Cabo Polonia
04/12/10 12:56 Filed in: Uruguay
A brisk northerly this morning meant we would not be sailing today. We decided to visit Cabo Polonia some 50km up the coast.
There is a regular bus service from the coach station in La Paloma.
The bus stop for Cabo Polonia is actually some 7km from the cape. On has the choice of taking a very old 4wd shuttle (Urg$150 return) or walking. We chose to walk.
Goats on route.
Most or the route is over grassy dunes. The 4wd's make a bit of a mess of the terrain. Visitors and or residents are allowed access using their own 4wd's. Cabo Polonia is in the distance.
Dunes extending to the south.
Beach shack two km from the cape.
Sheltered beach on the leeward side of Cabo Polonia. The more expensive and better kept houses are on this side.
The beach gives way to rocks.
First attempt at an I-Phone panorama.
The northern side is much more heavily built with hostels, posadas shops, a shuttle station and a wide variety of private accommodation split between holiday homes and alternative lifestyle permanents. There is no mains electricity but I saw only a few wind generators and one solar heater.
There is a small fishing fleet. Boats are pulled clear of high water on skids.
Northern more exposed beach.
North facing houses on the shore battling erosion.
Most dwellings are small.
Fresh water is drawn from wells.
Many of the houses are home builds.
This was one of the smallest.
The lighthouse...
...with vicious shoals beyond.
A smarter house overlooking the leeward beach.
We caught a 4wd shuttle back. They are mostly heavily converted army surplus that have seen better days. On our trip the suspension bottomed regularly during a very bouncy ride. I preferred walking.
Back in La Paloma the latest forecast indicated a change to southerly winds for 24 hours then back to northerlys. No point in sailing with a south wind only to run into an F6 northerly 24 hours later.
There is a regular bus service from the coach station in La Paloma.
The bus stop for Cabo Polonia is actually some 7km from the cape. On has the choice of taking a very old 4wd shuttle (Urg$150 return) or walking. We chose to walk.
Goats on route.
Most or the route is over grassy dunes. The 4wd's make a bit of a mess of the terrain. Visitors and or residents are allowed access using their own 4wd's. Cabo Polonia is in the distance.
Dunes extending to the south.
Beach shack two km from the cape.
Sheltered beach on the leeward side of Cabo Polonia. The more expensive and better kept houses are on this side.
The beach gives way to rocks.
First attempt at an I-Phone panorama.
The northern side is much more heavily built with hostels, posadas shops, a shuttle station and a wide variety of private accommodation split between holiday homes and alternative lifestyle permanents. There is no mains electricity but I saw only a few wind generators and one solar heater.
There is a small fishing fleet. Boats are pulled clear of high water on skids.
Northern more exposed beach.
North facing houses on the shore battling erosion.
Most dwellings are small.
Fresh water is drawn from wells.
Many of the houses are home builds.
This was one of the smallest.
The lighthouse...
...with vicious shoals beyond.
A smarter house overlooking the leeward beach.
We caught a 4wd shuttle back. They are mostly heavily converted army surplus that have seen better days. On our trip the suspension bottomed regularly during a very bouncy ride. I preferred walking.
Back in La Paloma the latest forecast indicated a change to southerly winds for 24 hours then back to northerlys. No point in sailing with a south wind only to run into an F6 northerly 24 hours later.