Volcano Views, Cyclist Encounters & a Nationwide Blackout

I woke up early and quietly packed my things, trying not to disturb Anna Maria. She came to say goodbye, and soon, I was on my way. The morning air was refreshingly cool but not cold, and as I ran out of town, a stunning sunrise painted the sky—what a perfect start to the day.

The route began with a slight incline, then flattened out until mile 10, where a steep climb tested my legs. After that, another long, mostly flat stretch carried me forward. To my left, Volcán Osorno stood majestically, its snow-covered peak providing breathtaking views throughout the run. With no towns or stores in sight, it was mostly just me, my buggy, and the open road. The signs welcomed me to Norpatagonia, and I could feel it in the air—pure, pristine nature all around me. The privilege of running through these landscapes never ceases to amaze me.

At mile 21, I reached the first store of the day and decided to take a break. There, I met Nico and Antoine, two cyclists from Germany. It felt nice to speak Swiss German for a bit, though I had to repeat some sentences for them to understand. They even offered me half a piece of cake they didn’t want—of course, I happily accepted! I can always eat.

Fueled by the unexpected treat, I continued on. The volcano loomed larger and closer, its presence both humbling and inspiring. About 10 miles before Puerto Octay, I turned away from it, shifting my focus to the final stretch. The last four miles felt tough—a mix of headwind, a slight incline, and heavy legs made every step more of an effort. But I reminded myself: It’s only a few miles. It’s doable. And of course, it was.

Reaching Puerto Octay, I checked out a potential place to stay but decided to look for a cheaper option. Eventually, I came back and spoke with Gladys, telling her about my journey. She was kind enough to offer me a discount—thank you, Gladys! Life is good.

Then, the power went out. At first, I thought it was just the town, but soon I learned it was a nationwide outage. With no electricity, I embraced the chance to rest and recharge for my last full day of running in Chile—wow, time flies!

Later, I walked into town, bought some food, and relaxed in the plaza, soaking in the town's atmosphere. Gladys thinks the power will return soon, but we’ll see. In the meantime, I’m using my power banks to charge everything and keeping my headlamp ready for the night.

Another beautiful day in Chile is coming to an end. One more full day to go. Vamos!

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