Chile

Disaster strikes!! A last session at Topocalma on our way out of town proves to be costly for me, as, coming off the lip on a small wave, I manage to dislocate my knee! Broken at the thought that this would most likely spell the end of the trip for me, at least as far as action on the water was concerned I set about trying to get it better - ice, anti-inflammatories and more ice!! Still, I'm in Chili, it can't be all bad, and everyone is doing their all to help me get better in the true 'Chilian way'.

400 km south we find even more open space, endless sandy beaches buffeted by the ever-stronger Atlantic current. Despite the slight fall in air temperature, the warmth of the people is still ever present, as we are once again offered a wholehearted welcome, this time by the windsurfing community at a local contest. The standard is very high, the locals obviously benefiting from the extreme regularity and quality of the conditions that Chile boasts year round, as everyone lets loose in the two days of small surf and light winds we get at Lligo. This is one of the more popular beaches found further south in Chile.

The atmosphere is as good off the water as it was on amongst the locals with a welcome that seems truly heartfelt. We spend the evening with them, celebrating all the special moments we have had during our stay in Chile and enjoying the time we get to spend together. These are moments we will be able to look back on for the rest of our lives …

It is times like this that I reflect on life and look at the way its cards are dealt to different people in different ways. Sometimes I feel as though I was unlucky for example to have been born in the UK and not Maui, where it's warm and windy everyday. I was dealt that card, but there is something I can do about it, as the rest of my hand is just great - London is one of the main centres of Europe and indeed the world and as far as opportunities go to travel, work and play, I couldn't be much more lucky. Although when I visit all these wonderful places and see what relative paradises they are, it is hard to imagine what it would be like to be born there and never be able to leave.

Our trip has sadly come to an end and we are now obligated to pack our bags, make our way back up to Santiago and leave this wonderfully vast, beautiful and varied country that has given us so much over the past few weeks.

We feel sad to say goodbye, but know that it is more of a 'hasta luego' (see you later) than a definitive goodbye, as this will undoubtedly not be the last time that we embark on such an adventure in Chile. Its landscape and coastline are so immense that I feel we have only just touched the edges - the urge to return and explore further will not go away easily.

Until the next time, go search discover and enjoy…