Rio Grande

The following morning we retraced our steps up the highway and continued through to Rio Grande. As we met the coast we turned off the highway and took a dirt road down to the beach - a very long bay with a very high tidal surge – 11 metres was the figure quoted. A great spot to eat our pastries from the Tolhuin panaderia – 9 pesos for 6 large pastries. Pastries and fresh coffee.

Back on the road and into Rio Grande at about 2.30. Found a park and a parking attendant rushed out to pass us a parking pass for 1 hour for 1.75 pesos. Directed to Information from a money exchange. Information were wonderfully helpful – found us accommodation and then gave us directions – a lovely home stay with a family. Completely different again. Walked along the waterfront and then onto a recommended artisan studio. While walking we heard Shelene Shelene! - Ross and Frances drove up to us and after much laughter we all agreed to meet for dinner – a little pizza place with a large Piscola sign out the front that we’d seen earlier. They’d camped for two days on Harburton so showers were high on their priority list.

On one of our walks we found a children’s indoor play area – similar to Chipmunks. Visible from the window was a large old fashioned merry-go-round. The three big kids wandered in, took photos and stared to the amusement of parents and kids.

Saw several Mulvinas monuments and the local barracks. Stopped at the cemetery on the way out – incredible family crypts with glass panels in the doors through which we could see caskets on shelves. A very different way of honoring the dead.