Jen mentioned the fact that the camp owners seemed to be dealing with a flood, when we arrived yesterday!. Clearly they are diverting a stream through their property and allowing it to flood the fields used for camping. I noticed water build-up in the field next to us and wondered how long it would be before stuff the Caranex was floating about!
I bought it to the attention of the owner, who assured me we were on high enough ground to avoid such a thing.
By morning the water seemed to have seeped into the ground and we escaped any inundation. It dawned another beautiful day and by 10.30am we were packed and on the road.
Trouble with cookers.
Yesterday, our two gas stoves, one, we use for afternoon tea, (which is easier than lighting the main petrol cooker), hooked up to a 500ml Coleman gas cartridge, would not produce any gas. Mmm. On inspecting the ‘O’ ring in the valve, noted that it had been severely abraided. One cooker had not been used for some time since bursting into a ball of fire, in Jens hands. No damage to Jen or the vehicle. Anyway, the first task for the day was to visit a Ferretaria (hardware store) to purchase two new ‘O’ rings. Easily accomplished and next, a bank for more cash. We seem to be getting through it! Jen also managed to establish the phone number for the card, but could only purchase 1gig of data, for a week!! Conflicting rules!
With new ‘O’ rings, the cooker would still not produce, so the only other possible fault, the cylinder valve is faulty. This was confirmed when hooking a up a new cylinder. Mr Coleman can refund us on return to the UK..:)
Buying fruit.
There are fruit sellers all along the motorways. While we bought a big bucket of strawberries yesterday, we still didn’t have any cherries. They are ripening on the trees and are plentiful. We purchased a huge punnet of them, then, a 1.5kg punnet of Blueberries. I have to say folks, the fruit, while looking great, has next to no taste. Very disappointing. Nothing like the sweet juicy taste of either British, or NZ fruit. Could it be the use of excessive hydration during growth? It’s too early for grapes but the wine is first class. I’m developing a taste again, after several years of abstinence..:) It’s Jen’s and Kelvin’s influence…;) In the supermarkets, the price of a 250gm punnet of blueberries is prohibitive. We paid the same price for the 1,5kg!!
Too much fruit could have consequences…:)
Heading south on Ruta 5.
So, we are on the Ruta 5 again and it’s boring as hell. It’s not long before I’m pinching myself to stay focused. The mountains on our left are beautiful in the clear morning air and blue sky. Buses fly past us. They are magnificent, double decker’s. Twin rear axles and some, twin steer. Beautifully presented and the ultimate in luxury. While the speed limit for cars is 120kph, buses are allowed to 100kph and trucks, 90kph. Though most exceed this. We travel at around 85kph, for comfort and economy.
It would be easy to wonder where we are? Somewhere short of Collipulli and Los Angeles…:)
Jen has found a camp site she wants to visit tonight. It obviously ticks all the boxes. Following the guidance of Google maps, we turn off Ruta 5 onto a badly corrugated, gravel road and are restricted to about 15kph. On and on it went, turn left here, right there, we come to a ford in the track, it’s not too deep, and left there, but back onto a sealed road after about 25k’s. Sure enough, I said to Jen, we are heading back to Ruta 5, and there a sign, Ruta 5 ahead!! All that way and we are about 2k’s from the motorway. Never mind. The camp is in amongst trees and there is a wide river nearby.
It’s Saturday night and there are youngsters having BBQ’s. Saturday nights are not our favorite. I’m sure we will sleep like babies…:)
Sport.
At the time of posting, the All Blacks are 17 – 6 up against Italy. They will need to pile on some points in the 2nd half to ease the pain of a 1 point loss to France, last weekend and an overall, average season.
Cricket.
Our Black Caps have not done se well against Sri Lanka, after beating India. The Aussies have their hands full in a test being played now, against India. Some amazingly low totals, from both sides.
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