We started
the day with a stop in the town of Vallenar (S102),
on a field next to some building development work. If the form of Copiapoa
coquimbana from this area is C. vallenarensis, then surely these
plants, growing well within the town boundary, deserve this name. They may no
longer be there as clearly, the field would be the next target for the
developers.
Km. 647
along Ruta 5 was our next stop (S103),
again with (taller) Copiapoa coquimbana, Cumulopuntia sphaerica,
Miqueliopuntia miquelii and some Echinopsis (Trichocereus) chiloensis.
With one more
day to go, our mood had changed. Mentally, I'm sure we were all preparing for
our home coming and a return to regular daily routines. We were running very low
on film, so the urge to stay long at stops to take more pictures had gone. This
'end of trip' depression is also reflected in my notes, which are limited to
only a stop number and GPS coordinates recorded for:
S104
off Ruta 5 (The Panamericana)
S105
Quebrada Choros Altos
S106
Quebrada Choros Altos, Chugungo
