Decisions ... Decisions .... Decisions....

When travelling, making decisions seems even more of an issue, probably because you don’t get much opportunity to change it if you get it wrong – and there are so many decisions to be made.

Today, as we travel on the Tucan truck, Peggy from Ushuaia to Punto Arenas, we’ve been deciding about the activities we want to do in Torres del Paine National Park – there are several walks to choose from, horse-riding, kayaking around icebergs, boat trip to the glacier….

After an initial great start to the day, weather for most of the day has been overcast, light rain and windy and cold.

Sometimes you really want to wait and make decisions around the weather – but we have opted for kayaking (really hoping I don’t get wet  ….. and how long?  6 hours is a half day!!!  Really??), horse-riding (just a tad concerned about how stiff and sore I might be after 2 or 3 hours of horse riding,  Should I opt for 2 or 3 hours).  And lastly the walks – we have opted for the Torres Walk – full day and challenging!!!! Not sure that I will make it all the way.  MMMM  and the order we do these activities in may impact on my energy and ability to do the others.  Just have to wait and see.

Decision today to wear fur lined boots Lex bought me turned out to be the right one …. Warm feet.  Tick!  Gloves – Tick.  Scarf – Tick.   But should have opted for leggings and singlet too.  Things are in our bags in the bottom of the bus – out of range.  Being from Queensland, I don’t think we have appreciated what it will be like when someone says it will be cold.  Especially when the hotel is heated to such a degree that you can walk around in summery clothes.

Long drive day on the truck today – bus is cool inside, but there are a number of blankets and sleeping bags for people to use.  After we left Ushuaia, the landscape was mostly flat, and very wind-swept.  Plastic bags caught on fence posts or barbed wire flap around horizontally.  It is cold.

We stopped for a border crossing, firstly on the Argentinian side.  Easy – didn’t even have to get out of the truck.  Onto the Chilean side.  Immigration – out of the truck with immigration forms and passports.  Easy.  Then customs – all baggage off the bus, and scanned, while inside the truck was searched.  Then back on the truck while all compartments under the truck were searched.  Took a bit of time, but all went smoothly. 

Next stop, lunch: a reduced menu due to restrictions on taking fresh food across the border.  Richie, our driver,  is a marvel with wraps … pan fried in a little olive oil, and equally delicious with tuna, mayo, corn, palm hearts and olives, or dulce de leche.  Being warm made all the difference. Thanks Richie!  

On to the ferry – across the Magellan Strait.  Made it to the ferry crossing in good time, no delay.  Getting out of the truck didn’t seem possible, which worked out in our favour.  We managed to see some black and white dolphins from our vantage point without getting out into the wet, blustery conditions.  Times like these we appreciate the height of Peggy!

Next stop will be Punto Arenas – and next decision will be what to eat for dinner.  I’m thinking lamb….

Punto Arenas apparently has a duty free shopping area – was looking forward to having a look around, but our day there will be Sunday.   Possibly not even any supermarkets open for those little extras to take camping.  Oh well – that’s a few less decisions to be made.  Wish us luck.