Out of hell

The last time I told you I was stuck in Punta Arenas, but I was confident because ministers resigned, and the increase of gas decreased from 17% to 3%.

I expected this would bring calm, but the unity has disappeared for now : there are those who want to tighten the strike and those who are willing to accept the government proposal. Tensions rise ...

It's time to go to Puerto Natales which is also a city blocked. I am a little afraid to get out of town and could not get in the next, 250km away, with nothing in between. The city no longer replenished with fuel, I still find the last gas station that seems to have. At least one station that has gasoline is easily recognized: it is one that has a queue of cars ahead.

And away! 6 dams to go to find myself free. I use the same weapons as the go: the innocence and the pellet. And generally it works pretty well.

There are passages for pedestrians, and obviously the strikers are not sure whether or not to let me pass. I take advantage of their confusion and their search one-who-knows to be already on the other side.

Once the striker appears to be the leader when the dam will stop even more vindictive, saying that the move is forbidden to all motorized vehicles, and it therefore includes motorcycles. I said no, arguing that the 4 previous dams are well-informed them, and left me without a problem because they know that tourists can spend motorcycles. She confirms that she is awaiting further instructions, and if this has changed, she does not know ... I told him I'm sure of myself ... and suddenly it shifts to let me pass. Phew.

Another time, two dogs playing on the passage. I advance smoothly, and one of them rushes on the bike and ciolementr bangs against the corner of the luggage. He collapsed, then stood up, staggering. It's not killing a dog of a srtiker that will generate new friends. But no, a guy show me to thumb that all is well ... So I'm off.

Last dam. I gained confidence. Passage for pedestrians seems to me very close to me tack it when there is space on the bottom side of the road. I ask nothing, and slowly, so I start to get around the truck. There, I hear cries that are obviously addressed to me. And the bonhomie and benevolence of previous contacts are replaced by violence and nervousness. I hesitate to turn a deaf ear and push through, but I changed my mind. A short guy in fact at me with big gestures, defeat the mine, and he explains that there is a big ravine in the passage where I commit myself and that I would rather bypass the dam by the other side. Gracias amigo! And say that I hesitate to give a boost to go fast!

The 250km separating the two cities are nice, but I do not have too much head to enjoy it or take pictures because it will have to go well in Puerto Natales. Dam Puerto Matale closely resembles those of Punta Arenas (they had to follow the same school of dams), except that there is only one dam this time to reach the village. Whew, here I am come in nice pension Nancy awakens memories of Uruguay.

Although less agitation here, no horn concert, people find a quiet fishing village.

I feel good. With already looking for the next horizon to tickle.

The panic is especially for the hundreds of tourists stranded there, and have a plane to catch or other constraints of time or money. Suddenly, the gym is requisitioned by the army and the Red Cross, a collection of mattresses is organized in the village and hundreds of tourists are sleeping there. Atmosphere "refugee camps" realistic enough.

Me? No, I am here. I have my ticket for the next boat to go north, so I expect to be here in all cases. Remains whether the boat will really come and if we can embark. I take this opportunity to visit the village and surrounding ...

... and above all to spend an evening with my buddy Aurel who braved the cold, a border post being announced and closed the roadblock to see me! Everything about his coming is very well told here.

Following are starting, I take time off for cleaning the pre-air filter very dirty later in the breeze of Patagomnie and probably the cause of my excessive consumption of gasoline. And there is the drama: I discovered that the motorcycle frame is broken at the attachment of the subframe.

Everything is closed here, but I will find a welder soon as possible. It does not prevent me from rolling to port.

On the evening of departure by boat arrives ... the port is filled with more and more protesters ... The boat advanced to horrizon then passes behind an island and not return ... disperse the protesters a bit ... Police blocked the area ... réaparait boat when there are two new dams, but this time it was the police which is across the road to prevent demonstrators from blocking the area. We will be able to mount, but boarding is always delayed ... because most of the passengers who arrive by boat reffusent down at midnight in a city you can not escape. After much discussion, we can finally embark. The cars were banned from cons, and the boat will be relatively empty and the bikes (we are 2!) Will be able to pick up passengers through gateways.
At 8:30 am, the ship is sailing amares ... That the cruise fun!