Travel anecdotes
No Pasa Nada
This Argentinian sentence is symbolic; as it truly describes the "buena onda" (good vibes) of the Patagonians but also positive spirit among the team riders. No matter the circumstances, we did our best to stay positive! This phrase was repeated to us at the most unexpected moments of our travels. Alright, let's start with day 1 of our journey. We are saddling our horses for the big departure. Capucine has tied up Mantecol to the paddock fence. Her horse freaks out and pulls back taking away with him 10m off the fence. Oh no! Capucine and Charlotte S try to speak to the owner but his only reply is a quiet "no pasa nada"...Let's take care of it later...but we are supposed to be leaving now...to which his final answer will remain...."No pasa nada". Blunder number 1.
Turn around and try again - getting lost in the pampa
After four fantastic days at Estancia 3 Valles, it's time to keep going (which is always an exciting time for us). We decide to try a shortcut to cut through the valley; which should save us a few hours. After walking for three hours, we end up face to face with a locked up paddock. Capu goes scouting the area to check whether there is a way out. She finds a spot where we can lean the fence to go over. We cross over to a beautiful section with tall trees with extremely moist soils covered with moss. It feels like paradise. We have to be on the right way....until we arrive face to face with an enorme gigantic lake. What the....? How can this be? It's not on our map, and not on our GPS! The only way through is to walk along the bank very carefully as it's a rocky outcrop. Our horses refuse to go until Capu manages to get one step forward from Mantecol. Second step and off he slips in the water, with Capu on top. We can't believe our eyes, he's swimming to meet the bank again. Everyone comes out safe, but soaking wet, including Capu's saddlebags and belongings. Our only option is then to head back! We will spend the night at the estancia Solis, choosing the long way around on the next day!
We had been staying in Alto Rio Senguer at the Estancia Pujana with a beautiful couple Luz and Ricardo. We were beautifully welcome given a private home for a full week. The weather was amazing all week, with only sunshine. On the day of departure, heavy dark clouds were covering the sky. Everyone in the village has been telling us that it never rains in Senguer so we trust the god of the sun to clear these clouds. Unfortunetely, we soon get soaked up by heavy rain. We stay positive. It's going to stop eventually. After two hours walking on the road with strong winds and heavy rains, we (and the horses) feel drained and shivering with cold....until by surprise, we get stopped by a car by the side of the road....It's our hosts Luz and Ricardo, coming to our rescue. We can't believe our eyes. "Tie up your horses by the side of the road on the grassy bits, let's put all your stuff back in our car, and head back home. We will bring them fresh hay tonight and tomorrow morning". Luck is on our side. And again a display of Patagonian hospitality. We will be forever grateful for this gesture of kindness. We did feel a bit of apprehension on the next morning. Will our horses still be there? They might have been stolen. But no, the four of them were there, gently waiting for our return and some well deserved hay.
Another example of us turning around happened about a few weeks later. We leave from the Estancia El Nire, lost in the middle of nowhere. One of the staff, vaguely explains to us how to get to Aldea Beleiro (our next destination). We soon end up locked up among hundreds and hundreds of hectares of fencing without being able to find an exit point. For hours, we try on one side, then another, without any success. Our only option is to head back to the estancia! We end up arriving 9 hours later. It's getting dark but no one is around. We decide to come inside their house and make ourselves some dinner, using our flashlights as there is no electricity. Half an hour later, it's pitch dark and the guys finally come back. They find it hilarious that we're back at square 1! Indeed the situation is pretty funny! On the next day, a kind peon from the estancia agrees to come with us to show us the way to the nearest gate. Aleluia, the way is now clear!
