The Last Road Home (#6/6)
22 March Tired After the O Trek I was tempted to take a 2 hour bus ride back to Puerto Natalas. But... the skies were clear and calm and I only had one more chance to camp out before I flew home. The road was a steep 1,000 foot climb but the scenery kept me going. I'm willing to put up with quite a bit of discomfort for good views. The passing car drivers cheered me on as I pedaled upwards, stopping every 10 minutes for another picture. In an area known for a high number of Pumas, I kept my eyes scanning the hillsides as I biked along. Then, there! A mob of people wearing zip off pants and cars lining the roadside. Binoculars and spotting scopes out, fingers pointing into the distance, and yes! In the far, far, far distance, barely visible to the naked eye was a majestic, powerful looking brown dot on the horizon. I borrowed some binoculars and there she was, a female puma laying down watching her three cubs chew on the guanaco she had killed a couple days earlier....