The Latest Adventures

Our first blog was entitled "Let the Adventure Begin." I believe one of the great things about our mission is that we are not restricted in our travel. We don't have a mission area like most missions. Our mission is basically South America. We don't travel too much, but we can move about as we desire and see new things. It is enjoyable to take advantage of that policy once in awhile and spread our wings.

This first one is not much of a trip really, just a visit to our other farm. The one we live on is for the production of olive oil. Farmland Reserve has purchased another piece of property about 30 miles to the south in an area called Alhue. The plan is to clear the land and prepare the ground for a walnut farm. When it is complete, there will be 137,120 walnut trees, give or take a few. The area has been under cultivation for wine grapes and table grapes. All of that had to be cleared away for this different farming application.

Cleared land and a new reservoir 

Some of the table grapes have not been removed yet. That will occur next year. Our friend Felipe invited us to the farm to view the grape harvest, get some grapes and once again be reminded of how hard these good people work to support their families.

We drive past grape farms all the time and I have wanted to walk in under the vines to see what it is like, so this was a treat for me.

Felipe and Barbara under the vine canopy.

I was surprised how much care and labor goes into putting grapes in our US stores. The manager of the grapes talked with us and explained how the harvest takes place and how the grapes are separated for shipment around the world. From this farm grapes are shipped to the US, the UK, Brazil, Mexico and Russia. Different qualities and varieties are sent different places. Only the most select go to the US. When all the exports are filled, the remains are sold to the Chileans.

Some beautiful green grape clusters

Uvas rojas  (Red Grapes)

Let these dry and you will have golden raisens. Great fresh like this.

The workers past up and down these rows many times harvesting the grapes. They are sorted for each country, packed and shipped. From the farm to your grocery store is less than a week. Very labor intensive on this end. I will forever appreciate fresh tasty grapes.

Worker with shipping flats. He/She works all day with their arms above their head.

Felipe, they guy in the second photo with Barbara is the Agronomist for the walnut farm. He is only 25 years old, but for some reason likes to hang around us old people. He even invited us on an Easter week-end trip to southern Chile. He is from a little town on the island of Chiloé. If you google map it, the town is Quellón. It is quite a distance from the farm for just a three day trip, but ROAD TRIP!! Maybe he took such a shine to us because we have a new, economical car.

From here at the farm to his parents house is a 16 hour drive. Fortunately the first day was broken up with a stop in Valdivia.  That is the city where Felipe went to school, his sisters live here and he evidently left his heart here. He loves Valdivia.

The Botanical Garden at his university.

Felipe's sisters as we strolled through the garden.

A favorite fishing hole for a student between classes.

Youth today with phones and crazy pics.

This tree at the first of the trip prophesies our energy by Sunday night.

Later in the day we head to the coast for some typical Chilean seafood. An interesting and popular eatery for the locals.

We were grateful for the no dog sign.

The roof structure covers the eating areas and all around the outside are different eateries you can order from. Felipe wanted us to try some of the seafood along with some Southern Chile empanadas. I must say, these empanadas are better than the ones around our home in Longovilo.

A variety of clams and sausage and chicken all cooked together.

Four legged meat includes lamb, beef, pork and goat.

If you've known me for about 5 minutes or so, you know that I am not a dancer. I went to dances in high school because it was the thing to do, and you got to occasionally hug during a slow dance. Since that time, not so much. But, in the spirit of adventure here in South America I donned my dancing boots and spurs to give the traditional Cueca dance a whirl. I did quite well for being so out of practice.

I am surprised I wasn't invited to perform on the big stage.

The Big Stage

After lunch with his sisters, we said good-bye and continued on south. We still had 7 hours to go before we finished our southward push.

Beautiful scenery as we leave Valdivia

About three hours to the south of Valdivia we come to the end of the mainland and need to ferry across to the island of Chiloé. Once on the island we still need to travel to the farthest town at the southern end. In winter this place is usually raining and rather cold, but we hit some beautiful days and really enjoyed our time with his parents.

Ferry parking.

Time on the ferry.

The sea comes through an inlet near the town of Castro in the middle of the island.

If you need yellow paint in Castro, forget it. The Catholics took it all.

Most of our trip south has been on Ruta 5; at least that is what the Chileans call it. Ruta 5 is the lower section of the Pan-american highway. It starts here on the island and ends in Anchorage, Alaska. This was a neat experience to realize that we have now been at both ends of the long, long road. We were in Alaska when our son, Andy attended school in Anchorage. We have even seen the middle when we had the opportunity to sail under the suspension bridge that crosses the Panama Canal. We got to pass through the canal on a cruise with my sister and her husband just before our mission.

The beginning of the Pan-american highway in Quellón.
This is us and Felipe's parents.

Someone from Alaska may argue about start and end, but. . .

We saw old churches, clam farms and boat building. We had some great conversation with Felipe's parents. Somehow we all got past the language barriers and laughed at the life experiences of life on the island.

Sign says, Our Lady of Thanks.

A clam farm. It was interesting to learn how it is done.

Good old fashioned boat building still goes on with these people of the sea.

If Southern Chile has an Armada, it is definitely fishing boats.

We left the south at 8:30 Sunday morning and started the push home.With traffic problems and old people stops for el baño, we made it home at 12:30 that night; thus the sagging tree. We were glad to be home and grateful for the adventure.