We expected to see our Saddle Skedaddle host Ernesto, but apparently he had the wrong flight information and we sat at their nice new airport for 3 hours waiting first for him, then for the next flight of our fellow travelers. He was kind enough to buy us lunch, but I think all three of us were a bit annoyed. We ended up staying not in Puerto Montt but rather in Puerto Varas which sits on the edge of Lago Llanquhue. Across the lake are two volcanoes that appear from the waters edge kind of like Mount Fuji. Very impressive. Puerto Varas was settled by the Germans. While not known for their hoge colonization efforts, they are still known for the bier culture they left behind. We drank so cerveza with some visitors from Deusseldorf who judged the bier to be more than adequate. I heartily agree.
Once our group got all together, we got fitted for our bikes, made the necessary changes, and loaded them on the trailer. There are 13 on the trip. Saddle Skeddadle is from the UK so we figured that there would be a large fraction from the mother land. This time however, the colonists out number the Brits. 3 Yanks, 4 Canucks, a Scott, an Irishman, and 4 of the Queen's own. Ages from late 20s to active retired cyclists. Two of the group had even met before on a different Saddle Skedaddle trip.
We had a big group meal with more seafood--conger eel for me, and a bit of calamari to go with it. The different between the seafood at home and what is pulled fresh from the sea is truly amazing. I could get totally hooked on the freshness of the seafood here. Perhaps I already am.
Tomorrow the first day of riding.
- UnclePhool, Dave, and Deniece
Location:Puerto Varas Chile
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