Zapala Day 47 Jan 26 14

 

 I am awaken by screeching birds in a nearby tree….it’s likely about 5am…..soon roosters are crowing so I crawl out of my sleeping bag……I actually had a decent sleep under a an umbrella of stars that was awesome……..Antonio, is working on his tube….the sun is hot……a young lad comes around and asks if we would like to come around into the shade….this is welcomed and we move……a nice breeze is blowing through the trees…..Antonio learns that the boy is vacationing with his Uncle and learning to ride horses and herd the families sheep….its Sunday and the son and wife and grand daughter of our host’s arrive……..the son takes over the project…the tube is in bad shape….numerous holes are fixed some with bicycle patches. The valve stem which has a tear near its base is removed and a new valve at different location is inserted……..this couple spends an hour or more fixing the tube……finally Antonio installs the rim and we are off….I sense some concern from the son who fixed it whether it will hold up….after all we didn’t have the right patches in all places…….we go 20 k of the 70 k we need to get to Zapala and the tire is flat……go to inflate and learn that the valve stem is different and won’t work with our pump. I suggest flagging a truck but Antonio is stressed out and wants to think about the situation….suggests I go on to Zapala and see if I can get a tube at a Service Station….I try 2 to no avail ….all tell me everything is closed its Sunday……I buy a bottle of spray in foam that might work with the other tube, a bottle of water and return……Antonio is not there…..this is a good sign …means he got a lift but will I locate him in a town of 40,000……yes, he is on the bypass of the city. I meet a couple Policia and ask in sign language where I might find a place to sleep….they escort me to a hotel and I unpack then  go back and we load Antonio’s gear onto my bike and he walks/rides his bike the 4k to the hotel……

It appears that we will part company today as we have had another heated discussion over $ 10.00 I mentioned that a blogger paid for a camp site….he asks what that was in pesos and I reply he didn’t say…so then he responds then it’s meaningless….I am travelling in Pesos…the US dollar has to relevance here….Oh …….you left home working with US or CND $ but now your concerned ABOUT COSTS IN PESOS YET YOU HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY TELLING ME ALONG THE WAY WHAT THAT TRANSLATES TO US…..NOT A GOOD COMEBACK AS HE SAYS BASICALLY THAT i DON’T WANT TO SPEAK SPANISH SO i AM NOT IMMERSING MYSELF IN THEIR CULTURE AND JUST PASSING THROUGH…….i DON’T HAVE AN IQ OVER 160 SO SPANISH DOESN’T COME EASY BUT i HAVE MANAGED THOUGH i AGREE YOU WILL ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE MUCH BETTER IF YOU CAN CARRY ON A CONVERSATION IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGE….IT’S JUST ARGUING OVER THE PESO VS BANK RATE / BLUE RATE/ BLACK MARKET….WHAT’S THE POINT IN THE END WE ARE TRAVELLING ON MONEY WE HAVE IN THE BANK AT HOME AND SO IF YOU GET 10 PESOS TO THE US DOLLAR THAT’S GREAT VS THE BANK RATE OF 7.1 OR SO.

 I will head north and make a decision soon as to my intentions on crossing back into Chile. Antonio has found a place to get his bike repaired and is there now……..