Day 197 – Valparaiso, CL to Valle Nevado, CL
March 13, 2011 7 Comments
Day 197 – Valparaiso, CL to Valle Nevado, CL 03/06/11 Mileage: 111
I’m a beer man for sure, but I like wine as well so while in one of the wine regions of Chile, might as well sample the goods! I packed up and left Valparaiso feeling like I had missed out, but I’ve got to get south and I can’t do everything….maybe I’ll catch it again on the way back north. It was a short hop over the coastal mountains to the Casablanca Valley to the Casas del Bosque vineyard.
It was a nice place and I signed up for a tour and tasting. The tour was brief but informative but the tasting was the highlight for sure (of course?).
This is their aging room….they were even playing classical music to entertain the wine…
They brought me and the two other guys on the tour into their tasting room which is really nice….in fact way too nice for a smelly biker. But, they let me in anyway and I sampled the goods, including their most expensive wine, the Private Reserve Gran Bosque.
So after my high zoot wine tour, it was back on the bike heading for the mountains to check out Valle Nevado and the other ski areas near Santiago. The road snaked its way from downtown Santiago up a picturesque canyon before turning into countless switchbacks.
Slicing through downtown Santiago…
Ahhh…home sweet home back in the mountains…
Nightfall was coming fast so I decided to camp up here in the mountains. A few miles from Valle Nevado I saw a rutted track heading out towards an outcropping and decided to have a look.
I couldn’t decide which sunset picture I liked best, so I put them all up and let you pick the one you like best…
It turned out to be an idyllic spot complete with another amazing Chilean sunset. I’m one lucky bastard for sure….
From Deadhorse Down 
Lenny, glad you didn’t drink too much wine because I wouldn’t want you to sleep walk up there where you camped out. You have guts to sleep out in the middle of no where. What a glorious spot. It is really breath taking. I just sit with my mouth open reading and looking at the pictures and agreeing that you are just so very lucky but you also know what you are doing. All your reading and interneting has really paid off. You are just doing great!!!!!!! Not everyone could do this. You sound just great.
Keep well and safe and looking forward to the next entry. All our love, Mom and Dad
I think it’s “safer” out in the middle of nowhere sometimes than in an actual campground…it all depends on the area. 🙂
Hi Lenny,
I so enjoy your posts and pictures. You are so lucky and it is quiet impressive. Not many people would have it in them do do anything remotely close to what you are doing. You inspire me because I definitely want to do something like this some day when the kids are grown. It will more likely involve water and sailboats. None the less inspiring! Be safe and keep posting your story! It’s great!
Jenn
Hey Jenn!
So good to hear from you! Well, I hope you do get the chance and when you do, I’d be happy to play first mate for a bit! I know you’re a mono-hull gal, but I saw a 40 foot cat in Rio Dulce, Guatamala that looked to be sitting for quite a while and in need of a new owner….it got me thinking about living, sailing and drifting with the wind for a while as well….
Can’t wait to catch up when I get back… 🙂
-Lenny
What a difference in restaurant etc….. I love the wine tasting and the wine. So glad you are there.
It was a nice change for sure…..Chile is great, and best of all the wine is cheap! LOL
My God, if you have to die someplace let it be someplace like that! How totally beautiful. Yes, you are definitely one lucky bastard!