The
Patagonia House
First went to Patagonia
in 1978. Rode a bike down there from California, when most of the
roads were dust and gravel. And dinosaurs walked the Earth.
Decided I liked it.
Well, parts of it,
anyway.
The parts I liked the
most were on the Chilean side. Especially the part I say is "like
Wyoming with a sea coast."
The water here is an
arm of the Pacific, called Last Hope Sound (Seno Última Esperanza).
The bike is the one
I now keep in Chile. It's registered there. Just as I plan
to be. Soon.
My house is just behind
the trees in the distance.
This photo was taken
from the property of one of my neighbors at Puerto Bories.
That's the Balmaceda
glacier in the distance. And just out of sight is the edge of the
Southern Patagonian Ice Cap.
The existing
house is small and cozy, with a blue metal roof. There is natural
gas, electricity, telephone, and water. The water is an issue. I'm
working on that. Gotta have a challenge now and then.
Broadband internet
is on its way. There is already low-bandwidth wireless internet privately
available in the village of Pto Bories.
The plan is to build
a newer house and garage further up on the lot, with a better view of the
Sound, and looking over the other houses of the village.
Since this is a rural
zone, there are no building permits required. And no property taxes.
I've started to lay
out some stakes here, to get a feeling for how to design and orient the
new house.
The view across
the Sound is rather nice. I think I will put a window looking that
way. Or maybe two windows. There are condor nests over there.
Here is what
it looks like going into "town." When I need to get to work or get
groceries, I can just ride the bicycle.
Or maybe visit the
park. It's not far away.
Plan to visit
someday. You might find me working at World's End at 226 Blanco Encalada
in Puerto Natales. Or email:
