Our three vehicles were waiting to drive us to our hotel in Puerto Natales, on Last Hope Sound for a Farewell Dinner.

“ex-Marine” and I were riding in the third vehicle with an extremely macho driver. We got to an over-flowing stream crossing. There had been a lot of rain the previous night…what a surprise! (Note the sarcasm.) The first two cars took the high ground around it, but our driver tried to barrel through the river.
The engine died…water started gushing in…and there we were…trying to climb out of the windows on top of the vehicle…. View image….

…while the group stood there in disbelief!

After being winched out of the river by one of the other drivers, we set out again. It is an extremely long drive to Puerto Natales. With our destination only two hours away the driver shouted, “everyone get out of the car…NOW!” The engine blew and smoke started streaming into the car. You’ve never seen people exit a mini-van faster in your life, and what do we do now? First we walk along the road while the drivers mull over their options …..

The decision? We – five persons – have to be shoe-horned into the remaining two vehicles (three in one and two in the other)…and all gear transferred. Those riders were not at all happy about this!

Set off once more, five of us smooshed in the front seat, with me on husband’s lap for the remaining two hours. Cramped, crabby, miserable, and disgusted – a few choice words that describe the situation. Then perpertually cheery “ex-Nun” Sarah piped up with, “Oh look at that beautiful Condor”….”ex-Marine” shouts out….”I don’t give a *#*# about the *#*# Condor.” With that, there’s dead silence and no one mutters a word until Puerto Natales. Actually, a few of our group never spoke to us again!

Eagles….condors…they all looked the same to us soaring high in the sky…