El Millón:: Of my bike; of the Valdivian forest;

Earlier in the week I bought a bike. It took a lot of searching and visits to the bike shop before getting it. Now I can zoom around Valdivia on my nice used bicycle. This town is perfect for biking. Since it is a river town there is hardly anything for hills.

From Chile W3 Bike

On Thursday after my history class and lunch with the family. I set out to explore some of Valdivia on my bike. I had taken it out a bit in the pouring rain of the evening I first got it (and came home soaked) and then next day to give it a trial and make sure everything was working. For my adventure I wanted to find a good vista overlooking the city so I set out towards the nearest mountain.

I rode starting on the left hand side and made my way up the hill in the distance.

The road I got on went up and up and up through the Valdivian forest. It didn't take long till before it turned into a rough dirt road.

From Chile W3 Bike

Now and then there would be a car coming up the road behind me, but in general it was quite road. I was surprised to see a micro (bus) coming up the road behind me. But I guess there are people that live up there.

One of the many gate leading off into who-knows-where From Chile W3 Bike

Eventually the road flattened out a bit and I passed through a small community: the Altos of Punucapa. Just a few houses, the sound of roosters, and a Mapuche natural healing center.

I went only a bit farther on the road before turning around to head back home. And lucky the whole ride back was downhill.

From Chile W3 Bike

I never actually found a good view point of the city from way up. I got some shots from a few hundred feet above the river where I could see Isla Teja and the city in the distance. It was a great ride. I was worn out after it. 28km through the Valdivian forest.