Headed North to Bariloche, chocolate capital of Argentina and access to some of the best X treme sports anywhere. On the outskirts of this amazing area it is reminiscent of a shanty town. We are briefed on security, a big increase in gangs targeting overland trucks, and warned not to leave anything other than clothing in the tents. The campsite, Selva Negro, is set up a 250 metre steep road deep in the red wood forest. Good facilities and most important wifi.
Eight of us sign up with Aquas Blancas for a full day of white water rafting including breakfast and all equipment.
28.12.12 Argentina / Chile
It is a beautiful day, clear blue sky and quite warm. Geoff, Francois, Sue, Vanessa, Karen, Steve, Lisa and I head off, having been collected, on a two hour drive to the launch site. We are driving through some of the most unspoilt countryside I have ever seen. We are going to be negotiating the Rio Manso. From glacier source, it is born at Tronador mountain and runs through the following lakes. Mascardi, Los Moscos, Hess and Steffen which divide the river into three different parts. Superior Manso, Middle Manso and Inferior Manso. The river born in Argentina continues towards Chile and flows into the Pacific Ocean. Hence we all have our passport details as we raft into Chile at the end of the journey. Rafting this stretch of the river is graded as levels 3 / 4 so fairly exciting stuff.
Stood around we are asked for two volunteers, nobody moves. Go on Tony a few friendly wags shout out. I step forward with Francois, two captains for the very front of the raft. Donned in wetsuits, over jackets, life jackets, safety helmet and your paddle we take instruction and our positions at the front of the raft. The rest of the team join us so we are four aside. My side consists of Vanessa, Karen and Sue.....the English side with Lisa ( Irish ), Geoff ( Aussie ), Steve ( English ), led obviously by Francois the International side. We head out into the very clear slow moving Rio Mansa for further instruction from Peter our navigator and instructor. The trick is to wedge your right foot under the strap at the front of the raft and your left foot behind you wedged into the inflatable rib side, hang out over the side of the raft and dig deep and fast all in time. We practice and it quickly goes to pot, but practice makes perfect and in a short space of time were looking good, but we need more power, more effort.
We set off mid river amongst amazing colours of blue and turquoise and initially the flow takes us whilst we gawk at the amazing surroundings. We spot our first rapid and wait for our command, " forward " we dig in and attack, negotiating the waves and rocks as the river narrows. We come through unscathed and are triumphant. The next three are all slightly different and we manage admirably. Laughing and whooping I ask Peter how many more rapids to go. Laughing back he states we haven't done one yet........What !!! Nervously we look at each other and giggle like kids, oh shit ! Anyway a few bends later we hit the first rapid, what a wake up call. As it looms and we're bobbing like a cork the adrenaline kicks in, paddling like mad, attack, attack, attack we enter the full force of the swirling, maelstrom. A huge wave looms about ten foot in front of me I duck and Vanessa gets the full force :) as it jets over me. How we came out the other side unscathed I don't know but we did, absolutely amazing. We celebrate hooting and jeering and calm down once Peter informs us the other nine only get worse.
We battle our way through the rest of the course and miraculously remain intact having rafted through some of the most spectacular, rugged and beautiful countryside I have ever seen. We spotted two Kingfishers along the way sat on branches watching our performances. A truly great day ended by a long walk up the hillside, a lovely trout and salad lunch followed by a well earn't iced cold beer.
1. Chocolate heaven
2. Ditto
3. The White Water crew
4. On calm waters
5. I am at the front on the left as u look at the raft.
6. You can just about see us.
7. Safety kayak disappearing
8. Nearly at the end
9. Beautiful surroundings
These pictures were photographed from a laptop screen, as I have the disk but can't get them transferred on to I pad.
Well till next time
Adios
Tony x
Looks more like a holiday to me!!! Chocolate? Rafting? What other fun things? Hope all good, getting ready for our holiday not an expedition!!!!!!Catch up soon xxxxxx
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