Bad Bad Day
After Foz Do Iguacu, we crossed the border over to Argentina and spent the night at a bush camp... upgraded to a room for 4 people (extra 7.50 Peso´s per person).
Chantal & Clermont cooked a wonderful meal of lentils with ham & chocolate crepes that evening and then Steve & I walked into town to check out the night life. A few people mentioned that they wanted to do this, but then changed their minds.
The walk from camp was about 20 minutes. Not much of an exciting spot, although we did see the local police jeep drive up and down a few blocks with sirens on. Looked like they were entertaining themselves. We later saw them at another bar where they handcuffed some guy and it looked like they kicked him a few times in the back of the jeep before they sped away.
Drinks were super cheap. Two big beers and two whiskeys cost 14 Argentine Peso´s..... that´s less than $5.00 USD.
The next morning, Hugo, Tortuga (his truck) and the gang came by to say goodbye to us at our campsite. Crazy Hugo drove his truck right into the ditch and almost tipped his truck over. Cameron and Carmen had to pull him out after much discussion on how to go about doing this. We even had to have the police help control the traffic on the road.
After our goodbye´s and this big delay on our itinerary, all three of our trucks headed out on this one stretch of highway that was considered dangerous due to weather and road conditions to Carlos Pelligrini for 2 nights bush camping.
Not to be.
Tortuga was up ahead, with us in the middle and Carmen behind us. I was sleeping, when all of a sudden I got bolted from my seat. Luckily I was wearing my seatbelt. One more bang and
another jolt. We were being rear ended! In the rain and sliding. Dave our driver controlled the truck okay and managed to stop it and quickly asked if we were all okay. We all yelled out that we were. Amar then asked us to stay in our seats while they checked out the damage. Our tail light was broken on the right side and this jammed up our storage locker that carries our backpacks. Nothing major.
Can´t say the same for Carmen, the truck that rear ended us. Josh was at the wheel wearing a seatbelt. His second trip. Dan the other driver was sitting on the cooler playing a game with the other 12 passengers. Not one of them was wearing a seatbelt. Everyone went flying. Luckily everyone was okay after the shock of it all. A few bruises and cuts. Carmen however is a mess. Cracked up windshield... tanks all totalled..........basically the centre was totally smashed up.
Result of all this...........another bush camp night along the highway while the drivers make Carmen driveable to the next town.
We then pack the 12 other passengers on to our truck.............seeing us we are all going to the same spot and then make our way to another camp.
24 seats. 24 passsengers.
Dave is driving. Josh is not and is co-pilot. Amar went with Dan and his truck Carmen to hopefully get it fixed as soon as possible.
It looks like the rest of this leg will have all 24 of us together. Now 5 nights hotel in Buenos Aires and then 6 more nights of camping.
We´ve all been downgraded from first class (having 2 seats each on the truck) to economy (sharing).
All of us.
Together.
Chantal & Clermont cooked a wonderful meal of lentils with ham & chocolate crepes that evening and then Steve & I walked into town to check out the night life. A few people mentioned that they wanted to do this, but then changed their minds.
The walk from camp was about 20 minutes. Not much of an exciting spot, although we did see the local police jeep drive up and down a few blocks with sirens on. Looked like they were entertaining themselves. We later saw them at another bar where they handcuffed some guy and it looked like they kicked him a few times in the back of the jeep before they sped away.
Drinks were super cheap. Two big beers and two whiskeys cost 14 Argentine Peso´s..... that´s less than $5.00 USD.
The next morning, Hugo, Tortuga (his truck) and the gang came by to say goodbye to us at our campsite. Crazy Hugo drove his truck right into the ditch and almost tipped his truck over. Cameron and Carmen had to pull him out after much discussion on how to go about doing this. We even had to have the police help control the traffic on the road.
After our goodbye´s and this big delay on our itinerary, all three of our trucks headed out on this one stretch of highway that was considered dangerous due to weather and road conditions to Carlos Pelligrini for 2 nights bush camping.
Not to be.
Tortuga was up ahead, with us in the middle and Carmen behind us. I was sleeping, when all of a sudden I got bolted from my seat. Luckily I was wearing my seatbelt. One more bang and
another jolt. We were being rear ended! In the rain and sliding. Dave our driver controlled the truck okay and managed to stop it and quickly asked if we were all okay. We all yelled out that we were. Amar then asked us to stay in our seats while they checked out the damage. Our tail light was broken on the right side and this jammed up our storage locker that carries our backpacks. Nothing major.Can´t say the same for Carmen, the truck that rear ended us. Josh was at the wheel wearing a seatbelt. His second trip. Dan the other driver was sitting on the cooler playing a game with the other 12 passengers. Not one of them was wearing a seatbelt. Everyone went flying. Luckily everyone was okay after the shock of it all. A few bruises and cuts. Carmen however is a mess. Cracked up windshield... tanks all totalled..........basically the centre was totally smashed up.
Result of all this...........another bush camp night along the highway while the drivers make Carmen driveable to the next town.
We then pack the 12 other passengers on to our truck.............seeing us we are all going to the same spot and then make our way to another camp.
24 seats. 24 passsengers.
Dave is driving. Josh is not and is co-pilot. Amar went with Dan and his truck Carmen to hopefully get it fixed as soon as possible.
It looks like the rest of this leg will have all 24 of us together. Now 5 nights hotel in Buenos Aires and then 6 more nights of camping.
We´ve all been downgraded from first class (having 2 seats each on the truck) to economy (sharing).
All of us.
Together.
posted by Isabella @ 2:38 PM
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