The campground close to the not-so-interesting town of Cunco was very nice, so we decided to stay there for a day. We had a great and big spot with a picknicktable with a roof, light and electricity. And also, just, view on the volcano Villarrica in the distance. There also was a pool; the water was pretty cold, but it was nice to just sit there in the sunshine with the legs in the water.

The next stage was only 40 kms (24 miles), to the next town Melipeuco. This town is close to the entrance of the National Park Conguilllio, an area of volcanic ash of the volcano Llaima. We could have gone on, but then we would have had to stay at a campground in the National Park and they are very expensive. Now we could cycle through the park in a day. Because the paved road was almost flat, we arrived in the town within 2 hours. Again, a pretty relaxed day.

After a restday in Melipeuco, forced by the bad weather (whole night and half the day of pooring rain), we cycled through the national park Conguillio to Curacautin. The park was beautiful, we cycled on and through the lavafields of volcano Llaima which erupted last on January 1st 2008. In Curacautin we treated ourselves to a good bed in a nice hostal.

Now we’re close to the little town of Malalcahuello, at the beginning of the next national park of vulcanos and lavafields, Malalcahuello – Nalca. After another restday forced by the bad weather, we hope to be able to cycle through it tomorrow on an adventurous journey which isn’t travelled much. In the nice mountainareas we don’t want to cycle if it’s not really necessary because it’s a waist of effort. We have to cycle uphill a lot and because of the bad weather you can’t see anything of the surroundings, zo it’s a waist of all that hard work.