On the road

After El Chalten my plan to get to Rion Tranquilo 822 km away. I bought night bus ticket to get me to Los Antiguos (1120 arm,75 usd) to pass 642 km. It was nice and quite calm ride for gravel road taking around 10 hours with couple stops irradiared by full moon. We arrived at 7am. Los Antiguos the last city on Argentinean border was 15km from first city Chile Chico on Chilean border. There is no proper transport. Just some paper poster on the wall with phone number and that it comes at 1pm. To be soon in Chile Chico I wanted to take taxi and share with other people who wanted to cross. But taxi would stop only on Argentinean, we would have to walk 5km and try to get taxi on Chilean border. But others didn't wanted to share taxi because they were this type of travellers category with to goal to save money whatever it costs. I teamed up with Monika but she wanted to save money too so we teamed up altogether and possibly hitch hike through border. Without any luck we walked 10km to Chilean border where we finally got the lift. We got to Chile Chico at 12 while last bus to Rio Tranquilo left at 11:30, doh! Basically losing one day.  At least it was nice sunny day to chill out. I hanged around the city hearing the bus go next day. But when later I decided to buy ticket they said there are not enough people and that the bus goes day after tomorrow basically losing another day. I acted fast. Cancelled my accommodation and decided to go by bus to Puerto Guadal 100km, 3 hours away which was little over the half way. Hoping that next day I will hitch hike or there will be some other bus. Funny moment happened when random guy asked me to do selfie with him. Usually sign of being unique traveller in distant location. I arrived to this even smaller village at 7pm and found the accommodation in Papa and Sabina family having 3 extra hospedaje rooms in upper floor. We tried to have some discussion which was mostly Spanish lesson no. 1 for me :-).

Hearing that the bus to Rio Tranquilo guys next day at 1pm was a good news. But out turned out to be misunderstanding as it again goes only some days. After 1pm I left to hitch hike this 64 km gravel road. Right after I passed end of the city pickup wad passing. With my terrible Spanish they took me on-board on the cargo area. There was already Tina 18 years old girl on cargo area so we did Spanish lesson no. 2 and did the obvious selfie. They first wanted to throw me of at the cross road with Carreta Austral, the main road crossing whole north Patagonia. But after little confusion they continued towards Rio Tranquilo until they reached their farm. We passed 20km with 44 left. I felt like we are on the main road of the 200km wide and 1000km region, but still graved with around 5 cars a hour. I walked this beautiful scenery for one or two kilometres more while pickup passed me. I lost him out of my sight but surprisingly I saved him reversing towards me. He took me on-board with Spanish lesson no. 3. I didn't understood his name but something along George would work. He was quite serious worker not much fun but took me all the way down so greeting to him.