Hello again so soon,
During my homely stay in Coyhaique, I received an e-mail from a good friend requesting more Photos from this next leg of my jaunt. She said something along the lines of "break the habit of a life-time" and even suggested some world renowned beauty spots worth capturing out here, Lake Titikaca and the Inca Trail among others. Deciding that this was not an unreasonable request and probably quite a prosperous one, I fostered new resolve to get snap happy. Armed with a robust manual camera donated by Brighton Crew (one love, you know who you are) with 24 shots left on it (only took twelve in four, months... not exactly threatening David Bailey´s legacy) plus a spare film given to me by a mate on the last expedition, I was set and determined to make good of this particularly poor show.
During a particularly moving and, as is my way, slightly rushed departure from Coyhaique, I incidentally failed to put a brown paper bag in a mates pickup en-route to my truck driving Chauffer (that’s what they call professional drivers out here) during a dazed bleary eyed moment, having just bid farewell to my Coyhaiquian Dad and Brother, I realised this bitter fact and requested to be sped home (rapido por favor) to accuse and interrogate the neighbors, swear a bit and kick the kerb. This done and accepting that I had indeed made a boo boo, I recounted what the bag contained treats for the journey, playing cards, writing materials, medication? (which the Raleigh Chile team went to great pains to help me get hold of, at great cost I might add, the sooner they get round to subsidized health care round here the better, gee anyone would think that they have more important things to worry about) no, thank my lucky stars, I have my supply of beloved Alphacalcidol. Then it hit me, what of my camera.
No sooner had I decided to start taking the thing out of my jacket pocket more than once a month, I went and lost it. What a pig, so sorry for the lack of pictures, though some of you have probably breathed a huge sigh of relief at forgoing the prospect of having to sit through hours of, this is me with some bloke you don’t know in some place you’ve never heard of.
For the rest of you don’t worry I’ve started work on developing a photographic memory…
Anyway, just thought that I better let you all know how things have kicked off on my big adventure. Spent the last two days in a truck with a couple and their child, Javier (big Elvis fan, could hold a good conversationilisation with mister Bush) Sandra (MILF) and the incredibly cute Diego. We travelled West into Argentina, then North. We ate a hot dinner of fried eggs, chips bread and salad in a restraunt which looked like a house, reminded me of Grandma Heather's and was apparently only frquented by Chileans and the local police force. We spent the night in a town called something Costa, I slept in the container of the truck, not a bad night if a little short, chauffers get going horribly early and can survive for weeks at a time on less than five hours sleep in sub-zero temperatures, with only imaginary friends for company. Argentina was horribly bland and dusty in the region that I saw, "plano, plano, floco, plano" (flat, flat, lazy, flat) Javier kept saying to me, in relation to the landscape and the state of the road.
It occoured to me at this point that Chileans with all their admirable atributes suffer somewhat serverly with country pride, not the bread, but the compulsion to point out faults in other countries (with out remorse) and fish relentlessly for compliments about their undeniably magnificent country, I just couldn't help feeling a little sorry for the old Argies caught on the wrong side of the Andies all those years ago, well I guess they always cane Chile at football. This being said, I decided to change my plan a little and slope back into Chile, travel north to Santiago, where a friend lives who does (or did) some work with Raleigh Host Country venturers. I recrossed the border into Chile with Javier and the family near the mountain resort of Bariloche. If anyone is ever coming this way, it looked great especially for winter sports, however I reccomend a little town just up the road by the name of Villa La Angostura, very picturesque, well a little less hectic... and scabby...
So I was dropped near Orsorno, at about nine thirty last night, at some services on the main (only) dual carrigeway, in Chile. I spent a couple of hours trying to get a lift with some lorry drivers, and then, as suggested, gave it up until the morning. Not a bad nights sleep, with the bonus of bathroom and showers at a very reasonable rate. Thismorning I caught a lift with a Shell petrol driver called Jorge (pronounced - horhay and whose son is a national champion skier and shooter) who has dropped me in the University town of Tomuco where I may well treat myself to a bus to Santiago.
Am I turning into a big whimp already? Is this the beginning of the end?
You decide...
After Santiago I may well scoot accross to Buenos Aires and then hit Bolivia from the South East, my preffered area from research to date.
Take care, all the best
Nuku
PS
Been waiting for a bus...
Wandered into a department store, Temucos answer to Dingles (joy, is there no end to wrongness??) discovered a new peice of music. For anyone who doesn´t mind a little electronic check out TIMO MAAS, Pictures. The website is a little scary, baad hair, obviously a tourtured soul, bear with the album it´s pretty ecclectic with some nice orchistral breaks, flipping to Bristol ghetto and Euro Hop. I have to admit to being drawn to the album by the Parental Advisory sticker...
www.timomaas.com
Oh, and egged on by stalwart few I´ve taken the time to recount some stuff:
Chilean hat count – 41
Heumel count – 14
The bear – 1 (Thanks Ange!)
Andean Condor – 29
Guanaco – 17
Llamas - 9
Four-eyed Patagonian Frogs - Still none, and I´m not even in Patagonia anymore, ruddy camoflaged amphibians...
Chile
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