The past few weeks have been full of great hiking as we have made our
way north through Patagonia. We hiked north from El Chalten with ever
changing views of Monte Fitz Roy and across the remote border to a tiny,
isolated corner of Chile. We spent a few days, and many hours hanging
out by the fire with new friends, in our campsite in Cerro Castillo
reserve while we waited out strong winds and sleet on the traverse
route. We walked (and stumbled) along muddy horse trails through lush
rainforest and cliffy valleys, stopping to chat with families whose
farm fields and livestock we trekked past, as we hiked from Cochamo, Chile to El Bolson,
Argentina. But equally memorable are the hours and days we spent in
vehicles just to get from one place to another across a vast and remote
region of bumpy gravel roads with light traffic and infrequent public
buses that always seem to be full...
The Kindness of Strangers
Hitch
hiking has been an important mode of transport for us. It is common
here and really practical. A majority of people want to stop and they
smile and gesture apologetically when there is no space in the car
(which is often). So far we have had nothing but positive experiences
and hitching has introduced us to some great people too. A few memories:
Getting
a ride was easy near Ushuaia, where we first tried it. Our first ride
was from Carlos, a water treatment engineer returning from a day of
trappng beavers. Our second ride was from two women who giddily informed
us that we were riding in a brand new car just purchased a couple hours
before. Champagne bottles they had bought for a celebration of the
event clinked in the trunk as we drove.
The most generous ride
was certainly from a roadtripping Buenos Aires family: Alejandro, Sandra, Agustin, and Camila. We were
walking along the dusty road to Lago del Desierto and we were HOT.
Needless to say, after 3 days hiking in hot sun we probably smelled
terrible. The car drove by giving the ´´sorry we're full´´ sign but then
pulled over. All four jumped out to load their things in the trunk along with
our bags and then insisted that Camila, the 18 year old daughter, sit on her
mother's lap in the backseat so that Markus and I could sit comfortaby
on the other two seats. Good conversation, air conditioning, and a gift
of candy made us even more glad to have met this wonderful family.
The
ride that most thrilled the little kid inside of me was when a cop
picked us up. We weren't even trying to hitch, just walking the final 5
km of road into Villa O'Higgins,when the Carabineros pulled alongside
and asked where we were heading. We rode in the back behind the metal
grate and the cop gave us a little tour of town before dropping us off
right at the campground.
And finally, it's who you know that counts, right? We
had been sticking our thumbs out for 2 hours on a windy day, trying to
catch a ride to Coyhaique, and were pretty chilled when finally a cattle
truck pulled over. And who should jump out of the passenger seat but a
guy we met over dinner at the campground in Cochrane, several hundred
miles south, the week before. He opened the back, where 4 other
backpackers (and no cattle) sat huddled in sleeping bags, and we hopped
in.
A Bit of Luck
Public transportation has come with its own set of stories as well so I will share one of my favorites. Buses leave Villa O´Higgins only twice a week: Monday and Friday. We arrived on a sunday planning to take the monday bus out, only to find the bus was completely booked. We added our names to the waiting list, not feeling very hopeful, and began thinking about what to do in the area for a week. Later that day as I sat on a bench near the library, a man and I started chatting. He was going to walk to Los Ñires to buy bread, the same place we were camped, so we began to walk together. Then his cell phone rang--he answered it, glancing back and forth to me, then (though we had not exchanged names) he looked at me and said, ´´Karen?´´ The woman from the bus office a block away had seen him walking with me and called him to get my attention. A couple had just canceled. Did we want the seats? And so Markus and I were headed out of town the next morning.
This year of travel is about many things for Markus and I, but one of the most important is just to figure out, What Next? And it is when travel is most spontaneous, and we rely most on the communities and people we meet, that I feel reassured. It takes a certain leap of faith to hitch a ride or arrive in a new town without an onward ticket out, but these small leaps give me peace about the future, wherever we will live and whatever we will do. It reminds me that things usually work out, that most people are kind and generous, and that regardless of what happens we will still end up somewhere with stories to tell.
Karen, I loved reading this entry. I read it out loud to Aria while she was being a fish on her belly in the living room at 7:30am on a snow day. I laughed and cried as I read it. Brings back travel memories and the excitement and openness that comes with it at times. Love from Aria and I from snowy Minnesota,wearing smartwool socks.
ReplyDeleteKaren y Markus, perdón que no escriba en inglés,me cuesta mucho.
ReplyDeleteCAmi me envió el link para que lea este hermoso relato, me emocioné con todo lo que contás. REcuerdo que aquel día los vimos caminando con esas mochilas pesadas y lamentamos no tener lugar en el auto pero en unos segundos nos juntamos y compartimos ese camino hermoso hasta llegar a la Laguna del Desierto, fue una excelente decisión. Sumaron más alegría y riqueza a nuestro bello viaje. Todavía sigo sorprendida por como hicieron para cruzar la cordillera camninando!!!
Chicos, les deseo una vida llena de amor y felicidad. Un beso muy muy grande.
Sandra y familia desde Buenos Aires