Fangdango Comes Home !: Under the eves of Llao Llao

As wonderful as God's best scenery, punctuated with Bentleys, Lagondas and other rare birds, are the stories of our fellow rally participants. Saturday, on beauty overload and empty stomachs, we pulled up at a very Swiss restaurant to be joined by Jean and Anne Steinhauser. They had eaten in the same restaurant a year earlier on another rally. Traveling the world in a series of spectacular cars, their enthusiasm, undaunted by being soaking, and tales of glory and misadventure made our meal.

Two perfect driving days through bucolic scenes, green rolling hills, horse country-(several photos of, below) Tempted to stop and buy a pony. A special treat was Parque National Conguillio, a magical dip through monkey tree forests and lava fields around a recently active volcano.

Now we are into the lakes and mountains district, very European. Saturday just after a chalet and brass band ski town, we had an uphill medal trial on gravel.The organizers were challenged to find a section clear of goats and other pitfalls. Team Bardhahl members, Les and Rand took the medal. Go team!

Rally has put up at the legendary Llao Llao Hotel for two nights. She's a creaky old gal with splendid public areas and halls that could handle an invading army. Lake views and wind, lots of wind. Bring extra balls for the golf course. Our room is beyond the top floor up a little flight of stairs and at the very end of hall. We are indeed under the eves. This is where Victorians kept their mad uncles. Tiny windows fore and aft with glimpses of lake and mountain, especially from our skylight. Somehow it suits us.