Badlanders MCC Website

 

Guys- it doesn’t get much better or, indeed, painful than this!

 

Again, this is as short as I can make it, because there is so much to say, but so little time!

 

This is the longest period of time in the saddle without access to civilisation- (well internet). Like TV, wouldn’t life be brill without IT!!!! Ok you ex CMBC guys......don’t answer that? Four days of solid cycling; tough, and with mishaps ( as you would expect), but also with stunning beauty.

 

On the route back down from Bariloche ( to get the miles in!!!!), I cycled through Nahuel Huapi Parque, primarily because as I sat on the bus taking my bike and trailer to Bariloche for repairs, I decided; no way on this earth was I prepared to do this in a bus! I don’t care how high the climbs were!!

 

If you look at the pictures I have posted on the PHOTOS page -FLICKR...... “English subtitles for the hard of understanding”....( thanks  Ron Steele for that classic of lines for a Jock, lost in the south east of England...... albeit slightly amended!), you will see why this was worth the effort; and effort is a complete understatement!

 

I cannot explain how stunningly beautiful this was, whilst at the same time the cause of serious, unadulterated pain! It shows how, in beauty; you can also find inhospitable treatment! The speed that the weather can change, the way that that the man made roads, and GOD like creations, such as “El Perro”, can conspire to make things difficult for you, is quite unbelievable! That said, this was one of the most enthralling parts of my trip.

 

Sure, I have enjoyed the cycles, the swims, and even in some perverse sort of way, the disasters, but nothing has been as stunning as this! 

You see; when young people do their art GCSE ( or ‘O’ grade..as they were in my day) and paint water in crystal blue, only to be told by their Art teacher, that water isn’t like that! Tell them to get stuffed! Or better still send them to Patagonia, where water is every colour you want it to be!

 

I cycled a very difficult first day from Bariloche in no less than 11 hours of rain! (Now for those that have heard me say that I don’t mind cycling in rain; it’s the wind I don’t like!  I have changed my view somewhat; and so has my bike and just about every item of clothing and equipment I have with me)

 

When I finally arrived at my first stop, I was so wet and desperate and it was so late, I didn’t even manage to get the owner of the B&Bs full name and address. Her husband at 90 years of age was barely conscious and hadn’t long to live, but she somehow managed to dry and warm my clothes, boots and gloves; she even took my soaking wet socks and washed them in the sink in front of me! It was embarrassing.

 

I knew I shouldn’t be there. Her daughter appeared and her sons were also there, waiting for the very worst. Her eldest son showed me how to work the TV in reception and went back downstairs to join the rest of the family at a time, which could only be described as a time of complete despair!  Her daughter came to see me. Her name was Helena. Helena had spent four years in Aberdeen with her husband whilst he attended University in Scotland. She spoke excellent English. Her sons were born in Aberdeen, which meant one thing; whether they spoke in Scottish or Spanish, I still wouldn’t understand them!

 

Looking at the decor, there was a strong Croatian theme clocks and ornaments. Could this be my first discovery of a non indigenous, or rather, non Spanish speaking family?

 

I was up early, and her eldest son came to see me off (the premises). I thanked them, especially, given the circumstances. Sharing BLOG details simply wasn’t appropriate! The sun was blue and I was on my way. The hill out of the town didn’t let me down. It was hell. It took for ever and the inclines were so steep, I had no choice but to get off the bike and push.

 

As I left the town, I faced down the enemy on a number of occasions ( El perro!).

 

After hours of what seemed like only uphill cycling I finally reached Rio Villegas; a small village at the bottom of the first major and absolutely exhilarating downhill ride! Try doing 36 mph with a trailer on the back at somewhere between 0-5 degrees; BUFF covering the mouth and nose, sunglasses on,( in declining light-  to protect the eyes from the wind and any chips from the road) and desperate to reach warmer climes!

 

I finally reached warmer climes in the form of Hugo and Estella in Rio Villegas! More about this wonderful couple in the next BLOG update.

 

Going to celebrate my birthday- yes...you all know the date now!!!!