Two Fathoms Deep

Cuevas de las Manos will have to wait.  In keeping with my proud tradition of being involved in motor vehicle accidents while traveling, today I was involved in a rollover on a gravel road en route to Cuevas de las Manos.  Aside from the tremendous expense and guilty feelings involved, I’d say it was more fun than the average carnival ride, although it only flipped once.  I’m sure I wouldn’t feel the same if I had been driving.

The distinguished Argentine gentleman arrived on the scene soon after the accident and drove Livia to the Park to try to get help.  Among the numerous other people who stopped was a shuttle driver in route to the park who quickly returned with a group of workers he found on the road who were employees of some equivalent of the Highway and Transportation Department.  These are the men we should be hiring to respond to roadside assistance calls in the U.S.  They pulled the vehicle from the side of the hill where it came to rest, repaired all four tires, repaired the damaged front quarter-panel enough to keep the hood closed, and clamped a leaking break line (leaving us three working breaks to get to the next town).  For my part, I helped to tape up the fractured windshield and took a few photos.

This definitely altered our plans for the voyage home.  We’re managed to drive to Perito Moreno (the town, not the glacier) with no difficulties, but the car is going to have to remain here until someone from the insurance company can pick it up.  We’ll be flying back to Brazil instead of driving.  We also must have hit a utility pole, because half of the town’s electricity was out upon our arrival.

At least we managed to have another decently flavored meal in Argentina.