Day 9 (Monday 21st November 2016)
Villarica to Concepcion 453 kms
Picturesque drive along the lake to the start of the Regularity Flor Del Lago. This test was at 60kph over rocky gravel and over one way wooden bridges. We were flat out on the dirt gravel roads and still couldn't keep up the required speed. Climbed 40 degree hair pin bends and at one stage found ourselves in a run-off but continued on, bouncing sideways.
Leaving Melipeuco we stopped at Curacautin where all the primary school children came out to look at the cars. We had to horn our way through most of them. All were keen to get photos of themselves with the cars. It was quite colourful as some of the children had bright red school tops. A few school teachers interviewed some of the teams.
Entering the National Park, paying 6,000 pesos per person, we drove along narrow and twisting gravel roads and the scenery was magnificent with Volcano Lanin in the background and lava fields along the road. Stopping at Lago Arcoris (a blue lake with petrified trees in it) there was another group of noisy school children.
The afternoon Regularity was at Valle Del Culenco. Difficult navigation, hairpin bends, bridges without considering the amount of dust from the cars in front. There is a lot of logging in this area and trucks piled high with logs, or wood chips were everywhere. We also passed the odd tractor on the roads.
It was very circuitous navigation into Concepcion with lots of road works. We saw the same exit several times, going around in circles & stressing because we thought we would miss the Time Control at the finish of the day.
Eventually reached the hotel with minutes to spare. Seems most people were in the same situation.
On arrival at the hotel the drill is to unpack the luggage from the car, remove as much dust as we can, and carry it all up to our room. Why hotels supply white towels when a rally contingent comes to stay is beyond me. Pity the poor laundry.
Villarica to Concepcion 453 kms
Picturesque drive along the lake to the start of the Regularity Flor Del Lago. This test was at 60kph over rocky gravel and over one way wooden bridges. We were flat out on the dirt gravel roads and still couldn't keep up the required speed. Climbed 40 degree hair pin bends and at one stage found ourselves in a run-off but continued on, bouncing sideways.
Leaving Melipeuco we stopped at Curacautin where all the primary school children came out to look at the cars. We had to horn our way through most of them. All were keen to get photos of themselves with the cars. It was quite colourful as some of the children had bright red school tops. A few school teachers interviewed some of the teams.
Entering the National Park, paying 6,000 pesos per person, we drove along narrow and twisting gravel roads and the scenery was magnificent with Volcano Lanin in the background and lava fields along the road. Stopping at Lago Arcoris (a blue lake with petrified trees in it) there was another group of noisy school children.
The afternoon Regularity was at Valle Del Culenco. Difficult navigation, hairpin bends, bridges without considering the amount of dust from the cars in front. There is a lot of logging in this area and trucks piled high with logs, or wood chips were everywhere. We also passed the odd tractor on the roads.
It was very circuitous navigation into Concepcion with lots of road works. We saw the same exit several times, going around in circles & stressing because we thought we would miss the Time Control at the finish of the day.
Eventually reached the hotel with minutes to spare. Seems most people were in the same situation.
On arrival at the hotel the drill is to unpack the luggage from the car, remove as much dust as we can, and carry it all up to our room. Why hotels supply white towels when a rally contingent comes to stay is beyond me. Pity the poor laundry.
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