Due South

Finally we are all set to leave Santiago and head South. My previous experience of Chile was that with only one main arterial road, the pan American highway, logistics were pretty straight forward. Well apparently this is not the case you have Chileans organising the agenda.

We head East off the highway up the Maipo valley and fond memories flood back of paddling the Maipo (coming across a school bus in the river) and egressing at an awesome rustic vineyard café. To my horror the Maipo has now been damned.

Suddenly we are in a vast and impressive tree nursery with Four million trees and a mountain back drop to die for.

Even at 10am the heat is intense

We meet a father and son “one. Man band combo” at a restaurant for a late lunch.

That afternoon I see my first cherry orchard and realise what a unique situation the Chileans have. Infinite variations of latitude and elevation and a climate to die for. Then it’s on to Churico, a small town which got hammered by the earthquake. We find limited options for food and get offered what the waiter calls “traditional Chilean beer – Stella artois”!