Our last 3 weeks

We have really enjoyed our last 3 weeks with our affectionately named hire car ¨Barry¨. We spent 2 weeks driving around the lakes region from Bariloche in a cirle, so finished in Bariloche and returned the car. It was great to be able to go where and when we wanted, which we haven't been able to do with public transport.
After returning the car, we spent a few more days in Bariloche then headed down to El Calafate, and now find ourselves back in Chile in Puerto Natales about to embark on 6 days of hiking through Torres Del Paine National Park.

So, as a summary, some of our highlights have been:

Hiking 1900m up Cerro Alto Dedal in Parque Nacional Los Alerces - was like doing a step class for about 3.5hours and then sliding and slipping on bamboo on the descent, but an awesome view overlooking the mountains and lakes made it worthwhile.

Running out of petrol in the very very small town of Villa Santa Lucia in Chile and having to hitch a ride into the closest main town, Chaiten, in the pouring rain. (After Pete tried for about an hour, Sophia managed to stop a truck for a ride on her first attempt!) Returning to the car the next day with 10L of petrol in hand to help Barry make it to Chaiten!

Catching the car ferry from Caleto Gonzalo to Puerto Montt as there are no roads in this part of Chile. We did not have a ferry ticket, but thought we could buy one at the ferry - about 60km out of Chaiten. They had all sold out and run only once a day, but lucky for us (and terribly unlucky for the guy) we tried to help this guy whose van wasn't starting. He was told he couldn't get on the ferry, so we asked if we could buy his ticket - we scrounged around and managed to pay him with a combination of Chilean, Argentinian pesos and US dollars and made the ferry!

Some beautiful campsites - including a divine lakeside spot in Parque Nacional Lanin.

The number of different campside dishes that can be created with neopolitana sauce - we'd be making Nigella proud I'm sure.

Meeting up with our Argentinian/UK buddies in San Martin de Los Andes again and having a homecooked Argentinian BBQ - this is NO place for vegetarians!

Hiring a cabaña for 2 nights in San Martin - luxury after camping or 1.5 weeks! It even had cable TV and some quality US sitcoms to entertain us!Returning to Bariloche and:
returning the hire car and not being charged for the 15cm long windscreen cut we caused;
riding push bikes 25km around a circuit of lakes/hills;
walking 20km from Cerro Catedral and hand/rock climbing for about 2 hours!
not being able to walk properly the next day.

El Calafate and visiting the jaw-droppingly amazing Perito Merino Glacier - the photos do not do this incredible glacier justice.

So that is a brief summary. We are currently in Puerto Natales and about to embark on 6 days of the 'W' circuit in Torres Del Paine National Park. At least we have 18 hours of daylight everyday at the moment! Wish us luck and we'll let you know how it goes.