The Round River Patagonia Crew just returned from our ‘finals-week Spring Break’ in Tortel, and it was amazing; I just had to sit down and write a blog about it while it’s still fresh in my mind. We left on Easter Sunday, and thanks to the technical difficulties we’ve had with the red truck lately, we ended up having to bus half of the group in and meet the other half in town. It worked out well, but only because Guillermo was able to procure two pieces of lemon pie for the bus groups Easter breakfast, otherwise it could have been an unmitigated disaster. Instead, one uneventful bus ride and a little waiting later and we were all reunited in Tortel.
Tortel is a small town located where the Baker River flows into the fjords of Southern Chile. The town is unique because there is only one road into town, and that ends in a parking lot at the top of the town. From there on, the only way of getting around are the boardwalks constructed all along the waterfront and up the hillsides. As cool as they made the town look, the boardwalks also proved to be really treacherous and it was easy to slip and fall down several flights of stairs if you weren’t careful or were carrying a couple bars of chocolate and weren’t paying attention.
Iris and Will surprised us by negotiating for a hostel at a cheap rate as the tourist season is
winding down here in Patagonia. It was probably the greatest surprise ever because instead of sleeping in a cow pasture with wet tents and flat thermarests, we were able to spread out under five thick blankets. After three months living in tents it was a bit of a shock to our systems, but we handled it admirably.
The first night we all wandered around town, going our own separate ways, much as we will in just a few weeks when the program comes to an end. It was rather symbolic in a way.
Dinner was polenta with red sauce, so I wasn’t too upset when we got back late from our adventuring.
After dinner we went on an expedition back to the truck at the top of town to fetch a bar of
chocolate and some tuaregs. On the way we met some people from a small high-school in
Colorado who were down here on a kayaking trip for spring break.
The second day revealed how beautiful Tortel really was. Dawn broke over the hills and across the fjord and everyone was out in full force with their iPhones and cameras taking pictures for hipstamatic and instagram. We took advantage of the beautiful weather (we were expecting rain) and did the sendero up to the mirador above town. The view was absolutely spectacular, and the conversation along the way even better. It might prove to be one of the last group hikes we can squeeze in with the stress of finals week getting in the way of our fun times.
We celebrated our vacation with a family dinner at one of the many seafood restaurants dotted along the main boardwalk. The food was delicious, and well paired with a bottle of white wine.
After dinner we all walked down to the beach and started a small fire. We stayed on the beach well into the night, reminiscing about good times past and present. It was definitely a good way to spend two relaxing days away from the Chacabuco Valley and our tents and all our work.
Unfortunately, it had to end, so after another long bus (or truck) ride, we are back in Camping Los West Winds. The next few weeks will likely be a blur as we try to fit in as much stuff as possible. Maybe we’ll make a presentation to CP and enjoy a lovely dinner afterwards, maybe we’ll play some pick-up soccer games, maybe even go look for vizcacha a couple more times.
Who knows what the last few days of all being together have in store for us, but I know that
when it comes time to say goodbye, it will be really bittersweet. Some of us are staying together a while longer to travel around South America, others have to get back to school and work. But we’ll all be together again, whether it’s this summer or in 10 years, we’ll be back.