Right now I am laying in my hammock, watching the clouds roll by and listening to small waves churn up the gravel beach. The towering mountains of Tierra del Fuego lay across the Straits of Magellanes and Steph has set out on a quick hike to the southern-most lighthouse on the continent mainland.
The quiet is soothing now, and it's a nice break from the bustle of Punta Arenas and the problems of the past week. We started off great! Steph and I spent an amazing 4 days in Torres del Paine. The weather was perfect! Sun and no wind every day. We saw the Torres, Cuernos, and Glaciares Grey during our time on the "W" circuit. We met Mike, as planned, in Puerto Natales and even found a vehicle before we were expecting to. The purchase went off without a hitch and we headed to pick up our bags in Punta Arenas. The 1993 KIA Pride had low km, great reviews and ran great, at least until about 2 hours into our trip.
A stutter interrupted our journey and we have spent the past week trying to figure out what it is. We have replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter, spark plugs and cables and we still don't have an answer. We have narrowed it down to a vacuum leak or a carburetor problem but unfortunately very few mechanics in Punta Arenas know how to work on a carb. To add to the craziness, our gas tank sprang a couple of leaks the other day. We had suspected a slow leak for a few days now and when we cleaned up the dirt on the tank the trickle turned into a steady stream. I couldn't help but laugh to myself as I sat under the car, which was pulled up on an abandoned tractor trailer ramp while gas streamed down my arm and Mike desperately implored Steph to "chew faster". Bubble gum and epoxy soon patched our tank. But even though I love working on our little Pride and I find the whole situation very amusing I am still anxious to get on the road and start our journey.
We have not been alone during our time in Punta Arenas, however. Some of Mike's friends from his days working with the Patagonian Expedition race are still in town and that is where we found ourselves last night. We met many new friends as well and even had a cookout. We should have been suspect though. It seems that when ever things are rather normal, a curve ball is about to be thrown our way. It's about 11 o'clock pm when one of the new guys we just met runs inside from being out on a walk. There is blood everywhere. Apparently he was assaulted by a few drunk locals and he took a few punches to the face. A gaping laceration about 3cm long poured blood into the bathroom sink. I rushed out to retrieve my first aid kit and Mike recommended the wound have stitches (Mike and I are both EMTs). Luckily our ailing car is more than capable of short trips to the hospital. It is almost one in the morning before we are back and everyone it planning on going out for drinks and dancing. Our injured friend went to bed with a stitched eye and three fractures in his cheek while everyone else went out (in Chile its common to go out so late). The rest of the night was a great deal of fun with new friends, loud music and fun dancing. We got in around 4 that morning and passed out on the floor.
This morning we set out again for what would be our third attempt to leave the city. We were turned back with the same problem once again and instead decided to head south to where we are now.
The disappointment of continued car trouble aside, I am very content sitting here this Sunday evening. In the morning we will limp the car back to our mechanic for a final try but right now, everything is well. I expected the adversity and I know there will be more but that is the beauty of it. There are no rules but head North, and that is what we will do, sooner or later. In fact, looking back over the past few days and where I am now. I would say that things are going quite nicely.
Have fun my son. You are in my thoughts and prayers daily.
ReplyDelete