It was Sunday and Rudolf took those that were interested to some locations inland from Taltal. Last year, we had tried to find the newly described Copiapoa aphanes, but had failed to find any plants in flower. Rudolf and Ricardo had succeeded earlier that year and we were keen to see the plants too. Bart & Marijke and I were pleased to see that Rudolf took us to exactly the same place (S571) where we had searched for the plants in 2006. This time Rudolf took us up the steeper hillsides and there, between the rocks, grew plants that certainly looked like C. taltalensis, just as we had found near by last year. So how did Rudolf know that these were the plants described as C. aphanes? From details provided in the original description, with the herbarium specimen and by Paul Hoxey, Rudolf, Ricardo and Ingrid had managed to narrow down the area where these plants were said to occur. The authors of its description compare it to C. grandiflora and observe the differences, rather than comparing it to C. rupestris (now regarded as a synonym of C. taltalensis) that occurs near by and is practically indistinguishable from the new taxon.  They collected a few specimens and brought them into flower in cultivation in Chile. The plants displayed the same flower colour variance that is reported for the new taxon. We took many photos, both of plants and of their habitat environment landscape that confirm their findings, published in Rudolf's 'Copiapoa 2006' book (page 92).

Next, Rudolf wanted to show us Eriosyce occulta that also grows on these hills. Despite some concentrated searching, we were unable to find any of these plants, but as said before, these were very dry times and it was likely that the plants were even more hidden than usual. With some confidence, I predicted that Bart and I would find them lower down the hill, where we found them in some number in 2006. Bart's GPS sill had the co-ordinates loaded, so it took only minutes before we were standing at the right spot where in minutes we had moved sufficient stones to reveal just three plants. They were certainly better hidden this year, when it was difficult not to stand on them while we took our pictures!  

While we were photographing the E. occulta, Cliff accidentally kicked over a dead C. columna-alba stem to reveal a small snake inside. The cameras briefly stopped clicking as their owners focussed on the new point of interest. I got some nice shots, in the certain knowledge that back home, I could crop the image to produce an image of the baby snake that would fill the screen of the digital projector - large enough to impress the audience with our fearless adventures. Rudolf then picked up the tiny critter and we were able to photograph it in his hand, to get shots that are sure to get some 'Ooohs' from the audience.

From the hill top, we had seen a valley full of black spots in the distance: Copiapoa cinerea, or were they ssp. columna-alba? Or transitional forms? This was to be our next stop (S681) and it was a marvellous cactus photo opportunity. Yesterday's cactus photo opportunity drought was over!

That night, as a number of Copiapoathoners were again enjoying dinner at Club Taltal, where we had practically taken over one side of the restaurant, when another party of Chileans and Europeans entered and took up seats at the opposite side of the restaurant. I was aware that a group of Belgians and a group of Austrians were also on cactus trips in the area, but did not recognise any of the faces. It was not until the end of the evening when one of the other party came over and asked 'Is Paul Klaassen here? I'm Fred Kattermann.' I had met Fred briefly at a BCSS Convention, years ago. So who were his fellow travellers? Helmut Walter, Wendelin Maechler with other Swiss friends. The Chileans were members of the National Agricultural Research Institute of Chile (INIA) that has been working with RBG Kew since 2001 to seed bank the precious flora of Chile’s desert and mediterranean regions. Quite a group! We were especially pleased to meet Fred, as a number of us carried his Eriosyce book in our luggage to help them in the identification of plants that we saw. We were a bit more cautious with Helmut and Wendelin, following our visit to the C. aphanes location that day. Fred and his party made their excuses as they were about to go on their guided tour of Club Taltal.