We
were now on 'bonus time'. Originally, we were due to fly out of Chile
today, at 7:30 in the morning, but were told that the flight had been
cancelled and that no alternative flight would be available until
Monday morning. Ricardo had been very helpful in arranging for us to
meet up with another couple, members of the Chilean Cactus Society who
had a weekend retreat in Pichidangui - Juan Carlos and Isabel Johow. I
battled with a phone box and Spanish instructions and got through to
them, but only briefly, before my one and only 100 pesos coin ran out.
It
transpired that they lived a few hundred meters past the Cabañas Del
Bosque, where the Fray Jorge Campers had spent the night this time. At
their home, we also met their friends Roland Möller-Holtkamp and his
wife Inga and fortunately all spoke excellent English! We were shown
around their garden with lots of cacti and other succulents planted
out and seemingly perfectly happy to enjoy the Mediterranean type
climate. From their terrace, we had a wonderful view over the Bahia de
Pichidangui, with the small village (only 900 inhabitants according to
my tourist guide), nestled along the peninsula to the south. I'm sure
that the number of inhabitants increase greatly during the summer
months when holiday makers must double this number.
We
were taken on a guided nature walk, over the beach to a steep cliff
(S213) - the sort of place that we had been looking for during the
previous day, but had been unable to access due to housing
development. Juan Carlos greatly impressed us with his knowledge of
the local fauna and flora, pointing out details that we would most
certainly have over looked. Most of the cactus taxa seen the previous
day at Pichidangui were represented, but in addition, Juan Carlos
pointed out the bromeliads, with Puya venusta in bud as one of
the earliest indications that Spring was on its way (and for those of
us due to return to England shortly, a reminder that the days would be
getting shorter again).
Next,
we all went back past Hotel Kon-Tiki, to where we had already been the
previous day (S210 =
S214), but this time with added information from
our guides.
So
what was there to see at the southern end of the village, beyond the
peninsula? Our convoy of four cars zigzagged through the streets of
Pichidangui, turned onto a bumpy track and eventually arrived at the
ocean front (S215), and a short walk over a nearly-dry gully and up a
low hillside (S216). Most of us had expected that photo opportunities
would be minimal during our last few days and deals were done for
spare films with those who had been more careful in their planning or
had digital cameras to overcome this problem. The highlight for me was
a huge rock, close to the ocean, that must have had several hundred
Eriosyce subgibbosa growing on it.
Back
at their home, we were treated to food and drink - great Chilean
hospitality! but soon it was time to go, as we still had to drive
south to Olmué, where Ricardo had arranged accommodation for us at
Cabanas, near to his home. On the way, we dropped Finn off at the bus
station, from where he could get to Valparaiso, as he had promised to
stay with some friends there. Each time the good byes were said, the
realisation that our wonderful time would soon come to an end became
stronger.
