Wednesday 23rd November

Mileage - 5 kms...on foot !

Warning : virtually no motorcycle content !

Well the relaxed pace of Nikon Argentina is starting to get a little frustrating now. Latest update (Tues evening) is that the camera is being worked on, and therefore it's assumed the Sensor (CCD) is not completely knackered. Assumed that is, not confirmed. Blimey, it's like extracting teeth. Very lucky someone there speaks English, and lucky it will hopefully take a week and not two, but still no absolute confirmation I will get the camera before we leave. ho hum.More success on minor bike repair front. During our stormy ride we lost one of the pillion footrest rubbers and I've been trying to sort a replacement. Whilst walking around the other day we found - jammy - a footrest rubber off a moped. was perished, but cable tied it on and it has lasted a few kms. Yesterday when returning from the supermarket we spotted another whole footrest in the road, and that has now been made to fit. What are the chances of two footrest finds in three days, remarkably little resource-ridden town this place.

Looking good on the intercom front too. The replacement parts will be sent from US to our good friends Sandra & Javier in BA and they'll bring to the travelers meet at Viedma. In mean time we'll shout at each other in traditional married couple manner. Wasn't time to get the leads here even via UPS or similar (at our cost) but this is an excellent result and all praise to Autocom for that.

Finalised details with a call to the US, nice to talk to Meredith who I've been mailing last few days. To guarantee getting the parts they'll go UPS to S&J so still £40 odd, but that's a good deal to be able to stop shouting at Bev !

Last night Nik got a good contact, a guy who's father was German and settled here, he was brought up Argentinean, and now lives in Denver (on Nik's route to Alaska) and is an airline pilot. Double whammy as Nik has a love of all things with engines and wings, like us but ours is flora and fauna. He has a place to stay, and a host with the mostest. Great bloke, bought us a beer, gave us forecast of a bad storm coming in early in morning and gave us a little more of the history locally. Apparently, as detailed earlier, the Graf Spee crew set this place up (failed in finding a local history book in English, would love to read one, internet search on return), but La Cumbrecita was set up by fleeing Nazi's. I don't think he would have said that if not true. He said they're all dead now though. We narrowly missed visiting the place on Bev's birthday, I think an official visit is calling. Apparently "it is just like a German village", blimey so Belgrano isn't !!

If we stay here any bloody longer I'll be writing that history in English of this area.....that would be OK mind.

Anyway a day of exercise today ! Whahey ! Took a walk from here to the Virgin Mary on the hill above town. It was a bright day following on from last night’s storm that I guess missed town by a short distance. Thank god for that though, as it has considerably refreshed the temps. Last night was the hottest night I've ever had in bed.... steady you there at the back...I mean temperature wise. We've been in some hot places before but I have never woken up (and you can stop giggling at the back there) with wet sheets. Unbelievably hot.

Virgin Mary

Bev below Virgin Mary

So it was blue skies and cool and breezy, ideal for a walk.

Only the other side of town, but up a steep path. Not unlike a walk in the Lakes on a hot summers day, but without a 40-pound pack. Invigorating day out. Great views from the top, and some corking flowering cacti, those impressive ones where you have to examine under a huge flower to find small cacti, wonderful. Also saw, very briefly, our first ever Humming Bird ! Fabulous.

Cactus flower

Was nice to do something physical....now I've told you lot at the back....

The Nikon situation is improving, but still somewhat ill informed (like I'd stand the slightest if it weren't for my English speaking colleague there mind). At close of play today we have at least received confirmation that it will ONLY be 90 Peso's (£18). The camera is on the way, should be ready Saturday. Slightly wasting my breath returning to the fact we're on our way...oh yeah.. to Mendoza on Saturday. It'll be right in the end, but a little frustrating the continuing delay, and worse for Nik.

Fingers crossed I'll hear the camera has arrived tomorrow and we can collect it on Friday and we can scoot on Saturday for vistas new.....but don't hold your breath.