El Calafate

I hiked out to camp near the Hosteleria Los Torres with a nice view the Torres.  A bus back to Natales and another across the border -- a legal crossing -- to El Calafate were necessitated by a realization that schedules were getting tight.  Looks like I'll be busing until I get back from Peru.  Everyone I talk to, mostly bicyclists heading south, raves about the Carretera from Coyhaique to Chaitèn.  Pumalin park is a must-see for me, making that stretch of road somewhere around 15 days.  If I take another eight days or so for Chiloe, I'll be back in Puerto Montt around 19 March.

After talking with Joanna last night, I may be cutting the trip short at that point.  Our time apart is getting close to breaking us up.  I missed her when I called from Natales and then was incommunicado for ten days riding to and hiking around Torres del Paine.  Add to that the fat that I'll be camping in FitzRoy over our anniversary -- our first -- and it looks like trouble.  I've warned her about missing the anniversary phone call so perhaps we'll fare that a little better. If I'm camping at Laguna Capri, I may be able to hike out to call and hike back in during the day.  Without a pack, I should be able to pull that off.

An email from Jen today makes it seem unlikely that we'll hook up.  I'm initially bummed about this and at the same time excited to travel solo for a while.  I may hook up with Chip and Amy in Coyheique, but I'm not sure if I want to.  I've enjoyed traveling with them, but intrigued by the idea of heading out by myself for a bit.