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Bushwalking/ Hitchhiking

Who Could Be $@%&#/ Can I Stretch My Leg

So what have I been up to lately. I went to El Chalten and that was pretty nice. I did a bit of bushwalking there. On the first one I thought I was doing pretty good, everyone had said that it was a pretty hard walk, and I thought I was just some naturally tallented hiker, without any training at all. That was until i reached the last couple of hundred meters or so, over which the track rose a couple of hundred meters (about 45 degrees). By the time I got to the top I was absolutely buggard and the Fitz Roy (big granite rock at the top) had just been covered up by clouds and it started to rain.
But enough whinging, I made it and I´ve got the photo to prove it and that´s what matters. I took the next day off to recover and the day after I did another hike which, wheather wise, proved equally disappointing. The wind at my destination was the strongest i have ever experienced. That in itself was pretty cool, but the main attraction was once again covered in cloud. That walk was a lot
easier than the previous one though and in the end was quite pleasant (how boringly lame ;)). The day after that I got a bus further north toward Perito Moreno, but I decided to stay at
an Estancia (ranch) 75km out of town cause my guide book said it was cheap and I thought it would be cool to gaucho (cowboy) it up for a couple of days. When I arrived there were no other guests there and there was no electricity. The "local" attraction there is La Cueva de Las Manos (Cave of Hands), which the owners of the estancia told me was about a 3 hour walk away, from where I could return by car, I think, because they only spoke spanish and thought that talking faster made it easier to understand. However, I thought that compared to my previous hikes this would be a piece o cake. After about 5 hours walking, following a badly signed track I finally made it and it was pretty cool, 9,000 year old cave paintings mostly of hands, juanacos and hunters. But at the end of the tour when I asked about getting a lift home the guide looked at me blankly and basically said that there were no cars there and he didn´t think
anymore people were going to come that day. It was about 5 o´clock by that stage so I thought I was going to have to walk back and arrive by about 10pm. Luckily another tourist came to see the paintings, did the tour then gave me a lift even though he wasn´t going to go that way. The day after that, which was yesterday, I hitched a ride into Perito Moreno, cause that was the only way into town. I started hitching at about 10am and got a lift at about 12:30pm. In Poreto Moreno I managed to find the bus station after wondering round in circles and asking for directions about 5 times. I caught a bus to Comodoro Rivadavia, which arrived at 10pm and I thought I was going to stay there the night but there was an overnight bus to Puerto Madryn, my intended destinations so I thought I´d kill 2 birds with 1 stone, transport and accomodation. Unfortunately sleeping on the bus wasn´t that comfy, and I awoke this morning with a terrible feeling in my neck to the sound of the driver telling me we´ve arrived after an estimated 2 or 3 hours sleep. Anyway, the plan is to stay here for a while and check out the penguins, seals, dolphins and hopefully an killer whale. Keep up the comments, I know Daino that I´ve written a long winded entry again. Shut up! Peace out, I´m going to sleep.

Posted by plummers 5:39 AM Archived in Hitchhiking | Argentina

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Comments

hey plum! sounds crazy i can just imagine you strolling along some back road and engaging the locals with your new spanglish tongue. if you can, get to bariloche - fabulous home made chocolate and cool night life. im in lima at the moment and heading south eastish over the next few months. would be cool to meet up in bolivia / argentina if youre around. what are the plans? cant wait to read more of your adventures. watto (annakatewatts@hotmail.com)

26.03.2007 by annarito

hey plum! sorry i missed you on skype last night! would have been rad to have a chat. next time gadget. nice work on the hiking! and here was me thinking all your limbs were painted on. (now you've convinced me its just your arms). You've totally turned me around on this travellers point blog. im gunna use one of these instead of a blogspot. but you're not always right. that gladwrap full of water is still hanging on our clothesline.

talk to you soon buddy. take care have fun.
bananas?

26.03.2007 by hutchi

Hey Plumcheese, good to hear you're still in the world of the living and annoying spanish drivers with your constant need for leg stretching. They really didn't know what they were in for did they? Good luck with the dolphin gauchoing
Laters

26.03.2007 by sammyx

Top comments, loved the update, hope you see the killer whale - love cass

27.03.2007 by cass_p

That all sounds awesome plum! Can't believe you hitchhiked that's crazy! Am sitting here with the neighbours cat reading about South American weather thinking of you and hoping that the freezingness I'm reading about is not happening to you. good luck with all the wildlife!

28.03.2007 by lindo

Hello Bruther,

All sounding absolutely awesome mate. Nice work hitch-hiking mate, did you have to flash to get picked up?


Sounds like you're having an great time mate. I am freakin jealous as I sit at my desk and talk engineering for 10 hours a day.

Saw Jarvis Cocker (lead singer of Pulp) on Wed night. I thought of you as I prepared to rock out to Common People. But he didn't play it. Rubbish.

You should definitely introduce some of you South American friends to the musical genius of Shatner.

Look after yourself mate. We're all still pining over your absence, but are wrapped your having an awesome time.

Senor.

29.03.2007 by swaney77

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