Newsletter

Well, we mailed our June newsletter the first of June. Last I heard of it and it's been almost a month. If you do receive it please let me know by e-mail and at the same time please let me know how much postage is marked on the envelope. We have some suspicions about our post office here and may need some more evidence if our suspicions prove true. Thanks!

Weather update

Yesterday was our first oficial day of Winter! Needed to turn the headlights off about 8:30 and back on around 5:00. Rain gauge shows 49.10 inches for the year. They say these electronic gauges only register 75% of actual rainfall! Temps here at sealevel are in the low 30's day and night which means we keep a fire going all day. It usually goes out at night but it only gets down in the low 50's inside. When it really gets cold I'll need to get up once or twice to keep it going. We've received a lot of snow this year and roads and people are suffering. I'll keep you posted on both but right now it looks like we'll have to help out later on.

Yesterday, some cars were waiting for the road to be cleared on the way to Cerro Castillo when an avalanche covered 4 of them! Everyone not covered ran to thier rescue and with shovels and hands were able to rescue everyone. Some 50 people are now stuck in Cerro Castillo waiting for the roads to open again.

All in all it was a typical trip up the Austral Highway. All was well in Cisnes (although they are stealing the wood shed piece by piece) and we hope to return soon.

Mile 88 we stop for a while while they clear enough space at a recent land slide.

Mile 75 we meet the first vehicle headed South. While we do meet several other vehicles all are work related. Mile 85 we see cow parts hung on a fence. No idea why but on the return the next day the leg quarters are gone. The second from the right is the stomach and yes, they do eat that.

Trip to Puerto Cisnes
The trip is about 112 miles by land, the first 60 miles are paved and it takes a little over an hour the rest of the trip will take 3 to 3.5 hours.

Got back from Santiago ok. We had a good time, ate lots of junk food, enjoyed being warmer : )
Early winter is still affecting lots of people with some 25,000 homeless or isolated due to flooding or snowfall.
We're thinking about going to Puerto Cisnes (north of Puerto Aysen on map) thursday. I'll let you know how it goes.
Latest news:
An english sailboat was "missing at sea" for over a week, they just found it safe and sound. They were holed up in the islands due to bad weather.
Rain gauge says we've received 40.64 inches of rain this year.

White earthquake?

Winter has arrived early this year. We still lack a month until it officialy arrives and already 56 people are confirmed dead or missing and presumed dead. We fear we are in for another "white earthquake" winter. This is the name they give for a disasterous winter.

Tomorrow we head to Santiago for a week and I won't be able to update until we return.

Looking out the front door of our house.

First snowfall in Puerto Aysen. Snow came about a month early this year.

Parking lot at "dead water". This is a larger photo of our local fishing port.

Snow line is dropping. When it reaches about half-way down this mountain it's on the ground in Coyhaique.

Yesterday there was a lot of violence on the road to Chacabuco. Several injured including a policeman (who is a member of our church) who received a broken arm. Some policeman were taken hostage but were later released during a prisoner exchange.

Shot of our local fishing port. Hundreds of fisherman are in town protesting against the government. This morning they've blocked the highway to the next town and were seen shooting at the police helicopter.

They say there are over a 1000 fishermen in town right now. Looks like they're spoiling for a fight.

The regional fisherman have just taken the bridge. After a week of unfruitful talks with the government things are beginning to heat up.

Heading home.

Kids waiting patiently (sort of) outside.

Some of the folks were VERY happy with what they found. This man (who is currently out of work with an anurism) shows off some nice clothes.