Jan 13, 2019

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Atypically, I did something smart.

Instead of dashing off instantly on a (potentially) 4 week cycling trip as soon as I got the bike … I took a test drive day instead.

There’s a super popular cycling route Puerto Varas to Petrohue. along Llanquihue, the second largest lake in Chile.

It’s a dedicated cycling lane on good pavement.

I rode out to Venado Beach. And back.

That was enough to know I loved the rental bike. 🙂

On my return I realized I’d left two items on the Lifeguard stand base at the beach. So I turned around and cycled back to the beach. That added another 2 1/2 hours to my test drive.

One item was there. But somebody had picked up my expensive Apple EarPod chicklet case. It’s useless to them without the EarPods. And my EarPods are now useless to me.

I’m forced back to headphones with wires. 😠

I stopped back at my rental agency Austral Bikes in Puerto Varas.

Happy to meet Diana who had answered in English clearly explaining costs and details. She was by far best online of any of the companies I had contacted.

Cost was US$445 for 4 weeks. In addition I’ll pay for boxing and shipping the bike back to PV end-of-trip. That might cost another $40. If I don’t use all the days they’ll credit me 50% / day back.

I’m very happy with the rental bike her son Juan Pablo provided. It’s a brand new Silverback with 26 inch wheels, recommended for the gravel roads yet to come. Basic. Durable. Hopefully reliable.

The Carretera Austral runs about 1,240 kilometers (770 mi) from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins through (sparsely populated) rural Patagonia. …

This area is characterized by thick forests, fjords, glaciers, canals and steep mountains. …

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