2017-10-06 Day 173 Fri

-6.3°C last night. Caterina and Adrian did not freeze into their roof top tent. Together we drove out a different route which at times was quite rough. Lots of Vacuna and Suri which is on the endangered list. Said good bye and then decided instead of going all the way round on red road we would cut the corner off the park.


Great white road across but when we got to the red road very glad we had not gone around. Very, very rough and corrugated. Stopped near the salt lake for lunch. The salt lake was being dug up and put into trucks – not the salt but the mud underneath. Saw about 15 trucks motoring across the salt.

Saw two salt-devils out on the salt pan.
Arrived into Areiquipa and did a quick shop. Don't want to buy much as Chile will take all fresh fruit & veg & eggs off us.

Parked outside Maria’s house which has had a major face-lift and looks great. We gave EC a quick internal clean and then Maria came out to see us. Great to catch up. We had a shower and took a couple of bottles of wine and sat in the lovely front garden. An Alaskan family and an American lady, are all staying here so lots of talking. Chicken soup for supper and off to bed.