Crossing the coastal cordillera

Back to Santiago on the back roads.  A much more pleasant trip but a more challenging mountain climb came with it.  A little taste of what we will be getting when we actually cross the Andes. This little foothill was so fun and challenging. The switchbacks were tight and as we climbed the day, which was already chilly, got more and more frigid.  We came into the clouds.  Though it was midday all I could see was white around me. I focused on the white line on the road and we inched out way up.  My legs got goosebumps and the clouds would clear for a minute and come back.  On the switchback I looked down and instead of the valley it was all white.  It was scary and fun and why I'm here.  We finally got to the top and the clouds lifted, the sun shown, and my hands has life again.  The valley was dry and full of olive groves and cactus. We had come over from the damp chilly ocean side of the mountain and down to the dry valley.  We had experienced the full rain shadow affect. As I descended more and realized this I saw the cloud that had covered the other side of the mountain pouring over this side.  It was moving so fast, almost violently down into the valley and dissipating gently into the dry air.  It was a force, it was alive, and it emphasized the feeling in my legs as they absorbed the sun,  the awareness of my swiftness and freedom downward and that I was happy and fully alive as I tumbled down and watched and fully absorbed the moment.  This is why i'm here. 

I'm also here for the empanadas