27/1 Puerto Madryn and the penguins

Friday 27 January

Early start anyway so they could go on the penguin tour at 7.30. I stayed to do the laundry then walked into town with Luke to use the internet. Now that I am back, 45 minutes striding it out, the campsite has got its free internet going!! Only 2 others didn’t go to the penguins and they are in town. I helped Colin and Scott make a new outdoors table. We had just got it sanded and ready to varnish when (instantly) the same wind that welcomed us yesterday blew up a fury and pelted us with sand.

Most of the group went to see the largest penguin colony outside the Antartic.  There are 1 million Magellanic penguins who come to Punto Tombo, Patagonia each year to nest.  We drove for a couple of hours through uninspiring flat scrubland arriving at the new interpretation centre, which had very good displays, at lunchtime.  The reserve is very well maintained with walkways and bridges and jam packed with fledgling juniors and patient adults.  I took far too many photos as usual, so here are just some of them.

Chick in burrow

Every bit of shade is sort after

Guinea pig sized rodent

Guanaco - like alpaca & llama only smaller

Feeding time for hungry babies

This youngster had a shoe/leg/trouser fetish

Yes they are mating - wrong time of the year though

Moonscape with burrows

These 2 looked younger than most of the others, so cute

We then travelled back towards Puerto Madryn and inland to the Welsh settlement of Gaiman.  After the flat desolate scenery that we had passed through today, this irrigated river valley was a surprise.  Pretty little historic town steeped in Welsh traditions.

Oldest building

Library, but guess what?  Yep it was closed.

Coffee shop

Robot slide

When we arrived back at the camping ground, we walked to the nearby beach to see the caves that the original Welsh settlers lived in.  Very nice views of the bay and a lovely sunset.