Arrive at La Paloma
Left Rio Grande 01/23/06 1145 UTC
01/24/06 33 45.628S, 52 22.471W 0800 UTC
01/24/06 34 27.000S, 53 08.900W 2000 UTC
01/25/06 34 37.175S, 53 54.600W 0800 UTC
01/25/06 34 39.214S, 54 08.591W 0930 UTC Arrive La Paloma, Uruguay
01 February 2006, La Paloma, Uruguay
We left Rio Grande thinking that we'd be motoring a lot to keep our sail time under 48 hours but we had good winds and actually had to reduce sail to slow down and make our land fall in daylight.
La Paloma is a small, funky beach resort that reminds me a lot of a southern California beach town in the 60's. And the landscape is also similar - small sand dunes between the road and the beach. The architecture in town is very interesting, some homes with thatched roofs, and all with a built-in outdoor bar-b-que. Once you get into the countryside it's all ranch country. The topography consists of rolling grasslands, groves of eucalyptus and pines trees and lots of horses, and of course cows. The highest point in the country is less than 600 meters. My visit to the horse ranch in Rio Grande never happened but I feel confident that a similar invitation will happen at some point while we're in gaucho country.
Yesterday we went to Cabo Palonio with the two French couples we met in Rio Grande. Cabo Palonio was once just a small fishing village but has become a tourist attraction and a hang out for young travelers who stay in small ex-fishing huts and cottages. In addition to the beautiful beach, and the lighthouse, people are attracted to the sea lion colony. Access is restricted and the only way out to the point is to ride in the back of one of the old jeep pickup trucks. After visiting Cabo Palonio we took a trip down a river to an area where the Ombues tree grows in a large grove. These trees are over 200 years old normally grow as a single tree alone. This spot is the only place in the world where it grows in a colony.
We'll probably stay here another week before continuing onto Piriapolis, 75 miles from here. Right now Mark's main focus is finding somewhere he can watch the Seahawks WIN the Super Bowl.
01/24/06 33 45.628S, 52 22.471W 0800 UTC
01/24/06 34 27.000S, 53 08.900W 2000 UTC
01/25/06 34 37.175S, 53 54.600W 0800 UTC
01/25/06 34 39.214S, 54 08.591W 0930 UTC Arrive La Paloma, Uruguay
01 February 2006, La Paloma, Uruguay
We left Rio Grande thinking that we'd be motoring a lot to keep our sail time under 48 hours but we had good winds and actually had to reduce sail to slow down and make our land fall in daylight.
La Paloma is a small, funky beach resort that reminds me a lot of a southern California beach town in the 60's. And the landscape is also similar - small sand dunes between the road and the beach. The architecture in town is very interesting, some homes with thatched roofs, and all with a built-in outdoor bar-b-que. Once you get into the countryside it's all ranch country. The topography consists of rolling grasslands, groves of eucalyptus and pines trees and lots of horses, and of course cows. The highest point in the country is less than 600 meters. My visit to the horse ranch in Rio Grande never happened but I feel confident that a similar invitation will happen at some point while we're in gaucho country.
Yesterday we went to Cabo Palonio with the two French couples we met in Rio Grande. Cabo Palonio was once just a small fishing village but has become a tourist attraction and a hang out for young travelers who stay in small ex-fishing huts and cottages. In addition to the beautiful beach, and the lighthouse, people are attracted to the sea lion colony. Access is restricted and the only way out to the point is to ride in the back of one of the old jeep pickup trucks. After visiting Cabo Palonio we took a trip down a river to an area where the Ombues tree grows in a large grove. These trees are over 200 years old normally grow as a single tree alone. This spot is the only place in the world where it grows in a colony.
We'll probably stay here another week before continuing onto Piriapolis, 75 miles from here. Right now Mark's main focus is finding somewhere he can watch the Seahawks WIN the Super Bowl.
posted by Photoessayist at 11:23 AM
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