Day 9: Sabbath Rest

So good to sleep in for the first time. We cruised around in Pichilemu shopping and eating and watching the crowds pass by. A sunny Sunday meant the streets were packed! A town of 5000 grows to 50,000 and we could not even get money out due to bank queues of 40 long. We had another surf and it was just a paltry 3-4' running for 300m - better than the best day at home but our worst surf here!

We took our 16 seat rental with drivers Pato and Jose (not sure why we need both of them?) and visited Cahuil. They make salt here and sell it alongside mounds of rock salt to get your attention. After much gesturing our driver "gifted" me with a 10kg bag...just what I need to take home on the plane?

Amazing blood red sunset at Punta de Lobos with seals and pelicans and late surfers. We had Chongy, Danny and Jason arrived to complete the Misfit team. Collapsed in bed at 11pm.

Day 8: Surf Contest

We met early to plan out today's contest. Nathan has competed a whole lot but it's another thing to now be contest director and the pressure was showing. Fortunately our team had some contest skills as well as plenty of willing volunteers.

It was sunny, offshore and waves were running down the end section of the point for 200m. The 10am start became 11am became 12 and we had over 50 local competitors. Aaron did a great job directing us and Dan judged first time just as Lisa and Roseanna tallied and Stefan was timekeeper. We pressed on to complete the event in one day. Two Christian bands from Santiago rocked live at the site and shared the gospel. We were told our event had a integrity, friendliness and generosity unlike most.

Incredibly the surf just got better and better and the open mens final saw a 10 point ride with the winner getting three tubes on one ride. We were all sunburnt, windblown and tired after lugging all the gear back and dinner never tasted so good. Poor Taylor got sick and crashed. We will have our first day off tomorrow.

Day 7: Happy 18th Birthday Taylor!

It's my son's birthday today, though that depends where in the world you are? His mum celebrated it yesterday. There is a card signed by all, a prank gift of the most annoying toy cat that meows (and won't be coming home!?) and Taylor experiences a Chilean tradition of being face planted in his cake and tossed into the pool! Happy birthday Taylor.

We see the house frames all up and some cladding. Workshop cleaned up. Salon walls coated and furniture purchased. Water trench dug for gravity feed tank.

That night Surfers arrive to sign up for tomorrows contest and Taylor and Stefan get to perform live music. Thanks Juliette for loaning out your piano! The suit is smallest yet, but by home standards would be epic. Big day coming tomorrow.

Day 6: More Groundhog Days!

It's Thursday, we have to start finishing some projects. My team stands up benches and fixes shelving. Mitch now has, for the first time in his life he exclaims, his own workshop.

I relocate with Dan McCoy to the house site. Stefan has already been there all week and learning some trade skills. Taylor is also learning that 4" nails take a lot of skill to hammer home and gets nickname lightening....that doesn't strike twice....hahaha

Dan and I hammer away assembling 11 roof trusses that weigh a ton when it comes to moving them. It's hot, windy, dusty hard work.

We still go surfing and the water temp has plummeted to 12c, Mitch says even he is cold! Everyone is frozen and even the most energetic slow down. We line up for a hot shower that night, our cabin shower just dribbles out 3 minutes worth then turns off!