TORRES del PAINE National Park, Chile. . . . . . Part I

Puerto Natales, Chile

Torres del Paine National Park

March 13, 2018

Temp. Range 40-51F 

Showers possible all day

By 8:30 am we were in Zodiacs being transported ashore to Puerto Natales.

Three clean and comfy buses were awaiting to take us on the 1.5 hour 

drive through the Chilean countryside to the Torres del Paine National Park.

Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978, it was voted the 8th wonder of

the world in 2014 by people from all over the world!

This park, in Chile’s Patagonia region, is known for its soaring mountains, 

bright blue icebergs and ice floes that cleave from many glaciers, and golden

 pampas (grasslands) that shelter rare wildlife such as llama-like guanacos. 

Lake Grey, the Grey Glacier visible left of photo.

Our stop for lunch was at Hosteria Grey, an attractive tourist complex on

 Lake Grey with magnificent views from the restaurant. The property is

 surrounded by forests of lenga and coigue hardwood trees serving as

a refuge for the south Andean deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus), also known

as the southern guemal, an endangered species native to the mountains of 

Argentina and Chile.

Lake Grey with blue ice floe and the Grey Glacier. . . . . light rain falling.

A small iceberg.

Wish we'd had time to kayak there.

Following the tasty lunch, we moved on to the central area of the park consisting

 of the alpine massif with three imposing granite 'Torres' or towers that reach

 over 10,000 feet, together with several lesser 'Cuernos' or horns which are formed

 of black shale.

It was quite cloudy with light rain, however we did get quite good views of this

 spectacular landscape. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . here's a photo to whet your appetite - next time in Part II I'll show you much more!

Saturday blooms. . . . . . . .

I cut these for the kitchen window yesterday afternoon after a long wait

 for blooming - everything seems a bit behind due to the crazy

 up and down weather pattern.

After tonight I think the chance of a frosty night will be over - birds will be 

nesting, flowers opening, and I will be on my way to the garden center 

for new Boston ferns for my porch hanging baskets. Hopefully the oak 

pollen will soon end and preparing the deck and gazebo for some outdoor

evening dining can get underway.

Have a great weekend dear friends.

Passage through the Kirke Narrows, Chile

Kirke Passage, Chile
March 12, 2018
51F Cloudy Skies and Showers

Sailing on through the Chilean fjords, channels and narrows 

(more history of this area HERE if interested) and another spectacular day on the water.

Heading for Puerto Natales, capital city of both the community and province

 of 'Ultima Esperanza' (Last Hope), it was named by the sailor Juan Ladrilleros

 who was seeking the Strait of Magellan in 1557. It was his "last hope" to find the

 Strait after exploring the maze of channels between the Pacific and the mainland.

It was not until three centuries later, in 1830 that the next major expedition sailed 

through the fjords. . . . . that of the British expedition of the HMS Beagle.

A second voyage of the HMS Beagle (1831-1836) is well-remembered for 

the most famous crew member - Charles Darwin.

Rather dreary but still awesome scenery on awakening.

 No breakfast served on the sundeck this morning!

A mostly a rainy morning.

Checking the mist-shrouded Narrows ahead - new UK friends Bruce and Jill - two of the most fun passengers on the ship! 

Weather issues never phased them - guess it was like being back in rainy England!

 The Kirke Narrows was actually the narrowest passage of our voyage. 

Fringed by rocky headlands and shallow banks, if offered only a width of

 about 65 ft. therefore we had to transit at slack water during daylight hours

 to be safe. Expedition navigation at its best!

Slack water, also known as 'the stand of the tide', is a short period in a body of tidal water when the water is completely unstressed, and there is no movement either way in the tidal stream, and which occurs before the direction of the tidal stream reverses.

~ via Wikipedia ~

Expedition team members headed out in Zodiacs to test the water and report back when 

'slack water' condition arrived and the Captain could sail through the Narrows.

 We made it through safely. . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . .and sailed for the evening anchorage at Puerto Natales, our port for

 the next day excursion to one of Chile's most attractive national parks,

 Torres del Paine.