Conchilas
21/01/10 23:14 Filed in: Uruguay
A fine, hot and windless day. I decided to have a look at the port of Conchilas sited about 40 km upriver from Colonia.
Scooter hire companies now advise customers not to venture beyond the limits of Colonia. This makes hiring one pretty pointless. I said I wanted to go to Conchilas and after first saying I couldn't the proprietor relented on the condition that I was on my own outside Colonia.
For US$20 I rented a tired 50cc scooter and set off. By road Conchilas is about 55km.
After about an hour and a half I arrived at the village of Conchilas. Recognised for it's architectural heritage.
Most buildings are long and low with galvanised tin rooves.
Some are stone. Others plaster over brick/stone.
There is a small park in the centre. Quiet would be an understatement.
The bank was a little different.
Most houses appeared to be part of long terraces.
Puerto Conchilas lay about 20 minutes down a very worn out asphalt road.
Apart from a few anglers Puerto Conchilas appeared deserted.
The layout is not dissimilar to Colonia with the quay/breakwater facing more to the west. Channel marking buoys in the Rio Uruguay were clearly visible but apart from a light on the quay there appeared to be no navigational aids for Puerto Conchilas.
Prefectura office and beach viewed from the quay.
Rio Uruguay side of the quay with abandoned chain and machinery. A strong ebb was flowing round the quay.
Inshore working face of the quay with fendering. No sign of any recent activity. A number of mooring blocks were stacked awaiting deployment.
Another view of the inshore quay from a small sandy beach nearby. A wreck in the approaches is also visible. This inshore bay would be totally exposed to winds from NE through to W.
A fading cafe/residence near the quay.
Another wreck further into the bay.
Prefectura Office with exposed rocks and Rio Uruguay beyond.
Quite what the purpose this port serves was unclear. At some point there must have been sufficient trade to justify the substantial quay/breakwater. Perhaps it will have a future as a leisure port if the moorings are deployed.
On the outskirts of Puerto Conchilas one is directed to a nearby yacht club.
Situated on the south bank of Arroyo San Francisco.
It boasts a substantial clubhouse,
Riverside moorings, parking and parrillas.
A shower block is close by.
The ubiquitous french boat moored bow to bank with anchor aft. The bank is quite low and floods at high river levels.
I did not see the entrance to Arroyo San Francisco. A chap in the club mentioned a minimum depth of 2m and two ocean going yachts were moored along with a couple of small argentine yachts. It appeared well sheltered.
Cost per night is Urg$100 (about £3) per night including electricity and I suspect lots of mosquitos. There did not appear to be any shops but it is a quiet spot with a couple of nice little beaches near The cost is not far south of charges at Colonia or Nueva Palmira.
On the way back to Conchilas I stopped by the English Cemetery.
In fact there are numerous English and German graves...
... sited alongside a much greater number of Spanish style graves.
Back on Route 21 and 45km from Colonia. At this point my scooter was displaying a high temperature warning light.
En route a sign to this battlefield. A battle of which I have never heard.
Safely back in Colonia without incident there was a mirror calm,
and quarter moon.
Scooter hire companies now advise customers not to venture beyond the limits of Colonia. This makes hiring one pretty pointless. I said I wanted to go to Conchilas and after first saying I couldn't the proprietor relented on the condition that I was on my own outside Colonia.
For US$20 I rented a tired 50cc scooter and set off. By road Conchilas is about 55km.
After about an hour and a half I arrived at the village of Conchilas. Recognised for it's architectural heritage.
Most buildings are long and low with galvanised tin rooves.
Some are stone. Others plaster over brick/stone.
There is a small park in the centre. Quiet would be an understatement.
The bank was a little different.
Most houses appeared to be part of long terraces.
Puerto Conchilas lay about 20 minutes down a very worn out asphalt road.
Apart from a few anglers Puerto Conchilas appeared deserted.
The layout is not dissimilar to Colonia with the quay/breakwater facing more to the west. Channel marking buoys in the Rio Uruguay were clearly visible but apart from a light on the quay there appeared to be no navigational aids for Puerto Conchilas.
Prefectura office and beach viewed from the quay.
Rio Uruguay side of the quay with abandoned chain and machinery. A strong ebb was flowing round the quay.
Inshore working face of the quay with fendering. No sign of any recent activity. A number of mooring blocks were stacked awaiting deployment.
Another view of the inshore quay from a small sandy beach nearby. A wreck in the approaches is also visible. This inshore bay would be totally exposed to winds from NE through to W.
A fading cafe/residence near the quay.
Another wreck further into the bay.
Prefectura Office with exposed rocks and Rio Uruguay beyond.
Quite what the purpose this port serves was unclear. At some point there must have been sufficient trade to justify the substantial quay/breakwater. Perhaps it will have a future as a leisure port if the moorings are deployed.
On the outskirts of Puerto Conchilas one is directed to a nearby yacht club.
Situated on the south bank of Arroyo San Francisco.
It boasts a substantial clubhouse,
Riverside moorings, parking and parrillas.
A shower block is close by.
The ubiquitous french boat moored bow to bank with anchor aft. The bank is quite low and floods at high river levels.
I did not see the entrance to Arroyo San Francisco. A chap in the club mentioned a minimum depth of 2m and two ocean going yachts were moored along with a couple of small argentine yachts. It appeared well sheltered.
Cost per night is Urg$100 (about £3) per night including electricity and I suspect lots of mosquitos. There did not appear to be any shops but it is a quiet spot with a couple of nice little beaches near The cost is not far south of charges at Colonia or Nueva Palmira.
On the way back to Conchilas I stopped by the English Cemetery.
In fact there are numerous English and German graves...
... sited alongside a much greater number of Spanish style graves.
Back on Route 21 and 45km from Colonia. At this point my scooter was displaying a high temperature warning light.
En route a sign to this battlefield. A battle of which I have never heard.
Safely back in Colonia without incident there was a mirror calm,
and quarter moon.