[April 2024] The first week before school started in February, I flew to Castro, Chiloe to complete a 5 day hike by myself in Parque Tantauco, on the southern tip of the island. Since I was by myself and there were only a couple of people on the trail, I was able to read and relax a lot. I had a great time! The park is owned by ex Chilean President Pinera, who happened to be in the park while I was there, so I met him at the end of my hike (with no one else around). I didn’t know who he was until he left the room. When he left me, he walked out the door and got in his helicopter and flew away. I spent the night at the guesthouse with two of his children and a handful of grandchildren. The next day, President Pinera (tragically) died in an accident in his helicopter!
In early March I did a week long rafting expedition with students on the Maule River. At the end of March Robyn and I spent a long Easter weekend exploring the upper Maule River, which is in the Mountains.
Palafitos in Castro.Inside the cabins on the transversal route of Parque Tantauco.Palafitos of Castro Chiloe.Stars while camping at Parquen Andino Juncal.Setting up the home office at a local restaurant during an extended power outage at home.Hiking in Parque Tantauco in Chiloe.Ex-president of Chile Sebastian Pinera taking off in his helicopter, moments after I met him.Brewing in the apartment.The town of Castro on the island of Chiloe – famous for it’s palafitos (houses on stilts).Pub crawl downtown with friends.My room over the water in a palafito in Castro.My 54th birthday!A cabin along the trail in Parque Tantaoco.View from the campsite in Parque Andino Juncal – you can see the white capped 7000m+ Cerro Aconcagua on the horizon.Famous mobile shaped Movistar building downtown Santiago.The palifitos of Castro in Chilloe.Our campground in upper Maule.Camping by the River Maule with students on a Week Without Walls week long rafting trip.Costumes for our Book Group meeting for ‘Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter’.Parque Tantauco.Weekend walk around Santiago.The view from our balcony in our new apartment – we love it.Week Without Walls trip with students on the River Maule.Overnight hiking and camping with friends in Parque Andino Juncal.The hike in Parque Tantauco was well marked by signs telling you exactly how many kms you were along the trail.Games and camping with friends a couple hours from Santiago.A weekend at the beach close to Santiago.Upper Maule.Robyn has a swim workout most weekends.The cabins in Parque Tantauco.Justin on breakfast in Parque Andino Juncal.Visiting Pablo Neruda’s house and grave at Isla Negra.Reading on a week long rafting trip with students.Our camping set up.Hitching a ride to Parque Tantaoco.Relaxing by myself next to a cabin in Parque Tantauco.Parque Tantauco.Running in the hills above school.
