November 30, 2024

This morning, we set off from Coyhaique and rode 98 km on paved or cobblestone roads to reach Villa Cerro Castillo.

It was our first day of cycling with fantastic sunshine. However, we were joined by a new atmospheric companion: the wind.

Not just any wind—a strong wind that sometimes pushes you from behind, almost unnoticed; a crosswind that makes you wobble; and a headwind that introduces you to a new dimension of suffering, exhausting both body and mind.

Today’s wind was intense, with gusts so powerful they seemed to pierce the skin and somehow flow through the body, a stream of air moving to the rhythm of its surges.

The sight of mountains and glaciers was another new highlight. We’d seen some before, but today the mountainous panorama accompanied us for the entire 94 km. The striking contrast between the white of the glaciers, the green and brown mineral hues of the rocks, and the deep green vegetation—made dazzling by the sun’s clear light—gently filled our eyes. These vivid images of nature’s immense power will remain imprinted in our minds.

Today, we passed the 700 km mark on the Carretera Austral (Ruta 7).

We arrived in a small village of about 300 residents, Villa Cerro Castillo, surrounded by mountains. Cerro Castillo is a jagged rocky peak located in the Aysén region, within the Cerro Castillo National Park. “Castillo” means castle in Spanish, and the mountain’s steep basalt walls make it look like one.

Tomorrow will be a challenging day, with a route almost entirely on ripio.