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11th Jan 2017: Thermal baths near Entre Lagos
Days 25-26
Again, we continued our long hot drive south through Chile, passing miles and miles of vineyards covering vast plains. It was too hot to contemplate wine tasting so we drove on, passing the classic cones of snow capped volcanoes as the landscape became greener and more picturesque.
At the end of a long day driving, we found a tiny, pretty campsite right on the banks of Lago Puyehue in a small town called Entre Lagos.
It was heaven! The lake water was pure and cool, the skies blue and the welcome cool air breezed around us. Neil was swimming in seconds!
Soon after we’d set up camp, a big Swiss campervan pulled up next to us. They’d shipped it over from a German port and had been travelling for nearly a year throughout the USA, Canada and now S America. They were such a relaxed, happy couple that we quickly became friends and exchanged addresses.
Entre Lagos was quite a simple town with small wooden houses built like Swiss huts and houses, many quite dilapidated. The supermarket offered just the simple basics and half the fruit was well past it’s best. Even though it was a tourist destination, there was no tat here. It was quiet and lovely.
The owner of the campsite was a jovial little man chatting to everyone. A camper next to us fished all day and barbecued his catch on his camp fire at night, quietly playing folk songs on his guitar .
The next morning Neil worked, finishing the marking for his Exeter MSc students. He’d grabbed free time occasionally to do some marking so felt great it was complete. I’d enjoyed the free time to do various tasks and write this blog.
We’d decided to visit the nearby thermal baths so set off driving along the perimeter of the pretty lake. It was just like travelling through Switzerland, with cows grazing in green pastures, tiny farms in the hills and mountains rising up around us, reflecting their majesty in the still waters.
At the baths we found a great little picnic spot under some trees, then paid our fee to enter the thermal pool. It was about half full of people soaking up the hot waters of the pool or lying on the cool tiles surrounding it. The water was too hot to stay in too long so we could lie on the tiles and let the cool rain drain away the heat. Driving home we felt relaxed and refreshed.
That evening, our new Swiss friends joined us for a meal in a quaint Swiss restaurant. We all had such stories to share and we had a great evening. I’m sure we’ll meet up again in Europe.
13th Jan 2017: Bariloche
Day 27
Having said our farewells to our new friends, we headed east back towards Argentina, crossing at the busy border crossing at El Rincon. We queued for almost two hours, but weren’t searched for fresh produce which we had hidden. Cars coming into Chile from Argentina had an 18 hour wait as Chile has very strict border controls. The 2 countries don’t get on.
We arrived late afternoon at Bariloche, a very trendy lakeside resort used as a base for all sorts of outdoor activities year round, but mostly mountaineering and skiing. It was full of wealthy tourists from Buenos Aires and other major cities, but the architecture followed the Swiss theme. It was very pretty and very, very windy. We enjoyed afternoon tea there, but decided to camp further down the road.
We joined the famed Ruta 40 which runs the length of Argentina and drove a little way south until we found a small track leading a quiet lakeside camp ground. The track seemed to rumble on forever over rocks and loose stones, but it was worth it. The campsite was almost deserted and again we parked right next to the lake where a lone fisherman stood in his waders fly fishing.
We went for an evening stroll before supper and found 2 bikes, with 2 tents and 2 young Englishmen! They’d just finished cycling the Carreterra Austral and were heading north. They couldn’t believe their luck when we offered them a gin and tonic! They were such good mates, having met at Liverpool university. One was returning soon to the UK and his girlfriend and the other to a new job with a cycling adventure company being set up in Cuba.
We bid our farewells and when we woke in the morning, they were long gone.
South America 
11th Jan 2017: Thermal baths near Entre Lagos
Days 25-26
Again, we continued our long hot drive south through Chile, passing miles and miles of vineyards covering vast plains. It was too hot to contemplate wine tasting so we drove on, passing the classic cones of snow capped volcanoes as the landscape became greener and more picturesque.
At the end of a long day driving, we found a tiny, pretty campsite right on the banks of Lago Puyehue in a small town called Entre Lagos.
It was heaven! The lake water was pure and cool, the skies blue and the welcome cool air breezed around us. Neil was swimming in seconds!
Soon after we’d set up camp, a big Swiss campervan pulled up next to us. They’d shipped it over from a German port and had been travelling for nearly a year throughout the USA, Canada and now S America. They were such a relaxed, happy couple that we quickly became friends and exchanged addresses.
Entre Lagos was quite a simple town with small wooden houses built like Swiss huts and houses, many quite dilapidated. The supermarket offered just the simple basics and half the fruit was well past it’s best. Even though it was a tourist destination, there was no tat here. It was quiet and lovely.
The owner of the campsite was a jovial little man chatting to everyone. A camper next to us fished all day and barbecued his catch on his camp fire at night, quietly playing folk songs on his guitar .
The next morning Neil worked, finishing the marking for his Exeter MSc students. He’d grabbed free time occasionally to do some marking so felt great it was complete. I’d enjoyed the free time to do various tasks and write this blog.
We’d decided to visit the nearby thermal baths so set off driving along the perimeter of the pretty lake. It was just like travelling through Switzerland, with cows grazing in green pastures, tiny farms in the hills and mountains rising up around us, reflecting their majesty in the still waters.
At the baths we found a great little picnic spot under some trees, then paid our fee to enter the thermal pool. It was about half full of people soaking up the hot waters of the pool or lying on the cool tiles surrounding it. The water was too hot to stay in too long so we could lie on the tiles and let the cool rain drain away the heat. Driving home we felt relaxed and refreshed.
That evening, our new Swiss friends joined us for a meal in a quaint Swiss restaurant. We all had such stories to share and we had a great evening. I’m sure we’ll meet up again in Europe.
13th Jan 2017: Bariloche
Day 27
Having said our farewells to our new friends, we headed east back towards Argentina, crossing at the busy border crossing at El Rincon. We queued for almost two hours, but weren’t searched for fresh produce which we had hidden. Cars coming into Chile from Argentina had an 18 hour wait as Chile has very strict border controls. The 2 countries don’t get on.
We arrived late afternoon at Bariloche, a very trendy lakeside resort used as a base for all sorts of outdoor activities year round, but mostly mountaineering and skiing. It was full of wealthy tourists from Buenos Aires and other major cities, but the architecture followed the Swiss theme. It was very pretty and very, very windy. We enjoyed afternoon tea there, but decided to camp further down the road.
We joined the famed Ruta 40 which runs the length of Argentina and drove a little way south until we found a small track leading a quiet lakeside camp ground. The track seemed to rumble on forever over rocks and loose stones, but it was worth it. The campsite was almost deserted and again we parked right next to the lake where a lone fisherman stood in his waders fly fishing.
We went for an evening stroll before supper and found 2 bikes, with 2 tents and 2 young Englishmen! They’d just finished cycling the Carreterra Austral and were heading north. They couldn’t believe their luck when we offered them a gin and tonic! They were such good mates, having met at Liverpool university. One was returning soon to the UK and his girlfriend and the other to a new job with a cycling adventure company being set up in Cuba.
We bid our farewells and when we woke in the morning, they were long gone.
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