How many things will go pear shaped?: Time to move...

Well I've been here for four maybe five days, and have decided its time to move on - in a big way. Tomorrow heading back to Buenos Aires (one of the problems of going to the end of the world is that the only way back again is the way you came.Damn, shouldn't have kicked that soccer ball in La Boca after all...) and then nearly certainly heading straight to Panama, bypassing Peru, Chile, Colombia, etc... At least for now.

I've been waiting for a specific boat that may have offered a possibility to cruise the Patagonian fjords, but can't really afford to wait any longer. Hence we took a boat tour of the Beagle channel yesterday. Great trip, but wouldn't happen in Oz... Boarded the boat (small, only 12 passengers), and the crew proffered a beer instead of safety info (lifejacket location, etc). Then straight out. Feel free to walk on the roof, sit on the bow, sing out if you need another beer. A prize (extra beer) is offered for the furthest travelled. In the bag I thought! Until an Afghani pipped me! So they don't only go to Australia (note to self - slightly racist, remove from draft copy to publishers). Anyway, we headed out to see god knows what in the channel.

We headed to an island which was clearly another seal and penguin colony, then suddenly the penguins took off and started flying around the boat. Two seconds of amazement were quickly replaced with the reality of a cormorant colony. And no shit, they also mentioned that another tourist boat had also spotted orcas he this morning (I hardly need mention that we saw nada).

Thence to a supposedly significant lighthouse. It was on a rock. Aren't they all?

More beer (this boat must be a brewery, and to another island where we could disembark and inspect ancient aboriginal sites and stuff. The original inhabitants apparently around this place starkers, choosing to smear themselves in seal fat in preference to clothes and skins, as such attire they believed water than skins and fur which would get wet. Also made them harder to grab when the spaniards did eventually arrive (again, potentially racist, and made up, so possibly remove...).

It was bone numbing freezing with thermals, fleece, sailing jacket etc, so maybe there is something in seal fat...

Anyway, after some more celebratory drinks, time to head back. Hey, why not let the Afghani drive? Sure! Nearly ran us aground at the next island, but that's nothing another beer won't fix...

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. In fact I think it's GREAT. We are so over governed in Australia with petty rules for everything that I loved this situation (plus I think I was pretty pissed at this stage), and it was a great trip. Any trip with flying penguins has to be up there.

Now to the change of plans. I realized that I have less time than I needed if I want to do the things that I mainly want to do - that is significant time in Panama, possibly visit Guatemala and other central American countries, Caribbean cruise, and maybe even sail to Europe for Riceys wedding. Hence the decision to head straight for Panama. And today I managed to make contact (thanks Facebook) with old friends and am greatly looking forward to spending time back there.

Oh and dreamt in Spanish last night, but I don't think I said anything or knew what the hell anyone else was saying...

And Clive Palmer is a wanker.

Some photos:

Flying penguin colony: