| start date | activity | country | place | from - to | days | km | km/ day | comment |
25.01.2013 |
running |
Chile |
Patagonia |
Punta Arenas - Villa Tehuelche |
3 |
124 |
41 |
|
28.01.2013 |
recovery |
Villa Tehuelche |
1 |
0 |
0 |
tendon pain |
||
29.01.2013 |
running, walking |
Villa Teheulche - Puerto Natales |
4 |
147 |
36 |
killing head wind | ||
02.02.2013 |
recovery |
Puerto Natales |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|||
Total: run 258 km, walk 13 km
| 9 |
271 |
30 |
|||||
It was pity to leave the hostel in Punta Arenas. Great atmosphere, mixture of interesting people from all over the world, and nice owner Eduardo (I recommend Hostal Independencia). Unfortunately, I wasted a lot of time learning the new smartphone, which I bought just before leaving for preparing the website during lonely nights in the wild. Working in codes, image processing, data transfer, learning new programs - it took me a long time. And then the fun with a new GPS (after the loss of old one), manuals and backups uploads of the preplanned tracks.
The revised plan was that Ewelina would be riding a bicycle next to me. The problem was that Ewelina does not have the experience of traveling by bike - and this immediately thrown her into the deep water - men's mountain bike (rented from Eduardo), luggage load for two people, gravel roads and strong wind. Additionally passing trucks sucks the whole bike under - and there was no shoulder (but I must admit that Chilean drivers are careful). It was not easy for her, but she managed well. And besides I was running light, I had a good company.
Nevertheless, ranning wasn't too easy. For some reasons, I could not train properly prior the expedition, which was reflected in the performance. In total, still easier than stage 1 with a backpack, I just slowly jogged - not much faster than 6 minutes per kilometer. I had no soreness or any other problems with the muscles or blisters. However, the body didn't adjust to the load - the tendons itself felt under pressure (pain in the right foot and hamstring behind the knee). After the fourth day I was squealing for a few minutes until warming it up. The recovery action included proteins, creams and bandages, as at the end of the stage it was much better. At night in a tent when I was recovering the leg, abrasions and itches around the groin didn't allow me to sleep.
The landscapes views were pleasant, especially when we turned off from the main road to the dirty one. Pampa, lakes, space. Only the strong wind. Sometimes it was hard to stand up, not mentioning to ride a bike. Sometimes we were not able to make a break, if it was not any kind of shelter from the wind near by (bus stops were perfect). I like Chile also due to the fact that along the road there is distance information - sometimes as often as every 10 meters. In this way, we determined it was easy to plan breaks, daily limits or meeting place, if our pace was uneven.
You can't trust to the locals or maps regarding the distance - sometimes should be x km, and there was a lot more. Despite this, it was worth the time and effort one evening to made it down to Tehuelche. It was time for annual festival - and we liked the most rodeo competition. There I was forced to unplanned day off due to tendons pain.
When it seemed to us that the worst is all behind us, we finally faced head wind of 136 km/h (I read out in the newspaper: Hurricane 2 degree - they even closed the airport in Punta Arenas). It was a blow off. Cycling was a combination of gymnastics and theater, and the running ... at some point, after 22 km struggling, I had to stop running - I had trouble even walking, I walked like a drunk, balancing the body, depending on the direction of the hurricane attack. If only in the back, but I got it straight in the face. Ewelina finally caught hitchhiking, and I crawled up after a few hours to the agreed camping spot, all wet and tired. It's a miracle that the tent was still standing. Now I understand the meaning of "Patagonian wind."
Last day. Tent seems shaking a little less. Jumped out quickly, but before we packed up, it began to blow and rain. It does not matter, it's not such a storm like yesterday. Here we go. Today just 22 km from the town. Nothing hurts me.
After 45 minutes break for the breakfast. Cold, so we move on. When to Puerto Natales is less than 10 km, the body straightens, steps becoming longer, hands begin to work faster, the heart pumps blood. Unzipp my jacket despite the icy blast in the face, I'm warm. Wind does not seem to disturb, hill that seems to be flat. Clearly Im speeding up. I know what is happening - emotions. Subconsciously, I feel the taste of fruit, vegetable salad, steak and hot shower. Being in the nature is beautiful, but the return to comfortable habits - perhaps stronger.
| Country | Days | Food | (how many) paid accom. | Permits Entry fees |
Guide hire | Equipment purchase, hire |
Equipment or other freight fees | *Transport | Other | Total |
| Chile | 9 | $232 | (2) $25 | $0 | $0 | $98 | $19 | $0 | $6 | $380 |
sending bicycle back to Punta Arenas $10
food freight to Villa Tehuelche
food and equipment freight to Puerto Natales