Antofagasta to Copiapo

November 6th Antofagasta to Copiapo

Begin the day watching the dustman cleaning the beach of the rubbish from the previous day. After a good breakfast I was ready to roll. This hotel was unique in that all the food and drink was from a shop and in the cafeteria/kitchen area there were lots of microwaves, toasters, kettles and drink making equipment. My breakfast consisted of pre-packed ham, butter, bread rolls, juice and jam. I quite enjoyed it, but it didn't look appetising.

I immediately went looking for petrol (easier said than done) and topped up. I then had enough to do the 333 miles, even if there were no petrol stations. On entering the main road I decided to overtake a slow moving truck going up a hill and as I did so I found him edging outwards. I decided to accelerate around him, but unbeknownst  to me he was coming right across the road and over onto the opposite side to stop at a cafe. I had to follow his move and quickly decelerate. As I began to overtake him, I must have been in his blindspot, he must have looked, saw nobody there and decided to pull across two carriageways. I was literally forced off the road. It was a close shave and certainly woke me up.

The road was quiet and again lots of beautiful desert and wonderful coastline to keep me amused. Whilst in South America I have noticed that along their roads they have shrines to dead folk, and with my near death experience I decided today was the day to capture these with my camera. They range from the simple to the quite amazingly elaborate. Some even have articles of furniture and other household objects adorning them.

 Very simple, but you can see who features more prominantely, by the size of the cross

 This one looks like they moved the fellas garden shed - probably spent more time there!

This little grotto overlooked the sea and the flags ensured it was claimed for Chile

I'm not sure if these are all road fatalities, but if so I find it hard to fathom, there is very little traffic and most of the roads are as straight as a di. There was also less serious artefacts along the road today, which amused and fascinated me. In the middle of a desert some smart alec had decided to paint rocks. I missed the first one, which was a rock painted to look like a baseball shoe. Here are the three I did capture.

 A slice of Melon anybody?

 Not sure what this is - but pretty isn't it

Probably have more luck with this one, who ever rolled it did!

The mixture of desert and coast road was great, but this usually means a lack of filling stations, after 225 miles my tank was on reserve (I had a full jerry can) and I was hoping to be able to top up, without using my jerry (it's a fag to get on and off). With just 4 litres left I hit a town and pulled into the nearest station. I filled her up and noticed the amount and gave the man $20,000, he gave me change which clearly wasnt right. I challenged him and he insisted it was, I challenged further and with a smile he acknowledged it was wrong. He had his script to hand - he claimed he read the number of litres (15) and not the price ($11) and that is why he'd charged me $15 instead of $11. It could have been a genuine mistake - but I don't think so  -if you operate these pumps for a living, you would know them inside out and upside down.

The coast road that led to Copiapo was very windswept and cold as a consequence, so when it turned in land I was relieved to get out of the wind. I did pass Baha Inglesa (English Bay) which Juan had recommended to me, but time was getting on and the chill in my bones made me head southward. I arrived in Copiapo and the airbnb was right on the northern edge of the town, not far from the highway. The Reyes family were very welcoming, especially as they had just got back from holidaying in Rio De Janiero themselves. It is a very cosy room and as everything one needs - at half the price of an hotel. Mauricio was great and it is amazing how much one can communicate with a smattering of one anothers language.

Looks lovely, but it doesn't show the wind!!

*Footnote

Two days ago while in Iquique I took a picture of the sailing boat and mentioned Jen's Great Grandfather - It so happens, and I didn't know this, but this is the place where he was heading before his ship sank and he lost his life. Spooky