Day 5 and 6 (jun 3rd and 4th 2014)

Today I started to San Miguel del Monte, I started early to breack camp and I noticed that there was south-east wind... that means that I would have face wind all day long... That's why I was hurried to pick up everything an leave quickly, I had a long way in front of me, without places to stop in the middle of this part of the trip. Besides, the forecast service announced rain for the next day (jun 4th) (it was accurate and forced me to stay a whole day in San Miguel del Monte) This time I didn't stop too much, there is only one stop that deserve to be mentioned; when I met Pablo y Andres, that where on a side of the road with a pick-up and a harvester machine waiting for a truck i guess, and I talked a long time with them, while I rested my legs a little, that were a little sore because of the face wind.

After this meeting, I keep riding without problems until San Miguel del Monte, where I could make my camp in a gas station, where they allowed me to spend the rain day out of the road. This meant  a lost of time, but at the same time, it allowed my legs to recover a little from the past 3 days of constant pedaling, and also to read my physics notes, particularly about rolling friction, that made me see the failures of the kayak's trailer. in this day, I mentally remake the necessary modifications on the trailer, in order to make the trip easier... Anyway, it would't be possible to modify it until I get to Magdalena city, so I just could wait until the next day, with the company of Carlos y Simón, that made my day very friendly and funny!

Day 4 (jun 2nd 2014)

This day started exceptional... in Argentina, it is the volunteer firefighter's day and I was in a volunteer firehouse! Eary in the morning there was already a lot of movement in the firehouse, so I woke up and as I got out of the tent, a lot of people came to me to welcome me to the Navarro's volunteer firehouse. They didn't even even gave me time to think that I had already a hot chocolate mug in my hand and croissants to eat! I get very at ease among these people, that payed attention to me and asked me about details of my trip too. Then, we made some pictures. some for souvenir, some other to laugh a little. I am very thankful with them, to be honest, they rescued me from a big problem the night before!

After spending some time with the people in the firehouse, I went to a supermarket to buy supplies in order to leave to Lobos. After a warm goodbye, I get back to the provincial road 41,  destination Lobos, riding 3 kilometers over my steps that I did last night to get to the city. 2 hours after I left Navarro I met Paulo, Miguel, Ricardo and Jaime. I stopped to use a bridge railing to pose my bike, and there they were,  on a side of the road, having lunch arround a fire.

when I stopped, Miguel was just going to check his fishing rods that were next to my bike, in that moment, he asked me where I was going, and after a short dialog, he invite me to share their lunch and some mates, while we talked about our lives and fishing. It was a very nice meeting, with a lot of jokes an laughing, and a really tasty an needful lunch, but I got to keep riding, and they got to get back to work, so I get back to my business, and they get back to their own... Besides, I still has 20 kilometers ahead me before arrive to Lobos, and I didn't want to ride at night again. Even if a ate a lot, I wasn't feeling heavy, so these 20 kilometers were quickly done and I get pretty much early to Lobos but I didn't want to keep riding and be caught by night in the middle of nowhere, besides, the next part of the trip, from Lobos to San Miguel del Monte, was pretty long. and it wouldn't able for me to do it in this same day, so I decided, at 4pm, to make my camp next to the Alfredo's and Hector's tire shop, two characters that made me laugh a lot, shared many mate rounds, and explained many tasks and secrets of their business. This is how ends this day, with a big happiness feeling inside of me.

fff

Day 3 (jun 1st 2014)

Today I get back to my trip. after many talks and a long goodbye wit Eduardo's family, I took provincial road 41 destination Magdalena. I started quite late, around  3:30 pm, hoping to get to  Navarro city. The original idea was to get to Lobos, but, the departure was late, and i was feeling these 2 months without physical activity.

It has been a quiet trip, just an old car that gets a flat tire, and 10 kilometers after, gripped the engine, the only problem I had was that the night caught me when I was still far away from Navarro,  when I get to the first gas station I crossed, I had my first trip's bad meeting;there were 4 kilometers left to get into the city of Navarro, but since it was already dark, I preferred to ask in this gas station to stay the night there... when I stopped and get received with a "what do you want?" sentence I realize that I will keep riding... when I get to the city I found out that the first camping was closed for the winter, and the other one was also closed because falling tree branches risk... affronting this situation, i went to the Navarro's volunteer firehouse, where they gave me place to make my camp, and the possibility to use the firehouse's services. Note: pictures are a little blurry because of the coldness on the camp that fogged the camera's lens.

