21/2 Volcano & cleaning. *ewwww work*

Tuesday 21 February      Pucon

Hard to believe that we have almost finished the 51 day first leg. It started accelerating after we left Ushuaia and the last 10 days have just flown. Today is a rest day for those who have not paid lots of money to abseil into and wade upstream through a chest deep (freezing) mountain stream for several hours. (Canyoning) This afternoon we are doing a big truck clean then tomorrow we drive into Santiago, which is the end of Leg 1. We will be staying on for about half of Leg 2 – as far as La Paz, when we will do our own thing through to Lima.

Quite a few times when Chileans have stood back at checkouts to let us go first with a few items. Noticeably more often than elsewhere. 2 days ago a lady called me through and then I had forgotten to weigh the nectarines and tomatoes, which you have to do in some places here. I said Oooh dont bother I wont take those, but she sent her teenage daughter to get them weighed and waited while she returned. Impressive!

The sky was clear this morning and I took some photos of the smoking Villaraci volcano.

Nearly all the main streets in nearly every town and city we have visited have been called San Martin.  He is known as the hero of Argentina  and there are many busts and statues in his honour.  Pucon is different however.  The main street here is named O’Higgins.  He was one of the 9 liberators of South America, a red headed general named Bernardo O’Higgins.

Chileans are a very patriotic people and you see the flag everywhere.

This isn't quite correct with the blue stripes but first impressions are that it is very close to the flag shape & colours.

Truck clean took about 4 hours.  Quite exhausting by then end of it as we cleaned and scrubbed everything.  We were assigned certain jobs to be tackled by 2 people.  Then Chris was on cook group.

Slept well - even though it rained.