Junin to Buenos Aires (the end of the road)

November 18th Junin to Buenos Aires

Those of you who have followed my journey from beginnng to end will know, that today marks the end of my journey and the end of this blog. You may not be aware, but the odd words of encouragement and knowing that there are so many people following me, has made a huge difference. I set off with no intention of doing a blog, for all of the downsides to making such a commitment; but in retrospect the positives have outweighed the negatives. So thank you to the vocal and non vocal readers. 

It was an emotional experience doing the last 160 miles, I had my hands shaken by two petrol pumps attendants; honked at and thumbs up by so many people today, that I thought word must be out of my arrival. I have discovered though a universal truth, some of you may know this, but I'm slow to catch on. The closer you get to a large city, and especially a capital one, the more agressive and inconsiderate the drivers are. The huge amounts of support was surpasssed by people cutting me up, edging me out and at times playing Russian roulette with my life.

The ride to the outskirts of Buenos Aires went without incident, apart from the petrol attendant who wouldn't fill my tank, while I was sat on the machine - he said he wasn't allowed to. I drove off and found another garage. Of course I told him he was an 'Idiota' first. All went well until with 3 miles to go the traffic stoped and moved at a snails pace. By this time the temperature had risen to 33 degrees. I followed Tinks and Google until I couldn't any longer. The reason for such gridlock was a demostaration against the government for improved social security payments for the poorest 15% of the population. Ironically their route was along the widest street in the City, which just so happened to be where my hotel was located. I could have been blocked from getting to the hotel all day if I had followed my electronic guides - but I used good old fashioned methods -  and came at my intersection from another angle. I just had to wait for a break in the procession and quickly cut across the road to my hotel. The last 3 miles of my journey took 2 hours, lots of steam, physical and metaphorical.

It is strange that there has been a synergy to my trip. I was motivated to undertake my journey after watching a film about Che Guevara, perhaps the 20th Centuries most revolutionary character, (The motorcycle diaries) and I ended my trip with thousands of ordinary people bringing Buenos Aires to a halt, because of their political protest. Che being Argentian would have loved it, as I did. Though you wouldn't have thought so if you'd have heard my expletives. What was very uniquie about this demo, and I've been on lots, was that it was typically Argentinian, lots of music, samba and carnival atmosphere - much better than Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, out , out ,out!

The modern day 'Che's' and no violence in sight

This guy must have been tired of banging his drum, so it became a sun shade!

So thats me done 13000 miles, lots of ups and downs. Three months in the taking. What have I learned - 

The world is only scary viewed from you arm chair

You are more able than you can imagine

Britain isn't such a bad place

Next time I'll take company

Be less cautious

Learn the basics of a language before I go

Believe in myself more

Spend less money

Take less kit

and finally don't commit to a daily blog!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing my journey and here's to the next time!!!!