Fresh salmon

Yesterday Carol, Ned and I walked across the spit to the blue house in the picture below to buy some salmon. The gentleman walked us over to the opposite shore and picked up the salmon that was caught in his net, a 2 pounder. He took it up to his shed and filleted it for us. It cost 5000 pesos or $8 dollars US. These salmon are escapees from one of the many salmon farms in the area.

Rich took our half, divided it into 2 meal sizes, vacumn packed it and added it to our freezer.

Can't get any fresher than that.

Getting back into cruising mode

Colorful church in Castro

Ned and Carol of SV Frannie B



Windarra at Marina Quinched



My birthday sickle

We have been preparing Windarra and ourselves to do a little cruising in the northern canals of Chile before returning to Puerto Montt in April. The preparation has included getting rides into Castro and Chonchi with William, who owns Marina Quinched. We had some laundry done in Castro as the weather has not been conducive to drying everything on the life lines. There we visited the Unimarc, as well as Market Brujula, the fresh vegetable tienda and the carniceria, where Rich was able to buy some fresh lamb. A trip into Chonchi allowed us to fill some jerry jugs with diesel and check out the grocery store there as well. We think we have enough supplies for at least a month.

 

Last night we had Ned and Carol of SV Frannie B over for dinner. Rich made a great lamb curry for my birthday. Carol brought over some 'black bottom cupcakes'. They also gave me a very sharp sickle for my birthday and they explained that this is a very useful tool for cutting kelp off the chain and anchor. In the picture above, it still has some protecting tape and paper on it so I did not cut myself when opening the package. Not sure if I am looking forward to doing this but now I will have a good tool for the job.

 

Windarra will be off 'the grid' for a while so please use the sailmail address to get ahold of us. Not to worry as we may not be able to respond right away depending on the reception of our HF radio. We are looking forward to exploring and getting away from the dock. Life is very easy at the dock and William is a great host but it is time to move on. 

Chonchi church

Another church on Isla Chiloe, in the town of Chonchi.

Back on Windarra

We returned safely to Windarra on Tuesday, March 4, with uneventful flights to Santiago and Puerto Montt, the bus to Castro and the taxi to Marina Quinched.

We moved Windarra to the dock so we can fill the water tanks, charge up the batteries, provision, check out the systems and prepare to do some cruising in the canals. Our friends, Ned and Carol of SV Frannie B are also here at Marina Quinched. The last time we saw them was for lunch in Seattle in 2013 so we have a lot of catching up to do. They have done some cruising in this area and last night they were over for drinks and they brought their charts to show us where they have been and where we might want to explore.

No sure when we will leave the dock but when we do we will be in more remote areas which means no internet, no cell phone but only sailmail and HF radio for communication.

Rich and I are looking forward to seeing some glaciers and wilderness areas. It will be a switch from the bug cities of Philadelphia, Santiago and Buenos Aires. I think we have had enough travel on airplanes as well.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Inside the Galleria Pacifico shopping mall, definitely upscale

South American version of Big Ben built by the British. The Argentinians built a monument to the fallen of the 'Falklands War' just opposite.

This is the Cathedral that Pope Francis served in Buenos Aires

Repairing the mosaic floor of the cathedral, tile by tile

Camanito street, the birthplace of the Tango. It is said that the buildings are painted using paint left over from the ships. I can't say that I have seen many ships in these colors

Staircase and elevators on the RSS Mariner, the cruise ship

Nancy & Doug invited us on their cruise ship for dinner

View of Buenos Aires from their cabin at sunset

Teatre Colon, the famous Buenos Aires opera house



Check out the tourists

A little side trip, Buenos Aires

34 35.817 S, 58 22,448 S

Some of you might be wondering where we are. Recently we were in Chile, then Philadelphia, then Santiago, then back at Windarra. Well, now we are in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Our good friends, Doug and Nancy, have been enjoying a cruise from Lima, through Chile, the Falkand Islands to Buenos Aires. Originally we were going to meet them along the way in Chile. Rich and I thought it over and decided to also meet them in Buenos Aires when they arrive, spend some time with them before they head off to Mendoza for some wine tasting and then back to Bainbridge Island. This was planned back in January. We missed meeting in Chile but here we are in Argentina.

We arrived early Thursday morning via bus from Castro, a stop in Puerto Montt to deliver some boat parts to Margie and Chris of SV Storm Bay of Hobart and then flights to Santiago and Buenos Aires.

It is now Sunday afternoon and we have enjoyed a wonder dinner and drinks on a their cruise shop, tours of the city, shopping for tango shoes, a tour of the famous Teatre Colon opera house, a tango show as well as fun meals at sidewalk cafes and interesting restaurants.

This is a group selfie in front of the Obelisk. Can you tell we are having fun?

At Marina Quinched

We are back at Marina Quinched. Don and Rita of SV Limbo gave us a ride to Windarra, as she is on a mooring (you can see her on the other side of the Amel ketch.

On the way back we stopped at a grocery store in Castro for some fresh items. Today is laundry day. There is a self serve washer but no dryer so we will turn the boat into a clothes line.