To explore new regions, and understand cruising in another way than in a bathing costume, we are spending three months with a hat glued to our heads, playing at explorers and savoring the solitude. This morning when we get up, the cold is biting. The pumps refuse to give us any water, we’re soon going to be seeing stalactites hanging from the taps. Having the sea and the mountains so close to one another is unique, and arriving at the foot of a glacier in a sailing boat remains an incredible experience. As we approach it, the sea changes in appearance and color; as if it were faded, it becomes milky-white. We advance carefully, slaloming between the blocks of ice. Around us, white or grey dolphins, big and small, cut through the water, the whales’ blowing breaks the silence, the sea lions yawn, the seals splash around and the penguins bounce off the water as they escort Milo, black and white fauna for all these animals from the deep South, with a background of brilliant blue glaciers. Drifting along, like Alice in Wonderland, we feel as if we are shrinking. A few miles more, and we are now close, tiny in front of this vertiginous, breathtakingly beautiful ice cliff. We contemplate this extraordinary giant meringue, tinted with turquoise blue, rising tens of meters above Milo's deck. We feel privileged and savor these moments, admiring, respectful, faced with so much power. Very reasonably, Yvan decides to stay a good distance off the moraine and the growlers which have invaded this fragile haven of peace, far from the blocks which can detach themselves, creating a fatal wave. Better than a good film, this evening we will be sleeping with a view of the glacier, cool, at the foot of this monster, which breaths a light breeze coming from the great frozen plains. Pieces of ice collapse and cascade down, freeing new growlers which float on the surface, producing cracking noises as violent as thunder, breaking this eternal silence. Oscar has just to hold out his net to pick up some big ice cubes. Happy, he savors his Jurassic freeze containing bubbles of air which could date from several thousand years ago! As for us, we’ve decided on the evening’s aperitif: a wonderful, prehistoric Whisky on the Rocks. Good health!
Who: Sabrina, Yvan, Oscar.
Where: Patagonia, Chile
Boat: Catana 582
Blog: www.vivreenbateau.com
