Sun 29/04-2012 Day 244

P4300034.JPG
No idea how those fat civilized guys get up there!

Pos: here
Loc: Caleta Matanza
Acc: tent
Dist: 51,7 km
Start: 7:45 End: 17:35

I was already getting up and packing at the agreed time, when one of the officers eventually let me know it was this morning: a time change – one hour back to winter time. Thanks for letting me know this morning and not already yesterday night! Plus I’d have agreed on an earlier start, as it was already a bright sunny day once we eventually got going. Guys, I have to paddle more than 50 km today and don’t really enjoy arriving in last light!

They wanted to drive me to the fishing boat for launching, but I already saw yesterday that the surf a bit off the main surfing corner was not too bad, and I skipped my possible lift out. It would have probably taken another hour until the boat was ready…I’m German!!!

I made it out with just one moderate wave in my face, and enjoyed a nice following wind, bright sunshine and low swell. The sea became eventually quite choppy on top from the 10-12 knots south westerly, but it was just entertaining nice.

I cut across the bay to Punta Topocalma, as you don’t see anything of the land anyway in the bright morning easterly sun. The swell was so calm this day I would have dared to land mostly any where. Good feeling, as I will have to do the last open beach landing tonight at Matanzas.

It is always nice to watch a swarm of sea birds diving down like small rockets into the water over a fish swarm. Really amazing! Still there are also penguins around, and many pelicans. They love to occupy the offshore rocky islands, and to make them all white from their bird shit, which smells quite a bit!

Four kite surfers were busy in the wide bay before Matanzas, and in Calata Matanzas itself there were two windsurfers. All had perfect conditions!

I navigated inside the biggest island on approaching Caleta Matanzas, but the rest of the big rocks I rather gave a wide berth. Though the swell was low – who knows if there are not smaller ones under the water and suddenly it is breaking somewhere…if in doubt, stay out!

The surf looked still doable, but as usual, coming closer, there were some ugly breakers rolling in. But basically, they looked not too big and sounded not too violent. I took a while to decide where to land in the bay- not just around the corner, where there were also a few surfers! I learned meanwhile the corners are no safe shelter here any more, but the surf is rather low straight in. This is where I was heading, aiming for a spot with a long fence. Slowly, carefully, I was approaching the surf belt, and sprinted in when I saw a few big ones breaking in front of me, and no bigger swell developing behind me. All good! I landed safe and dry, looked behind me, and found the surf was really moderate here.

I was just about to open my pee zipper for a relief, as the usual Navy car with two guys from Pichilemu came driving up the beach toward me in high speed – I can not even land and pee by myself! I answered the usual questions I had already answered this morning, and they eventually noticed that they were quite surplus here…I really love attention and local support and accommodation from the Chilean Navy, but I can’t understand the inefficiency of their daily twice visits. All they like to know I’m writing on my website. Maybe I’m just German, and they are just Chileans.

But to top it off, I just got another Navy visit at 8.50 pm – this time from two nice and friendly guys from San Antonio! Now I’m sitting just on the border line to send out two teams from two different cities and two different Gobernacion Maritimas, hmmmmmm? The same two question about my launching time, and the same question about my ETA in San Antonio…

Oh, some one just kind of fell into my tent in the darkness stumbling over a guy line…scary…who is that? A third Navy team from maybe already Valparaiso? No, just the same one from San Antonio, he forgot to pass on an invitation for a free surf hotel accommodation *tonight* in Matanzas – thanks very much! But I’m not taking my whole camp down at 9 pm (10 pm summertime…) in darkness at the beach, to move into a wherever nearby or far away hotel! I’m just happy when I finished my update writing, and can fall eventually asleep…it is already 10 pm according to the old summertime! High time for efficient German paddlers to get some quality sleep!

 

6 comments on “Sun 29/04-2012 Day 244

I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was curious what all is required to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100% sure. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Kudos

randall lackey

Sounds
Like the navy is crowding you a bit though I’m sure they mean well. Its bad to land and not be able to take care of nessecary business first. You gotta go you gotta go. Safe paddling.love reading you post daily.
Randy

Jörg Hofferbert

What you describe is so fantastic plastic. And everytime i have a look on google-earth, where exact you stay. The photos confirm your descriptions (for example the story with the ox-transit, the big waves and the surfer´s). And at first (i think) i discover some pics in 360° surroundings. With you and your turn (and your pics), everyone of us can see more from the world – thanks, very much.

Freya, enjoy your last days, before you return.

P.S. When you come back to chile use a live-camera from NDR or other TV-Stations ;-), it´s much more better than the “space night”

Meike

Freya ,Du hast es bald geschafft. Du begeistert uns alle. Wünsche Dir für die “paar Tage” wunderschönes Wetter und viel Erfolg. Hoffe, dass in Valparaiso eine riesen Party steigt.
Pass weiterhin gut auf Dich auf

Bien Freya, cuanta capacidad humana para mantener fresco siempre el objetivo propuesto y remar hasta lograrlo. Sigue asi. Linyera.

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