3-19-17

So back at the ranch we kicked back; Ben and Dave in the hammocks...

Fernando, Santiago, John & Jeff at the beer table...

Anne, Kathryn and I in our yert!

This place was incredible! A tiny little Mini Mansion in Argentina. Fernando, the owner built the yert along with the ranch house. He did all the wood and stone work which was mostly supplied with what in found on the land. He also made ALL the furnishings (tables, beds, lamps etc). Artistic, creative & multi-talented Fernando!

This bicycle is how he would get many of the big stones he needed for building. The stationary bike is connected to a cable and Fernando would "pedal" the stones from down the hill near a river bed. He'd wrap the cable around the rocks and up, up, up they'd come. Fun fact: Fernando has also cycled from Argentina to Alaska. It was Fernando who inspired Santiago many years ago to do the same.

Check out the ceiling of the yert.

The cute beds & stone walls.

Outside the yert.

We're standing near the yert & next to this huge cactus. Just up the dirt path is the ranch house.

Fernando led the whole crew on a hike before supper. We were in search of more ruins from another indigenous tribe.

We found several pieces of painted pottery in the area where a few stone walls were still standing. Fernando said not much is known about this tribe but it wasn't terribly far from the Quilmes settlement that we saw a couple days earlier.

Beautiful to the South.

Beautiful to the North.

 We found a herd of curious goats. And I found a heart rock for Bob!

I thought it was too heavy to carry on my bike so I left it there. Now I wish I brought it home. Sorry Bob. Now you have a heart rock in Argentina. <3

Fernando with our crew (minus Rick).

We took a few pics in front of this pretty church & then back to the ranch for a yummy supper. Thanks, Fernando for hosting our group. What a wonderful stay!