The PaddlerUK magazine July 2015 issue 3 | Page 49

Puerto Eden is a brightly coloured fishing
village patched together with wooden walk
ways and bodge materials scavenged from
goodness knows where. The people eek out a
simple living by fishing, collecting muscles and
shear determined toughness. The village has a
grand backdrop of towering mountains all still
caped in thick snow; spring was only just
settling in. We somehow persuaded the only
tourist ferry to drop us off there, so that we
could continue through the fjords to the
nearest town Puerto Natales, still some 600km
further south as the crow flies.
Excitement buzzed around the village with the
sight of crazy strangers and brightly coloured
kayaks. Enjoying the atmosphere, we chatted
away to interested locals, in a classic mix of

world recognised sign language (pointing), and
broken English. Attempting to pack the five
weeks worth of food and gear into our boats
was no easy feat and with the nod from the
Port Captain we were ready and raring to take
our first few paddle strokes.

The nerves bubbled away at each stroke we
took as we paddled deeper into the heart of
Patagonia. I knew only in theory what lay
ahead, icebergs and glaciers, whales and sea
lions, violent storms and swift tides. This
adventure was to be my biggest test yet. To
reach our goal we needed to paddle a distance
of 800km over the course of five weeks and
tough out some of the harshest weather I have
ever witnessed.

I knew only in theory what lay ahead,

icebergs and glaciers,

whales and sea lions, violent storms and swift tides

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