The Bariloche Municipal pool. (not quite as big as Kits Pool but I really have a weakness for outdoor pools with a view)

I was warned that Bariloche would remind me of Vancouver. But when I found a pool on the shores of lake Nahuel Huapi right close to down town; I felt transported to Kits pool. The resemblance is uncanny.

Puerto Montt has a really cool skate park and dedicated grafitti amphitheater built right on the waterfront. I was really impressed by the forsight of building a these big slabs of concrete for the sole purpose of allowing youth to express themselves.

We visited Puerto Varas for a couple days. And I came accross this very curious structure. The street is covered, which is great as it rains a lot in this region. However the sidewalk is left to weather the elements? It would have made more sense if it was a pedestrian only street but the arcade seems to be there soley for the purpos of a few parked cars... weird!

Loading the small boats that serve the more remote communities in the region.

---nevermind----

This is an image of the part of Puerto Montt near the fishing port. There is a kind of colourfulness in the houses that is shared by most fishing ports I have visited.

The sailor in me keeps me looking to weigh anchor and go to sea. But this one was a little heavy and it got the better of me!

The flooded streets of Puerto Montt on April 3rd. The storm sewers were backed up by a high tide and could not flush out fast enough. Apparently this happens a couple times a year.

These leafy plants were everywhere along the way. Does anybody remember what they are called? I have seen them in Queen Elizabeth park and other places in Vancouver. They are huge and line the road the whole way! *

CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE TO VIEW MINI MOVIE. ENJOY!

Oh so happy to have found a warm dry place for the night in Vanguardia Video.

the last 100km to Chaiten where on the bus. The bus driver had his grandson next to him for the whole trip... no seatbelt!

After breaking two back tires, one wipeout in the rain and a busted front chainring we pushed and coasted the bikes into Vanguardia. It is a very small town built on speculation 28 years ago by some company all the houses are the same. The owners of the small store in town rented us a whole house with a wood burning stove for 4000 pesos each. Which is about $8 CAD per person. We were so happy to be able to dry off our stuff.

We used this roadside bus shelter instead of the tent because it was raining so hard. We also have camped under bridges a few times to try and avoid the dampness of the tent. This section really feels like home and truely feels like a temperate rainforest.

Condor falls (Salta del condor) lived up to its name as we saw two beautiful condors flying around the falls. This was also one of hundreds of waterfalls lining either side of the road along most of the Careterra between Coyhaique and Chaiten

This was a very wet day just north of Villa Amengual. I was fixing a flat so instead of being cold and wet Damien retreated to his custom garbage bag bivy sac.

Cerro Negro, looks just like squamish chief but there is no town around.

Our last bit of pavement north of Coyhaique... the life of a cyclist is so much easier on the black stuff.

Many of the valleys north and south of Coyhaique have been cleared more than 25 years ago due to funny government land clearing incentives. Luckly the climate is so good that nature is slowly taking back what is hers. *

Coyhaique from the hills to the north. *

The last bike store for 500km! Little did we know we would miss it so dearly.

This shoe store may be run by a long lost cousin. It is sort of funny for me because for the longest time the only other Gwendal I knew was the son of a shoe store owner in Ploare which is really close to our family house in Brittany.

Would you like some horse shoes with your wine? On the carterra every store is a real general store!

Testing out the latest repairs on the bike! Thank you Tania for sending the package with replacement parts to Cochrane. (... really just a gratuituous topless shot to show off my farmer's tan)