Ok. I know you must be sick hearing about the trailer, but
let me tell you, its been the bane of my life on this trip. Turns out the
spring clip that keeps it connected to the bike keeps coming undone on bumpy
roads, which means, as it only has a single wheel, it is inclined to tip the
bike or break the spindle. That meant a bus trip into Bariloche.
However,there is a
positive side to this. I got to Bariloche bikes and the guys there have sorted
the trailer (with an additional super strap that keeps it connected, even if
the clip does come undone), they serviced the bike and I have front panniers to
help counter balance the weight on the back. As always, a stop for a few days is
a chance to taste something other than porridge and bananas. And the trout here
is great. And in Bariloche, for those chocolate lovers, it’s another chocolatta
heaven!
The positive side is that I have swum almost every day in
the lake. I have also met some really great people in Patanuk Hostel. The first
Scottish couple I have met in South America, (Lisa and Russell), Matthew a
Frenchman doing an internship here in Bariloche, Pablo who is here from
Zaragotha, Valeria, Maria and Alla who work here; and the owners, Silvia and
Martin. The guys in the bar which is downstairs (I can’t remember their names,
which may have something to do with the “manush” red, black or white beer!!!!)
are a great crowd too. You start to see how much talent there is in the world,
when they all pick up instruments, different ones at different times and start
playing anything and everything. It means the hostel can be a bit noisy, but at
least I don’t need to remember the words to pearls a singer to get to
sleep....which I have had no difficulty in doing here after a couple ( only a
couple) of manush beers!
Last night a couple arrived from
London; Ben and Hilary. Turns out Hilary was
brought up in Oxted in
Surrey; she didn’t
think I would know it!!!!!!. She was best friends with my CEO’s daughter, good
friends with Margaret McNaughton who was my Council leader and she was a
regular visitor to that famous “Tandridge Leisure Pool” which I helped bring
into existence. Indeed, it took over my life for a few years!! We knew many of
the same people, she also recalls Mohammed Al Fayed coming home from Harrods on
his helicopter for lunch.This is a
living example of Barabasi’s linked theory, which states that there are six
degrees of separation from everything. It’s all about nodes and connections!
Or, to use a more commonly known the term or theory;“Its a small world”!
There is only so much enjoyment you can get from flat or
even pretty hilly plains, however awe inspiring they may be. However, the
Lake District here in Bariloche and surrounding areas is,
quite honestly, stunning. Now I know that in the
UK,
we have our own Lake District and I wish I could say that it would match Rio
Negro and the Chubut in
Argentina,
but sadly, however picture perfect Keswick, Ullswater, Coniston and everywhere
else is, it just doesn’t compare. Though it rains as often here as it does
there!!
I’m afraid the writing is dying down a bit, but I am trying
to upload pics whenever I can. So keep an eye on them!
Thanks again to all who have sponsored either the Red Cross
or LAFF, or are helping to raise money. Its really appreciated. And for those
that haven’t got around to it, Its easy- click on the donate page on the
website or go to just-giving. A little goes a long way!
Well, I’m off again, with the full understanding that there
are a group of guys doing much more miles, much faster than me on a daily basis
as they embark on “le Tour de France”. However, I also remind myself that they
have a back up, they have first aid on call, they have dieticians and top notch
bikes. Need I say more!
