What adventures we had today!
Our driver, Sebastian, picked us up promptly at 9 a.m. We had some concerns about the weather (it was pretty much pouring rain in Salta, and we had a full day of horse-back riding and ziplining planned!), but the tour agency through which Tats had arranged the driver assured us that this was uncharacteristic for Salta (it usually rains in summer only, and we were well into fall here), and further, that both the estancia and the river where we were headed had totally different climates, and all should be fine.
And so we set off for the hour-long ride out to Sayta Ranch, where we would first ride off trail for a few hours, and then have lunch (Asado, of course), before heading over to the Juramento river where Salta Rafting runs a course of 4 Ziplines.
If you're looking for a real Gaucho experience, I highly recommend Enrique's horseriding: We were greeted at the Estancia with tea and biscuits, by an Enrique himself, who -- upon hearing that we were Canadians -- inquired as to whether we were separatists! (According to him, the bilingual New Brunswick native who worked for him was, a fact that the young lad vehemently denied.)
The usual doggies were also in attendance.
Our driver, Sebastian, picked us up promptly at 9 a.m. We had some concerns about the weather (it was pretty much pouring rain in Salta, and we had a full day of horse-back riding and ziplining planned!), but the tour agency through which Tats had arranged the driver assured us that this was uncharacteristic for Salta (it usually rains in summer only, and we were well into fall here), and further, that both the estancia and the river where we were headed had totally different climates, and all should be fine.
And so we set off for the hour-long ride out to Sayta Ranch, where we would first ride off trail for a few hours, and then have lunch (Asado, of course), before heading over to the Juramento river where Salta Rafting runs a course of 4 Ziplines.
If you're looking for a real Gaucho experience, I highly recommend Enrique's horseriding: We were greeted at the Estancia with tea and biscuits, by an Enrique himself, who -- upon hearing that we were Canadians -- inquired as to whether we were separatists! (According to him, the bilingual New Brunswick native who worked for him was, a fact that the young lad vehemently denied.)
The usual doggies were also in attendance.
After enjoying some tea and chatting with other travelers, we were arranged into small groups in preparation for the horses, who had been standing ready for some hours, and were getting restless.
After lunch, we drove through impressive landscapes and down to the Juramento River, to Salta Rafting's headquarters, where we met the owner, and Franz, his German-come-Argentinean right hand. And another dog, of course. These two set us up with our gear, and we set off for the 200 meter trek up the mountain to the first zip line. (Dog accompanied us up the hill, but not on the zip line.)
Gazing down into the canyon, and the by-comparison thread-like line that would allegedly carry my beloved and my two children safely across, I will confess my heart started to skip a few beats, and seemed somehow to have dropped into my stomach. Truth be told, as Tats was pushed off across the canyon, held to the cable by only a mountaineering clip (which I'm sure was very strong, but still), I was SCARED SHITLESS!!!
How was I going to send my two babies across this line, 200 meters above a rushing river and plenty of hard rocks that would surely end their lives instantly if they fell??!!!
Looking at Alex paying attention to the safety lesson and instructions, I could sense that he, too, was more than a little anxious. But the morning's solo horseride and galloping session seemed to have given him a new sense of himself, and he refused to succumb to his fear: Twice I asked him if he wanted to go tandem with one of the guides (I sure did!) He did not. He was ready to fly the hundreds of meters across and above the canyon all by himself.
I gulped, and pasted an encouraging smile on my face, as my mouth grew dry. Then, off they went first Simon, then Alex.
I gulped, and pasted an encouraging smile on my face, as my mouth grew dry. Then, off they went first Simon, then Alex.
As I watched my brave babies grow from blue-rain jacket-clad children into little specks in the distance, my fears turned to myself.
I was next. And last.
There was no turning back...
I was next. And last.
There was no turning back...
"Ich habe Angst", I announced to Franz, who wanted to know if my fear was for my children, or myself. "The latter", I confirmed.
"Well", he replied, "the only cure for that is to just do it".
I had suspected he'd say something like that. So I got clipped on, reviewed the safety instructions with him, and off I sailed, high above the Juramento River.
"Well", he replied, "the only cure for that is to just do it".
I had suspected he'd say something like that. So I got clipped on, reviewed the safety instructions with him, and off I sailed, high above the Juramento River.
WHAT EXHILARATION!
The boys were waiting for me on the other side, and I think they -- having sense my anxiety earlier -- were about as proud of me as I was of them!
The remaining three zip lines were a blur of continuing to muster up the courage, enjoying the thrill, fighting disbelief that we were actually doing this, and trying to keep our hands loose on the cable and our heads clear of the emergency brake. We also snapped a few photos from the platforms between lines.
The remaining three zip lines were a blur of continuing to muster up the courage, enjoying the thrill, fighting disbelief that we were actually doing this, and trying to keep our hands loose on the cable and our heads clear of the emergency brake. We also snapped a few photos from the platforms between lines.
And then, suddenly, it was over, and we were back on solid ground, being greeted by Mrs. Salta Rafting and the owner's baby daughter, Emma, who was all smiles.
On the 2-hour drive home, I reflected on the day's adventures. We'd experienced more thrills in one day than some people experience in a lifetime! What had the boys learned from this adventure? What had I learned? And more importantly, how would we carry this new knowledge of ourselves and of the world forward with us?
On the 2-hour drive home, I reflected on the day's adventures. We'd experienced more thrills in one day than some people experience in a lifetime! What had the boys learned from this adventure? What had I learned? And more importantly, how would we carry this new knowledge of ourselves and of the world forward with us?