It’s 6.10pm and we are camped amongst rows of mostly Poplars. It’s another dusty, sprawling campsite with the most basic facilities, that exceeds even the El Chaltan site for expense. 45,000p!! You could nearly get a hotel room in Rotorua for that!
But, it’s the height of the summer holiday season and the drive from last nights camp has been stunning. We are doing a loop of the 7 Lakes that begins and ends at Barilochi. Only we won’t be completing the loop but heading east when we get to Zapata and will follow the R40 to Nuequen. Let’s see how that transpires as there is an alternative road the R 237 to Neuquen. Both roads are shown as sealed on the map?
Interaction with locals
The highlight of our day was at an elevated lake side car park. Many were showing great interest in Poki and the side graphics. One group of I believe, seven very early 20’s males, showed particular interest and we got into a wonderful discussion about all things Argentina. They are university students from Buenos Aries and most of them could speak good English. Four of them were studying veterinary science and one, International relations!! I Joked with him about the serious job he had ahead of him, resolving the Malvinas/Falklands issue, without animosity. The main spokesman asked me what age I was and wouldn’t believe me. What a charming young man…:) It must have been my ripped jeans shorts that threw him! I should have told him I’m travelling with my daughter…:)
When first stopping at the site, a chap in a ute next to us was paying particular attention to the sound of Poki. He couldn’t understand the cadence of the engine. Not 4 cylinder he gesticulated, not 6 cylinder I returned. When I put up 5 fingers he laughed. He pointed to the emblem on his T Shirt that depicted crossed pistons and conrods, he’s a mechanic, and I knew we were on the same page. We also got chatting with several other groups, all from Brazil. Happy, enthusiastic people.
As reflected in the number of miles driven today, it’s a very winding, hilly, glorious drive on a blue-sky day. The traffic is nearly bumper to bumper. What a place to be during the annual holiday season!
Arriving in De Los Andes.
Guess what our first job was, on arriving in De Los Andes? Yep, straight to the supermarket. Where does the food go? I’m not putting any weight on…:)
Tomorrow was going to be our rest day, though Jen got stuck into doing the washing as soon as we had the Caranex erected. At 45,000 per day it’s likely we’ll cut a track outta here!
It’s now 7pm and the blue-sky is now grey! If it rains, this camp site is going to be a quagmire.
Dutch friends Lillian and Rob are heading over this way from Buenos Aries, in their Defender. Perhaps we will meet with them somewhere along the way? They want to do a hike into the mountains. That’ll be a challenge but a welcome one. A lot will depend on where we meet.
Traffic is pouring into the town for the weekend. It’s a wealthy looking town that I’m sure is as popular in the winter, as summer. Maybe the price of fuel is going up tomorrow as there are long long queues at the petrol stations?!!!
Views: 59