Sunshine in Patagonia

Greeting friends and family!

I was *so* sad to wave goodbye to Murray this morning, as he settled his overstuffed pack in the taxi, airport bound for Buenos Aires. His pack is heavy due to his generosity of spirit -- he´s heavy an extra pair of hiking boots (mine) to free room in his sweet sister´s luggage for tourist souviners she plans to acquire in the coming week :-)

I remain in El Calafate for 2 more days, before returning to Buenos Aires myself, and though a little blue with missing Murray, I am reveling in hot running water, abundant restaurants (more chocolate shops than you can count), and the deliciousness of wearing tennies instead of those hulking hiking boots which were a constant companion for the past 5 days. I found a laundry in this small town, miracle of miracles, and hope to have the unthinkable -- clean socks -- by this time tomorrow.

This afternoon I also said goodbye to two exceptional women who became friends of ours on the trek, Laura and Sarah, of Boisie and Fairbanks. We four met on the tourist shuttle to the park at the beginning of the week, and during the trek our paths crossed often along the way, as they also followed the W course East to West. Fellow adventurers, we swapped stories of our funny (mis)adventures, and compared bruises, blisters, and the strategies employed to not blow off the trail. This afternoon, they helped keep me company after Murray had departed, over local draft beers, we liquid lunched, and crafted list of advice to give Lonely Planet for their next update to the Trekking in Patagonia guidebook!

Now that it´s just me left in El Calafate, I´ve decided on a quiet, well earned, evening in. I stocked up on dinner supplies at the local supermarket, pulled out my iPod and Kindle, scoped out the TV remote, and confirmed the readiness of my bath soap (which doubles as bubble bath). After a most exceptional week, a most exceptional evening planned. More ambitious adventures can wait for the morning :-)

Sending you all my love!

Love T