As we travelled (slowly) down the coast of Chile, a big date loomed large in the distance. We would soon be celebrating our daughters birthday. Like most parents, we usually try to make the most of such occasions and make it a memorable day. This would be the first such family celebration on the road, and for once that would be much more out of our control than we were used to, or would have wished.
In past years, birthdays have included trips with friends to the cinema, visits to play centers and parties at home. Invitations were prepared, responses were received and many a cake baked. Big presents were often carried, rolled, wheeled or even cycled into the house for the big day. Expectations were set (usually by the younger generation) and duly met (by the obliging adults).
Things were about to change, in many ways.
We started to broach the topic a few weeks in advance. Where were we likely to be on the day? Could we make it as far as X destination or should we slow down our travel plans and only go as far as Y? As we thought and thought, talked and talked, it became clear that we were really just wasting our time and energy. If the previous couple of months had taught us anything, it was that trying to plan things to the nth degree just didn’t work. We simply needed to go with the flow, and life would take care of the rest. Well this is what we hoped would happen anyway.
As we approached the end of the Carretera Austral, we made the decision as a family to continue traveling south in Chile. For this unique country and topography, this meant driving almost until the road ended, then hopping on a 700km boat trip, before continuing further south to Tierra del Fuego and Argentina. The boat in question was a once week service lasting 48 hours, that would would take us through many of the beautiful Patagonian fjords, before arriving in the port town of Puerto Natales.
As the service was only weekly, it would mean that we would spend the first part of the birthday on the boat, before docking that same evening. At first this idea was met with resistance by multiple generations within the campervan. However, the idea was slowly accepted and we proceeded with our long, slow travels towards our rendezvous point with the boat.
Arriving to the boat a few hours before the departure time, we were able to interact with some of the other travelers also making the trip south. We met two biker couples, Brendan and Mari Sol & Bret and Bec. A mixture of the best from Australia and Chile, they would prove to be wonderful companions during our time on the boat, and moreover in Puerto Natales itself. We also met other friendly adventurers from the US, Argentina, UK, Germany and beyond.
The boat itself was nothing fancy, functional in many ways but certainly not the QE2. It contained a small dining room, another long room filled with seats where most of the two daytimes were passed, and a few bathrooms. Not exactly complying with European safety regulations, customers were allowed spend the nights in their vehicles if they so wished. Given the alternative option of sleeping in a slightly reclining chair with about one hundred other travellers, this was an option yours truly was not going to turn his nose up at!
Aside from the incredible scenery out both port and starboard sides, what really left a lasting impression was the warmth and genuine friendliness of the people we met throughout the two days. From the Chilean crew members, to new friends Maribel and Gustavo from Argentina, we met warm, caring people who shared their own stories and took great interest in ours. Our kids were the centre of attention throughout, chatting to people from all over the world and loving every minute of it.
Click here to read the “Big Birthday On The Road Part 2 of 2” blog post
English
Leave a Reply