Eduardo O.!!

As I said on the  "Day 2" entry, the "convoy" remained in the city of Mercedes... But I never mentioned were it was or who kept it. Here appears Eduardo O. and his family. What can I say... I was in a delicate situation: I got to get back to Buenos Aires, without a place to stay, with the risk that envolves getting back with "the convoy", and how hard would be to find a place to put it; that's when I reached Eduardo through a friend...

who could really take me out of my distress situation and with his family they treated me like if i were one of them; they didn't just offered me a place to put my equipment, but they also made me a place on their table, their house and, in some way, their life. I shared very good moments with all of them, Eduardo, his wife Lujan, and his daughters Laura and Sofia. I was really surprised with this meeting, they are exceptional people,that had the best of predispositions to help me, and made me feel like I was part of their family and, to be honest, i will remember them until the last of my days!
I only have gratitude words for them, and I believe this was the only time that it was that hard to me to take the road again, I was so comfortable that it taked a big effort to say good bye to continue... but it is the way it must be, there are no words that can give them bak what they gave to me!

Some separe pics...

Those are some pics i took on the first part of the trip...

Pedro! (Peter)

Introducing Pedro!

My "stay partner", between quotes because when I arrive, he was already sleeping and it was on the next morning we could talk... Pedro is a simple guy from Germany, that, just like me, is doing his dreamed trip, although he got to modify it a little.

He also started his trip in bike, But an unfortunate accident in Peru made him put his bike away and continue in van... Like he said "I waited 30 years, I came here, learned the language, I can¿t leave without finish my trip"

At that moment I realize whe share something, the tenacity of finishing what we want. And since his problem with his bike was his knee, that received the impact of the fall and twisted in the accident, and his idea was to get back on his bike when his knee allows him, I remembered I had a similar problem due to an accident, so I decided to gift him my neoprene knee brace... a little ashamed, because I was using this brace yesterday, and it wasn't in the best hygienic conditions... even though, pedro gets very happy, and I really hope he can take his bike very soon, as he planned it!!

Day 2

The day two had a strange beginning... To start, I woke up at 5 am, thinking about leaving at 6, but it wat dark night still... so i stayed lying down until the sunrise... asleep.. at 7am ithe raindrops over the tent's roof awaked me... I thought it was a lost day, but it only rained for  15 minutes, so I decided to prepare my breakfast while I wait:

some mates with cereal cookies, fruit salad and some other stuff I don't remember now,whatever, the important thing is to recover energy in order to hit the road. While i was preparing this and my stool was getting broken, sprawling me all over the tent floor, I get out and analyze the day,how it was to continue, when I met Pedro, actually Peter, A German man that was also travelling, but in a van. Slowly, without rush but without pause, I dismounted my camp and I went to buy some stuff, when I found out that the truck driver's union was on strike all day long... so, I couldn't get supplies, just water, that¿'s how i got back to the road, without issues, until Mercedes. On the way, I stopped next to the Norberto Napolitano; "Pappo" monument, made in the place where he died by falling down of his motorcycle... and then, Mercedes.
In this city I found some stores that weren't on strike, so I could get my supplies, and even a homemade salami!

 It might be the destiny, because I stopped by coincidence in this store because of the road sign that was offering salamis and cheese, and just 5 minutes after I get into the store,it started to rain again. The guy that was working at the store,
Agustín, allowed me to stay in there until the rain stops, and gave me some plastic bags to protect my load, further, he provided me with an electric plug to charge my phone. while the rainstorm was passing by, we talked a few about a lot of things, my trip, his business... and avter thanking his gentleness and hospitality... I get on the road again...
Finally I left Mercedes behind, and reached "La picada", a gas station with restaurant 20 kilometers away from Mercedes, where I found a good meal, consisted of 12 empanadas,  and chat with people who was working there and passing by.. some people in car, and trucks taking diesel for the day after the strike...here, in this remote place, 10km away from Suipacha, I get a phone call that forced me to suspend the trip and get back to Buenos Aires.

 Hopefully, I could let the "convoy" in Mercedes,  so the way back was faster, in public transport... That's how ended the 2nd day, waiting to continue it,until I complete it. no matter if it rains, snows or thunders!!!