Ahh, the start to another chapter. I love beginnings. Perhaps more than endings even, although I like those too when they involve snow, women, drugs, friends, food, wine, and high school students.
Ha, there´s a lead in. Actually, its all a tease, cause I´m just not feeling like writing it all down just now. But don´t worry, I will eventually. Meantime, a lifted skirt and nothing more.
I pulled in last night to Bariloche after a long stretch of traveling and much hassle with the car rental agency, to pouring rain. I smiled, thinking back to last year´s adventure. This thought lead me eventually to the same little hotel, which, amazing or not, had the same little old man manning the front. I checked in at $10 usd a night, and went promptly to the restaurant that we´d feasted at the last year. Again, incredible. 3 massive empanadas, a large salad, bread, a half bottle of wine, and a steak later, and I was totally full and only $12 lighter.
I really, really, really like this place.
I considered going out, but passed, knowing that there would be plenty of time for that later, and being pretty wiped from the travel. I slept like a dead man.
I awoke this morning groggy and muddled. The old man´s cafe con leche helped considerably, and after a quick snack , I bolted for the hill.
I hit it at opening, 9am. My quads started cramping at 1pm. An hour later, and I was cooked. In the meantime, I had charged as best I could with summer legs through the foot and half of thick, Tahoe style snow. Awesome for coverage, and just what I was used to from central Oregon. I hooked up with an ex Colorado dood who has lived here with his Argentine girl for the past three years. Cool guy. We also ran with a Tahoe guy named Gunnar for a bit. There were other gringos around, but not too many. The crowds were out in force, but mostly stayed to the main areas. The rest was all ours.
We talked about the area, the locals, the land, the culture, the touring, the climbing, and more. I wanted to hang, but by 2 I had to fold. Downloading on the six chair, I ended up with two Argentine local doods who evasively dodged riding with kids. Hmmm...I wonder why that was?
It was good. ;)
Anyway, new hookups´ phone number in mind, I rolled ack down to town to shower up, and deal with lodgin issues and a few other details. While running around town, I found a few of the hundreds of high school ski club tour groups packing themselves into a phone booth. It was pretty funny.
Finally, the sun started to go down, and I went for peek at the lake. The clouds were still hovering to the west, and it supposed to be snowing again up high, another 6 to 8 inches tonight. But the lake and the view to the east was clearing, and gave a tantalizing glimpse of things to come.
I have found myself again.
A picture essay follows.
Extreme Closeup of Cletus The Rock
http://tetongravity.com/usergallerie...;201%20004.jpg
Argentines That Can Turn Heads Even at 50 Years Old Are Cool
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...%201%20002.jpg
Anticipation on the Road to Catedral
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...%201%20003.jpg
Bling Bling in My Fiat
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergall...%201%20005.jpg