We had a rest day in San Martin de Los Andes. It came at a good time. I certainly was ready for a day off the bike. We did some laundry, walked around town a little, tried out some of the coffee shops. It was 50ish and raining all day so the views and our motivation to get out and about were both less than ideal.
Day 12 was the day we ride back into Chile. We had a transfer to near a national park that contains Volcan Lanin. We rode 35km up hill to the pass with this giant looming on our left hand side the entire way. It was never out of our sight and provided quite a backdrop for an uphill pull into yet another headwind.
This is also the home of the monkey puzzle tree. I had never heard of it before this trip, and still know very little about it. It seems to be a very curious type of pine relative with a long stick of artichoke leaves (I know, pines don't have leaves) that leave a strong stalk when they fall off. The mass of each branch is substantial and seems to contradict the gravity we know. Look this tree up. It is very curious.
The down hill ride from the pass landed us in the town of Pucon. It is a vacation home town for people for the larger cities in Chile. This is the first town we have been in all trip that really feels like a resort tourist town that is thriving and teeming with people. It has the kind of activity that I was expecting to see in the towns on the Argentine side, but did not--either because of the volcano or because it is just different.
Day 13 is another rest day. Dave and Deniece went and climbed a volcano, looked into the depths of the earth, and slide on their butts down the snow field to get down. I hear it was wonderful and had spectacular views. Deniece has decided that the sliding down a snow field on her butt was fun and that she has found a new sport she likes. Not sure what happened to her up on the mountain, but perhaps we can find a way to indulge her new fun. I on the other hand went out to the thermal pools and soaked in the sun, the mineral baths and stretched out my weary cycling body. I think a good day by all.
