Fun times! 10/14/26

 

Today we'd embark on two activities, one familiar, one not. First, we'd travel by our little bus out to the Patagonian steppe to visit a local family (the Haneck's) and go for a horseback ride!  Apparently riding a horse is the most traditional way to explore this part of the world.  We were game ... but we didn't want to ride in the rain.  The lady of the family, whose name was Monica (I think) lent me her rain jacket in case drops fell.  Good idea, 'cause I'm sure that's why the rain held off!  

Their place is located roughly 15 kms from our hotel in Bariloche inside the Nahuel Huapi National Park area, much of it on a very rough road, compliments of ongoing flooding rains.

Here's a picture you don't see every day!  I don't know how to ride a horse.  I don't know anything about horses, except they're way bigger than me.  Consequently, I'm a bit afraid of them.  The gauchos helped each of us "hop on," so that part was easy.  The horses followed the leader, mine was second in line.  We were told, "one hand on the rein, the other on the saddle," so I couldn't take pics, but the scenery was green, soggy wet, and very scenic.  The horse and I became friends; her name was Monique or something like that, so I chatted with her.  She didn't do anything stupid to make me look bad. 😉.

The one picture I took.

After the ride, we enjoyed a traditional Argentine asado (barbecue) featuring beef, lamb, sausage, homemade bread, and family-brewed craft beer.  I forgot to get a pic of the feast, but above the group poses.  The Haneck family has been in the area since 1874, migrating from Germany -- just one of the many European families who were given land by the Argentine government as a reward for helping establish a border between Argentina and Chile.  Nice hosts.

Jimmy and I both liked our horse ride very much.  Clip-clop, clip-clop.

After that, we chose the optional raft excursion on Limay River.  The river was as high as people had seen it in forever, and very fast.  Very fast.  No real rapids were involved, tho we did make it to maybe a Class One section.  Just fun!  Nine of us, above, plus the boat guide/steerer (new word invented by me).  The landscape was dry, similar to our northern deserts, and the rock (mostly basalt) was fantastic.

Remember, it's only early spring here in South America,

some trees are barely in leaf.

This rock face was awesome with its natural stone steps!  Enlarge the pic if you need to, it's quite a sight.  We spied lots of similar stone faces, but this was the best I saw. 

Loved being on the river. It originates at the eastern end of the Nahuel Huapi Lake and meanders for about 240 mi, eventually meeting the Neuquén River and together they become the Río Negro.

Too soon it was over and we disembarked at a farm, where we were served empanadas, salads, bread and drinks.  Very tasty light repast after our float.  Above, the bridge to a small island on their property was awash.

Spied a few critters today!  Bright fella top left is a Long-tailed meadowlark, at right is one of several guanacos, bottom right are male (white) and female Upland geese, bottom left Neotropic cormorants park on a tree branch over the river.

This area is the ultimate in picturesque.

Showers here and there ...

The lake that fronts our hotel and the origin of Limay River.

What a majestic sight.  Who would tire of it? Not us.

At the hotel, we naturally gravitated to the indoor pool and a lovely swim.  Whew, lucky lucky us.  Tomorrow we'll travel south to Puerto Varas, Chile.