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Hitch Hiking to Cochrane
I was woken by roosters shouting GOOD MORRRNNNING EVERYONE at silly o clock. Spoke to the hostel owners about the best way to get to Cochrane. You hitchhike west (cos there is no bus) 10km (about 6 miles) to where the road connects to Carr Austral road then there will be a bus at 3pm to take you to Cochrane. Yeah right. I'm not hitchhiking. No way! 6 miles is nothing. I will walk. I can get rid of the pizza from last night. So I head west. I have a compass you know. I know where west is. Although to be fair it was early and beautifully sunny so I'm pretty sure I would have figured it out anyway lol. Just as I'm about to leave the village I spot a guy with a backpack hanging around what looks like it could be a bus stop type thing. I ask if he speaks English. HE DOES! And no he's not waiting for a bus, but a lift. From a friend I think? Maybe I can jump in too. But no, from a random car as he is hitch hiking. I wish him luck, saying I'm too scared to hitch hike and I'm happy walking and we joke that if he is lucky he will stop and pick me up on the way.
Off I go, thinking there will be cars coming and going all the time and he'll pass me in a few mins. An hour later after being completely alone the whole time and loving every second, one car approaches from behind. It's not him. Unlucky with that one then I thought. I have decided that when he approaches me I will join him. I don't know why I trusted him but I did. Was it simply because he spoke English? Maybe it was his ginger beard? Who knows. Anyway, another car approaches shortly after. I look round and he's waving like a loony in the passenger seat. They stop and I get in. Apparently it's the same guy who drove him somewhere 3 days ago!! It's all good. The driver and my ginger friend are both guides so both speak good English! What are the chances of THAT happening? Off we went. And OMG it was LOADS further than I thought!. He dropped us off at the crossing where we were to wait for the bus at 3pm. It was 1130. I felt happy to hitch hike more if I was with Rafael. The turtle Kirsty like you were at my party!! So we started walking again. Another hour later and Claudia and Pete stopped for us. Due to MY thumb! The 1st time ever! Don't worry tho I def won't make a habit of it!
Claudia and Pete are also tourists so want to stop and take pics at every opportunity. Fine with me. And what gorgeous pics they turn out to be. They also both speak English and are happy to take us all the way to Cochrane (another 2.5 hours by car away!!) Result!! We stop at a viewpoint along the river Rio and, well. The photos speak for themselves.
Rafael and I are dropped off in Cochrane. I feel guilty and want to offer them petrol money but Rafael says no need. It's a bit cheeky really, this hitch hiking. Expecting to get somewhere for free when others are paying. But I guess it's a person's choice whether they stop or not. Anyway I eased my guilt by buying Rafael a few beers (sixpack only 2 quid) at the supermarket telling him he'd saved me money and helped make my day full of adventure.
Change of Plan
I have decided to extend my trip by a whole other month. I am spending that extra month in North America, incorporating spending Christmas and New Year with my sister and neices in Phoenix. I can't wait!
We're cycling to and around Tamango Reserve tomorrow
- comments
Andy Hitch hiking !!! Like you said "don't make a habit of it !"
Mum I promised my mum I would Not hitch hike when I was in my twenties and, guess what, we hitch hiked !!! Much safer in those days and it was not abroad !! XXXXXXXXX