves lots of girls. Also I have added more pictures for your enjoyment. Sorry for the rambling I did not have any time to edit this post. In the mean time take care and hold steady!

Paz, Petro