12/17 I decided to skip my planned day off in Trevelin so this morning I packed up and left without even telling the owners I was going. I’m not sure if they saw me but it would have been obvious, at least to the wife, why I was leaving. It was worth being out the $14 to avoid a brutal conversation with sheep-man. I’ll go back and update the post from yesterday with more info.
Other than a lot of bouncing up and down on the rough gravel road, the ride to the border and then into Futaleufú was uneventful. The crossing was fast since I was the only one at both offices. The Chile customs people did a good job digging through my food pannier and this time they confiscated some beans. He almost took my oatmeal because there were raisins in it. I’m surprised he didn’t. My bike tipped over from the wind and my rear kickstand broke. 
I hate that I haven’t been keeping track of how many I’ve gone through. This was the last one for a while.
In Futaleufú I tracked down a pretty cheap hosteria up on the hill by the hospital for 6000 pesos ($11 US). The town sits in a small valley and there are jagged snow-covered peaks on all sides. It’s one of the best views I’ve seen in a long time.
The ATM here isn’t on the Plus network which both my cards use. It’s a 7 day ride to the next town with an ATM and I only have 21000 pesos ($40 US). This should be interesting. I’ll try a couple credit cards tomorrow and see if I can get some cash that way. I can’t actually use a cc to buy anything because no one takes them. I should be able to make it as long as I stick to bread for lunch and pasta for dinner. If I run out of beer money things could get ugly.
Update: gusts to 47mph late Monday through Thursday and 2.2″ of snow/rain each day. If I can exchange some Argentine money tomorrow I might stay. The thought of sitting here for four more days is distressing. Update #2: OK I changed over enough money so I’m not freaking out now. Telefónica del Sur next to the panaderÃa took care of it in <1 minute. I can't leave today because I have to watch Dexter before my sister spoils it. Tomorrow I'm out and I don't care how hard it's snowing.
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hey scott, tried to call you but you probably don;t have internet on christmas eve. We want to wish you a very nice and special christmas in Chili. We know those times can be hard on the trip , but try to remeber doing what you do is every day very special, so you don;t need to celebrate that one special day in a year. Stay dry and warm. Hugs from Holland