Today we visited Puerto Williams, more or less a Navy town (I knew I liked this place!) located in the Beagle Channel. In addition to the base, they run the local airport and the hospital. They have the responsibility for patrol and rescues in this region — all the way down to the Antarctic Peninsula. They also have the responsibility for enforcing national fishing rights in the exclusive economic zone around the southern part of the Tierra del Fuego. In this town, if you’re not in the Navy, you’re most likely a fisherman or shopkeeper. Fishing and fish farming are increasingly large businesses in the region and the local indigenous people (the Yagan) are concerned that their traditional fishing rights are being overrun by international investments and industries. But we were there for the natural beauty near the Dientes de Navarino mountains where a myriad of hiking trails bring you along lakes and along the coast. In fact, some of the areas there reminded me of the cliffs and waterfront around American Camp on San Juan Island. The trails were very scenic and the numbers and types of birds were amazing. We even saw a gaucho and his dogs coming from one of the local ranches. At one point the rain got pretty intense and we got pretty soaked. But with the constant 30+ knot winds, we dried out pretty quickly.
I am a traveler and sometimes clay sculptor, following a long career working in consulting. My work allowed me to travel the world extensively and I was hooked. Today, I travel with my wife/best friend to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new things.
