Having completed all the necessary preparation, I decided to rent a bike and stretch the legs. Spotting what might become “my favourite” shop on route – I will have to save that for later.

What I quickly discovered on the bike is that there are some steep roads, traffic is very careful at junctions and boy is it windy out of town…

I took a random ride of roads on the South side of town and then headed North towards the museum holding a replica of Magellan’s ship. North side of town was significantly wealthier with some smart houses but just as windy. I’d swear I had a head wind in both directions along the straight of Magellan !

The replica of Spain’s Ferdinand Magellan’s ship NAO Victoria is impressive as long as you are 3 foot tall – how they lived for so long in those conditions and circumnavigated the world I can’t image.

There was also a replica of the British HMS Beagle which undertook 3 surveying Expeditions including visiting Patagonia in 1826 and 1836 which looked significantly more “comfortable” than Magellan’s ship.

What impressed me the most though was Shackleton’s “life boat” which was dragged across the ice and then sailed in the Southern Ocean in the hope of finding help to come back and rescue his stranded crew. 7 men in such a tiny boat in a vast dangerous ocean is truly astonishing.

I will be reading that epic account again when I get home – with a new perspective.