Fail! No crossing to Chile via Entre Rios

We have a map from from Chilean Tourism board that gives information about the Carretera Austral, which is a rough but scenic road in Southern Chile which we are headed to 'do'. This map shows connections from the Southernmost town of the route, Villa O'Higgins, to 2 places on the Chile-Argentina border. 

The Southernmost crossing is the common choice for the bicycle overlanders (ie the people who have chosen to cycle these long, windy, and hilly roads). But, due to the involvement of a passenger ferry along a lake, this option isn't for cars. 

But, rather than taking the advice of other travellers we decided to ask the police (and they have so many types here) if the next choice could be done in a vehicle like ours. We were told that it could be done, but the road was extremely rough. Yay! We could do it, slowly!

So off we headed. 

The scenery was absolutely beautiful. At around 4.30pm we found a great camping spot (most importantly it was protected from the wind), so decided to stop rather than reaching the border that day. After all, we had fresh food to eat, and Chile doesn't allow you to bring fresh food in. 

We lit a campfire and had almost finished cooking our early dinner when the owner of the neighbouring estancia came past. He was very helpful. He told us we couldn't camp or have a fire there (private property.... But it is estancia after estancia through there). Then I told him what where we were going and he told us that we couldn't cross to Chile there. Basically it's a winter (April to October) crossing, as in summer the water is too high (snow melt and rain). He said we could go have a look if we wanted, we only had 50km left. 

So, with many more daylight hours, and having been told to move, we ate, cleaned up and continued on. 

The scenery got even better as we followed a river in a valley through some excellent sheep and cattle country. And, driving later as we were, there were hares going everywhere too. 

Finally we crossed the first river, wide and about 50cm deep, and kept following the muddy, puddled, road. We were now on the final estancia (ranch/station), Entre Rios (translates as between rivers). We photographed the yellow roofed estancia buildings, and kept going. 

Finally we got to the border police building and there the road pretty much ended. Five men were stationed there and they invited us in for a cuppa and a chat. 

We couldn't cross, the river was much too high (and we didn't get to see it as it was another 6km and too late in the day to walk). The police had just started their 1 month assignment there that day, we passed the 5 who had done the previous month earlier in the day. And we couldn't park there overnight... So we were required to turn back. 

So, that's why I said we'd be 'out of reach' but I'm back online again... The project failed! (But, we did ask.....)