Volcanoes and Cows

01.03.2011 28 °C

DAY 3
It was a kinder gentler ride today - sort of. The road from Villa La Angostura to Puerto Octay (at least the portion we cycled) had some straight, only slightly inclined roads. It also had some "gently rolling" portions. However, because all the participants on this trip are looking for a challenge, there was a significant headwind. We cycled about 65 kilometres and then stopped for a late lunch. We were then shuttled around Orsorno which is a large and busy city and not cyclist friendly.

Early into the ride we took a detour so as to sit on a hillside and marvel at the volcanoes, and in particular the Orsono volcano. Chile has 36 active volcanoes. The view did have its price. The detour provided some significantly steep (but mercifully short) climbs.

Orsono volcano

The landscape has changed quite dramatically. This portion of Patagonia was inhabited by German immigrants in the 1800's. These folks cleared the land and established dairy farms that have been in the same families for generations... and so we saw cows.

Cows

Our hotel tonight is on a peninsula that juts into Lago Llanquihue, one of the largest lakes in Chile and Argentina. The backdrop across the lake is the Orsono volcano. We are almost becoming numb to the breathtaking views.