Following a narrow dirt road right next to the fence line, we came to a small stream. Riding Picasso I inspected the water to see how deep it was and it didn’t look very deep. Only a few feet wide, I decided to cross it allowing the horses to get a drink in the process.
When I kicked Picasso up he took a stride and sunk up to his belly. In a second my legs were drenched up to my knees. My mind went into a panic as I tried to turn him around and go back out the way we came in. The Bay turned but when he went to get out of the stream he struggled to find his footing and in the process fell over onto his right side. Luckily I removed my right leg just as the side of the saddle made contact with the tall grass. I half stood while he tried to get his balance back and when he went to stand up I grabbed ahold of the saddle horn. In a flash we were standing back on dry ground.
I took a sigh of relief as Sapo stood frozen watching us with wide eyes. I stepped off, took my boots off and poured 3 litres of water out of each one. Laughing at myself I picked up my sunglasses which had flown off from the tall grass and got back into the saddle.
We continued south with caution and just before arriving in the small town of Chavez a young man stopped on the side of the road to welcome me.
“I follow you on instagram Filipe, we have been waiting for you with a barbecue,” Josema said shaking my hand.
The Gaucho took me to a ranch where I could rest the horses and then drove me to his house. Like he said his parents and friends were waiting to meet me wit beer and warm smiles. We spent the afternoon sharing stories and after eating way too much it was time for Argentina’s “siesta.” The period after lunch where every resident of this great nation naps anywhere between 1 hour to 5 hours. It’s insane, when you drive through a small town between the hours of 1 pm and 5 pm, it looks like a ghost town. There are no cars or people on the streets. All of the businesses are closed. Everyone is out cold. It’s amazing.
After my siesta, feeling confused and groggy, Josema drove me to the ponies so I could continue my journey. On the way, he told me he would pick me up in the afternoon from the ranch where I would rest to eat a lamb with him and his friends.
I rode another 10 kms now on Sapo, and as the sun began hiding over the horizon, arrived at the ranch where the ponies would rest. A few minutes later Josema arrived and we drove back to his house for a quick shower. When we got to his friends house I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. They had made, yes made, a Canadian flag and tied it next to a Brazilian and Argentinian flag to welcome me.
“We want you to feel at home Filipe,” our host said giving me a kiss on the cheek (how males greet one another here in Argentina and in Uruguay).
It was a wonderful Barbecue and after we stayed up until 3 am drinking coca cola with Fernet. Fernet is an Italian alcohol which has the bitter taste of medicine your grandmother made you drink as a child. But I must admit that with coke it tastes pretty good.
“Filipe tomorrow we rest and the following day I will ride out with you,” Josema said.
I have heard this all over the Americas while out drinking. But when the time comes to do the riding, no one shows up. I pretended to believe Josema.
