While resting in Cervantes my host in Chimpay, Ramon Bastias, gave me the greatest news ever.
“Filipe I have been losing sleep thinking about you travelling by yourself and have decided to drive the support vehicle for you until Bariloche,” Ramon said over the phone.
I wanted to jump up and down. I wanted to yell up at the sky. I wanted to dance. After some long and painful months travelling through Argentina alone, only with the horses and the dreaded pack saddle, I would have a travelling partner again.
Have you ever felt so lonely it’s as if you are the only human left on earth. I have. Laying in my tiny tent, under a tree or in some strangers home, I have felt intense loneliness. Thousands of kilometres from my family and friends. With so many obstacles to face. By myself. I have cried silently.
Being alone sucks. And it takes a toll on your mind. Your spirit. Your person.
I once met a Long Rider whose name I shall not mention, who was completely and utterly crazy. Insane. Yelling at the shadows. Unable to communicate with another human. And it scared the heck out of me.
Spending too much time alone drives people crazy. Fact. And I don’t want to go crazy. I don’t want to be the crazy old man with the horses – like the crazy cat lady in the Simpsons. This is a real fear I am sharing on here for the first time. A fear that crosses my mind a lot. I have spent more than 3 years now travelling on horseback. That’s a lot of hours of solitude.
I will never be able to thank Ramon for his act of generosity. He took all of his vacation days to help me… What a soul…
In the city of Neuquen, the capital of the province, I picked up Ramon from the bus station. He had two knapsacks with him and his fishing rod.
“Filipe I am so excited for this adventure we will live together… at my age this may be my last one,” he said with a wide smile on his face.
I hugged my new friend/ support driver/ adoptive father and closed my eyes tight. I was thankful to have him out here. More than he will ever know probably. The universe was giving me another present. Introducing me to yet another angel.
Together Ramon and I would travel over 400 kms to one of the most beautiful cities in the world. San Carlos de Bariloche here we come.
