it's always sunny in chile chico : September 2015

Just over one month until our tires hit the dirt in Puerto Montt and we have spent the past month glued to our bicycles (of course, with some detours in the car to the National and State parks of Maine for some climbing and relaxing). We have done quite a few loops around Lincolnville, Maine, spent a day out on Isleboro with Morgan's dad, and made a ice cream run to Belfast, Maine for our longest ride yet (27mi/ 43.5km). And now, we have made official the seven phases of part one of our journey: Puerto Montt to Coyhaique.

Our phases (las fases) break down our journey into sections of a few days at a time, either divided by long distances between big towns or by detours off the main Ruta 7 (Carretera Austral) or by the focus for that section, beyond biking.

So here we go.

Fase 1 ~ Puerto Montt a Hornopiren ~ 140 km

Fase 2 ~ Una semana cerca del Parque Pumalin

Fase 3 ~ Caleta Gonzalez a Palena ~ 201 km

Fase 4 ~ Palena a Puerto Raul Balmaceda ~ 211 km

Fase 5 ~ Puerto Raul Balmaceda a Villa Amengual ~ 204 km

Fase 6 ~ Villa Amengual a Cerro Picacho ~ 21 km

Fase 7 ~ Cerro Picacho a Coyhaique ~ 112km o 163km Route to be determined!

We are open to more detours and even a few shortcuts but we are feeling great about this foundation and the ongoing support that has been shared! Special shoutouts to friends Caio and Isidora for sharing their Carretera Austral wisdom and gear and to Side Country Sports in Rockland, Maine for all the attention and expertise, setting us up with everything from bikes to break pads for our journey.

For family and friends in the Northern Hemisphere, happy Fall! Y a nuestra familia y amigos en Chile y en America de Sur, disfruten la primavera!