To leave Isla Grande we have to cross the Strait of Magellan and therefore we go to Porvenir. The border crossing goes surprisingly smoothly, even on Monday morning. For a moment we think something goes wrong when the zealous customs officer finds out that the vehicle is registered in Namibia, but that is because he cannot immediately find Namibia in his drop-down list. We drive kilometers along the Bahia Inutil, a shallow bay, and thus unsuitable for making a port. At noon we reach the port in Porvenir but on Monday there is no ferry. Porvenir is truly magnificent in the evening sun. We visit the local attractions and discover a lagoon with red coral and a museum. We see for the first time a board that gives instructions how to escape when there is a tsunami alert. The next day, ready to board the ferry, we are informed that it is cancelled because of the strong wind. In the evening it is a little better and we leave at 19.00. The crossing is terrible, the wind blows incredibly hard and we fear that the ship will break in half every time a big wave crashes against the bow. The trip lasts two hours and for the first time Michel sees that Rose is a little scared on a boat, however, we do not get seasick and the tsjolbak remains dry on the deck. The cars that are close to the doors get a lot of sea water over them. Punta Arenas is the largest city with a tax-free zone and we look for a new home battery. But as usual, we do not find what we are looking in the tax-free zone. Luckily we get an address from a company that specializes in solar energy. However, it is closed till Monday. To pass the weekend we head back south along the coast and a bit hesitantly buy a frozen salmon, caught in Antarctica. The end of the road is the extreme southern tip of the American continent and Rose does a nice walk to the lighthouse. The road runs along the Strait of Magellan, dolphins jump out of the water. In the bay whales are swimming at 500 meters from the parking place, the sea is as flat as a lake. The view of the islands is impressive, there is daylight up to 23h00 and the salmon tastes exquisitely. The next morning there is wind and rain and the visibility is zero. On Monday a storm rages over the city, we have an appointment in the Toyota garage to replace the motor belts and while they are being replaced we go to Batterias Gallegos. We buy an AGM battery and the installation is a piece of cake. In the afternoon the car is ready, the battery is integrated into the system and we can move on. On a campsite ten kilometers further there are hot showers. It is still too cold outside for aperitif or cooking. The drive to Puerto Natales, a busy town as it is the base for visiting the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, goes against the wind and sometimes we are worried, the tsjolbak is swaying in the wind. In the harbour we check our reservation for the next ferry and find a quiet place outside the city along the waterfront near an abandoned lodge. A night without wind and with free wifi makes us cheerful. The next morning we go to buy food for five days and leave for the National Park Torres del Paine, with side wind of 90km per hour. On our way, Roos visits the Cueva (Cave) of Milodon, where they found the remains of a huge animal that lived in this region 10,000 years ago. As we approach the park we get a magnificent view of the snow-covered peaks and the gorgeous super-blue lakes. The campsite at the entrance is has all the comfort, we have a kind of gazebo without front to protect us from the wind, there is electricity, there are clean toilets and hot showers. It is less cold because the glaciers are further away. The next day, the temperature rises to 27 °C. Outside it is warmer than inside, something we have not experienced in two months. Roos does some laundry and Michel does some minor repairs that had been postponed because of the cold and the Cobb gets a firm scrubbing. In the afternoon Rose goes hiking, Michel still has to rest because of his feet and after a morning of hopping around to clean he also gets back pain in the back. Torres del Paine is one of the most beautiful national parks in Chile: 229 000 hectares of steppe, forests, mountains, lakes, waterfalls and glaciers. The name comes from the sharp peaks pointing upwards like towers. The winds, storms and cold nights are the extras we get. The park is very popular with hikers, who can make trips from 4 to 12 days. Despite the exorbitant prices, € 13 for two coffees and a camping cost of € 15 per person, there are lots of tourists everywhere. The roads in the park are poorly maintained and often we drive on bumpy gravel, full of potholes and ditches. The three Cuernos (horns) del Paine constantly change their view. Roos does hikes, one mountain trip she will never forget, because once at the top the wind blows so hard that she cannot stand up any more, sitting she shifts to a slightly lower position. There she can stand up to start the descent. A perilous experience! We both get enough of the stormy winds and rain and return to the campsite at the entrance where it is quiet and comfortable. We drive through the park back to Puerto Natales and enjoy one last time the awesome views. As farewell to the park we lunch in style on the beach of Laguna Amarga. As we cooked very much inside because of the cold outside, our gas cylinder needs to be filled before we take the ferry to Yungay. We will sail 41 hours among mountains and glaciers and end up 400 km further north.
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