Adventure Starts

We began riding today after an over-night train ride from Santiago to Temuco in an old fashioned sleeper car.  An attendant came in around 9pm and converted our bench seats into upper- and lower-bunks.  As expected, I don't quite fit in the bed, but I'm tired from the days of travel and excitement that it doesn't much matter.  We brought a few beers on board with us, but ended up going to sleep soon after our beds are converted.  The gentle shaking and swaying of the train kept me asleep until we pulled into Temuco this morning.

Tony likes to warm up before biking with a bit of hacky-sacking.  I'm not good, but I can make do.  It feels silly to get our bags all packed up, bike clothes on and then kick around a footbag for ten minutes before going anywhere.  But it is a good warm-up, and helps remind me that we're not here just to go places, but to enjoy where we are.

We were determined to get out of the city-center before traffic got bad, we headed out with expectations of finding breakfast and white-gas for our cook stoves in the next town.  Found the first, but not the second.  All the farmacias pointed us back to Temuco.  So, Tony offered to leave his bags with me and make the quick ride there and back.  In the meantime, I was subjected to a drive-by, high-volume broadcast of Spanish love songs.

Speaking in Spanish is difficult for two reasons: I'm terrible and Tony is fluent.  Searching for white gas meant Tony holding conversations while I stood there, mute.  While Tony was riding back to Temuco, I was determined to work on my Spanish.  After memorizing the phrase and practicing to myself a dozen time, I went into the store and bought a coffee and snack.  So far, so good!