Home » Chile » Valderi, Valdera...some people call it a higher plain

I could just about crack it for a few bars of “The Happy Wanderer” Is it just the lack of oxygen? I don’t think so, there must be something more….but everyone is so cheerful! Along the road the road workers grin and wave, a gaucho herding some horses along the river bank waves his hat, I almost expect him to pull out a colt 45 and fire a few shots into the air, backpackers waiting patiently by the road wave and smile, call out greetings, cyclists nod or wave, depending if they’re on the ascent or descent, at every stop along the way people wave and smile…it goes on and on…<br /><br />

Valderi, Valdera...some people call it a higher plain

Bill Shum
2006-03-24 21:16:36

Displayed times (last time: )

I could just about crack it for a few bars of “The Happy Wanderer” Is it just the lack of oxygen? I don’t think so, there must be something more….but everyone is so cheerful! Along the road the road workers grin and wave, a gaucho herding some horses along the river bank waves his hat, I almost expect him to pull out a colt 45 and fire a few shots into the air, backpackers waiting patiently by the road wave and smile, call out greetings, cyclists nod or wave, depending if they’re on the ascent or descent, at every stop along the way people wave and smile…it goes on and on…

We decided to Puc off and head for Pucon, just a short trip, couple of hundred kms but the most amazing scenery again. Firstly, out of Junin across the higher plain, winding thru’ the hills, sparse coverage of stubbly pampas grass and craggy outcrops of rock poking thru’ the tops of the hills. Then dirt road and cutting thru’ the hills following another of these swiftly flowing, icy-cold rivers, willow lined banks, patches of foaming rapids.

Around a bend and a massive white cone-head appears on the horizon, you really know from my bedroom window (almost)when you are in volcan territory. Gradually we get closer, its looming up, dominating the horizon. 3,746m Volcan Lanin. Eventually we get to the frontier to Chile, a quaint little alpine structure on both sides and this mighty mountain right there.

Down into Chile, dirt road winds down thru’ forest now and everything coated in the same fine dust, it gets into everything, the visor and face part on my helmet can hardly function, eyes full of grit, bike shaking and rattling, the right hand indicator hangs off when the nut shakes loose, but then into Pucon.

Another exquisitely, chocolately, swissly, alpine tourist junk mecca. The town is dominated by the huge Volcan Villarrica 2,847m and a huge lake complete with yachts, power boats, ferries etc, how much can you fit into one town? ...