Horse riding with Carol Jones

As snow conditions were not optimal - I convinced Peter and Jacob to give horseriding a go!
We arranged a day out with local Carol Jones, on the other side of the lake from Bariloche.
Carols grandfather came here from Texas and started up what would become the Jones family estancia.
To this day they have cattle and sheep on the property as well as the 24 or so horses Carol uses for her horseriding treks.
As it is still winter, riding is not so popular and overnight treks are not possible. Carol tells us she hasnt been riding in over 20 days.
It was super nice that it was just the 3 of us with Carol and her gaucho friend Guillermo.
Upon arrival - Guillermo has to go and round up the horses for our ride.

Jacob getting comfortable in the saddle.

Peter taking instruction from Guillermo.

Guillermo teaching me the joys of Mate drinking (i think the look on my face says it all! haha)

Not quite an asado lunch...but fresh empanadas and a glass of red wine to ease us into the rest of the afternoon in the saddle.

me and my trusty steed - the judge

Me having a great time.

the boys laid back and relaxed in the saddle now...

Bariloche makes a perfect backdrop for an amazing day out riding.

And back to the hostel for an Asado to celebrate Jacobs birthday.
It really was a fun day out for all of us - as horseriding was new to both the boys and i havent been riding for years.

Liz

Butch Cassidy

There are many stories in argentina regarding the faith of the notoriuos north american ganster Butch Cassidy. But one thing is for sure that at one stage he lived here in this estancia just outside Cholilla. It is said that Butch and the Sundance kid lived here for a period of 5 years without interference.



Liz at the gate.


The small estancia.


Still horses around but with new owners now.


Good old North American style log cabin.





The barn... Maybe

Making a friend.

Trainstations and general good feeling.

Having a look around Bariloche for some good argentine feeling. We went to a a couple of different trainstations and visited Victor at the fire station in Dina huapi.



Victor, Liz and the fire rescue dog.


Good licence plate


Liz strolling the streets of Colonia Suizze.


Some old traincarts parked on a sidetrack in bariloche.


Walking the line


Changing tracks.


Or not....


Beautiful scenery.

Rainy days...

And then the rain came...
So with our guide Jacob in hand we took a car and a daytrip to check out the local area.
First stop of the day is Villa La Angostura, a very upmarket resort town on the other side of the lake from Bariloche.
The town is filled with artisan and fishing shops....and of course nice resturants for us to have lunch in.


We decide on a boat trip in the rain to Parque Nacional Los Arrayanes.
A 1 hour boat ride in the rain, with a very informative talk by a national park ranger (all in Spanish - so not able to understand a word...but im sure it was very informative!)

We arrived at the wonderful Arrayanes forest in the pouring rain which also made it seem quite magic (we have to say that...im sure it is amazing in sunshine and warmth too!)
This forest is the remaining stands of the cinnamon-barked arrayan, a beautiful coloured and twisted tree.
It is said that even when the temperature is very high - to touch the tree it will always feel cold.



We really got drowned on the walk....so into a nice cabin for a hot chocolate to warm up.
Jacob, Ingrid, Reiner and Peter enjoy standing by the fire, before we head back to the boat and back to Bariloche.

Jacob Slot shows up in Bariloche

Our friend Jacob showed up in bariloche. And of course as forseen by him it would start snowing when he arrived and "annoyingly" enough he was right and it happend.:-)



Lizzie and Jacob shaking hands in the snowfall. Think there was an "I Told You So" exchange here.


Outside gets messy. Oooohhh YEAH


Jacob in his favorite element. The secret forest of endless fresh tracks.


Jacob and I enjoying the view


Finishing the day with a quilmes at Tage´s. In the picture is Jacob and local ski instructor Tobias. Tobias was in St. Anton this past winter where he spent all his time in the Austrian Skiacademy.
No need to say that he is a very good skiier.

Stay tuned. We are not done here yet.

Riding Cerro Catedral

SO What's the story...? We are still in Bariloche and riding when conditions allow it. Some very nice days at the Cerro Catedral resort in the last couple of weeks have givin us loads of first tracks.:-)


Lizzie Shredding in Catedral Mountain.


Same again. Floating that argentina pow.


Lots of Freshies.


Liz in trouble after spraying the photografer (ME).


Some wicked forestlines is also on the menu at catedral.


Lizzie trucking firsttracks into the ever so famous Bambootrap. Can sometimes be tricky to get out of.

Nice view of backdrop and another forestline waiting to get smashed.

More to come cause it´s still snowing and we are still hungry:-)

Bariloche

Bariloche is Amazing! So beautiful with the mountains surrounding the beautiful Lago Nahuel Huapi. We have been here a couple of weeks already, staying at the wicked La Bolsa Hostel right in the centre of town.
The snow has started off pretty slowly so far - so we have found some other places nearby to check out.
Hooked up with a girl we met in a hostel in Barreal and a couple of others for a day drive round the famous 7 lakes area. Super spectacular scenery around every bend - as i have come to expect in Argentina.




Cerro Cathedral is a great resort, and we have been lucky enough to get some wicked powder days in so far. The views from the top of the resort are quite amazing, looking across the whole lake and beyond.


A quick hike to the top of Cerro Campinario before the best snow came gave us some great views of the area.