A lot has happened over the last few days or so but I've been somewhat distracted and haven't got around to updating what's what and when it all took place! The problem with doing a huge trip like this is that you can't remember what you did yesterday, let alone a few days ago. Anyhooo, first things first, latest pics are uploaded on picasa: www.picasaweb.google.com/lindylou73

After I left you last time we had a drive day, went to the Hands Cave in Bajo Caracoles and then stopped in the middle of nowhere for a bush camp. The Hands Cave is a sort of aboriginal site which dates back about 9,000 years. The natives drew hands in different colours on the cave walls, along with drawings of guanacas (that's the alpaca/llama-looking things) and other animals and stuff. To be honest, I switched off during the commentary so can't quite remember exactly what it was all about. Anyway, we then headed off to our bush camp which was surprisingly comfortable. The next day we were up at sparrow's fart to hit the road again and drive back over the border into Chile. We got so far along the road when there was an almighty bang - another tyre had blown. Well, actually, the same tyre that had been replaced 2 days earlier (ooops!). Decided that would make a good convenient lunch stop while the boys replaced the wheel then set off again. No joke, 2 minutes down the road, the truck stopped again and we had a fuel leak out of some filter that had been hit by stones from the road. Luckily, the boys had bought a new filter the day before as some other trucks had had the same problem - phew!

Made it to Coyhaique where we were staying in cabanas. We had to do a huge supermarket shop so Michael gave me the whole kitty budget and shopping rota etc to sort everyone out as he had to sort out the truck. What a nightmare! Nobody could stick to their budget and everyone was just totally disorganised. Finally got success (after watermelongate) and then had an unfortunate incident (again) with the Jew who this time made me cry. He's such a s***. I've never met such a chauvinistic, rude and obnoxious person in my entire life (and I've certainly met my fair share!). Anyway, Steve and Bill saved the day and had a few words.

On Saturday we were due to leave at 11am (hold up with the truck tyres again!). When the truck hadn't re-emerged, some of the group decided it would be a good idea to go back to the supermarket so we ended up waiting for them and setting off late. We had a debacle of a lunch as the lunch group hadn't bought enough ingredients (and half of what they'd bought they'd left in the lockers on the truck so we couldn't get at them) so we had some grumpy passengers that day (ie me and Michelle mainly!).

Late afternoon we arrived at the Hanging Glacier at Puyuhuapi (or pooey nappy as we affectionately called it) which was pretty cool. It's basically a glacier that's hanging off the side of a cliff. We stayed in some great cabanas that night which were brand new (you could still smell the wood). Was all looking good until the middle of the night hen Michel and Ruud decided to jump in top of us and join us in bed in the middle of the night! (And again the next morning!)