A geocache would inspire me to go on a lengthy walk today, to the furthest south I've travelled thus far. Faro San Isidro was on my radar today. My sleeping patterns have been terribly out of alignment due to all the travel I've been doing, and Cristian would wake me early today. He advised me to carry food and water so I first stopped for biscuits, coffee, and a large bottle of water. Though it was cloudy and cool today, I still slopped on sunscreen so I was going to be exposed for a large part of the day. On a map it appears that you can drive all the way to the lighthouse, but you have to walk about the last 5 km. Sounds simple, but much of the walk was along the beach through pebbles a half metre deep. For such a southerly latitude the area isn't as cold as you'd think it'd be, largely due to its proximity to the ocean.
Off in the distance I spotted Faro San Isidro but I was still a fair way away. I was surprised at the calmness of the weather today; it was cloudy but with no wind at all. My legs and feet were already sore halfway to El Faro.
Before long, I was at Faro San Isidro, and I had a break to have a snack and soak up the air with a few sips of water. After coming all this way, I couldn't find the geocache I was searching for. It would have been my most southern find.
With some water and a snack out, I unfolded Juliett and sent her soaring into the sky. It seems she's fine after that nasty crash a couple of weeks ago. For the first time, I soared her to the maximum altitude the Mavic Pro can fly: 500 metres. El Faro is directly below from half a kilometre up.
Juliett truly opens up a whole new photographic world.
I managed some great shots today with my constant travel companion. From there it was a long walk back to the road, and my knee was bothering me. It's not the most comfortable walk to El Faro although it's flat.
I've met many great people whilst hitchhiking but today I'd have a rather rare bizarre hitchhiking experience. I was picked up by a guy, driving with his mother and a friend. When I started speaking in Spanish they said they understand English better due to being from Belgium. I rolled the window down to allow a fly to get out, and the friend (sitting in the back seat) told me to put the window up. From there it was casual chatter about travel, and a few minutes later I pointed out that I wanted to get a photo of an odd-looking building. I wasn't necessarily asking for a photo stop, as I could have snapped one whilst driving. The driver was confused and when I said "not that building, it's further ahead" the friend just started yelling at me to either allow the driver to drive or just get out, so I was told to get out. Good riddance, as I could get another lift. Either way, this is the building:
Glass shards of shipping containers?
A local couple with their young son would give me a lift back to Cristian and Paula's home. Even with a sore knee and an uncomfortable walk through coarse gravel-like rocky sand, it was well worth it. My first great walk in Chile is in the books, with photos and a cool story to boot. The quest for Antarctica continues...
