Day 75 January 23rd 2007, Salmon and Seaweed - Puerto Montt to Castro - Chiloe, 175km

With the roads in the Northern Lake District of Chile being in a considerably better state than those in the South we again set off in another Toyota Yaris, after flipping an imaginary coin we headed south and over to the island of Chiloe, famous for its wooden infrastructure. When the Spanish got kicked out of Chile this was their last stand and for several years they were isolated here with little contact from the outside world, with little else than wood to build with nearly all the buildings here are wooden including some impressive churches.

I remember as a kid being dragged round churches whilst my parents especially my Mum took pictures of them, well here it is the first and hopefully the last picture I have taken of a church. Yes I am concerned that I'm turning into my parents.

The island of Chiloe with its little fishing towns and houses on wooden stilts would be a nice place to spend a couple of days, however the island exports huge quantities of Salmon and Sea Weed, the Sea Weed being exported to Japan. What this means is huge lorries thundering up and down the islands very few roads at all hours. With a cargo of slowly rotting seaweed the leave behind them not only a cloud of dust but also quite a stink.

With the tide out Captain Birdseye was going nowhere fast

Making the most of out tent we camped again this evening close to the coast and luckily just out of smell and sound range of the road.

Highlights: Wooden Churches