Hot springs in Pucon

So delighted with our ascent of Villarica we treated our selves to some fine coffee and cake in a very obliging cafe in Pucon. We once again filled our bags with pasta and tuna and took a local bus to Huerquehue National park, about two hours out of town.This was to be a short and easy four day walk with our arrival at some hot springs on day two being the highlight. We skirted around lakes and walked through wonderful forests of araucaria trees and watched and listened to Magellanic woodpeckers tapping for their supper. We overnighted in the forest before heading on to the hot springs. Nestled at the edge of a very cold river, boiling hot water ran down the hill and a series of rock enclod}sed pools were formed, at varying temperatures. We toasted ourselves till it was time for dinner, then ate, slept and crawled straight from the tent back in first thing the next morning. The most difficult part of the hike was climbing back out to put on our rucksacks and wander back!

Joe sitting in the hot springs. He is relaxed but the look of concentration is due to the concerns raised by James Lovelock in his book "The revenge of Gaia". Apparently the world is in serious trouble.