Well we make the van transfer back to El Calafate this morning. It was sad to leave El Chalten, such a peaceful mountain town. I hope that someday I will be back to enjoy this area.
As this was a transfer day, it was my first day to actually take a short power nap, it is amazing what one of those does for you. If you haven’t tried one lately, my suggestion is you do and let me know if it refreshes. Our new digs for next two nights is a nice hotel & spa. I don’t think anyone is taking advantage of the spa. This is a comfortable way to end the adventure.
Tonight we went to an agricultural tourist site, a working sheep ranch. It really was a good time, even for a kid from West Texas that grew up in and around ag. We drove 40 miles on a dirt road to get to the ranch, it was nothing impressive, but still nice and well maintained. The history was that it started as a working ranch in the early 1900’s by European immigrants from World War I. They started with a lease of 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) and grew to a 60,000 sheep herd. In the late 1930’s, the government placed all of the land in National Park status and reduced the ranch to a small size capable of holding 150 sheep and 60 cows, but allowed the lease holders special terms of a cheap lease and ability to commercialize the tourist aspect. Today, the ranch is still owned by 2 of the family descendents. It is an interesting history.
The ranch has 4 full year gauchos that maintain the 120 sheep, 50 cows and 20+ horses. There is guest quarters on the place and a restaurant facility. Once we arrived, there was a short introduction to the ranch, then a 45 minute horseback ride, with lovely scenery. Yes, this was a leisurely stroll by some older horses. After the ride, there was a sheep that was sheared with old hand shears, it was interesting and gave a somewhat historical perspective. For those that don’t have an ag background I am sure this was very special to see these things.
The night ended with dinner in their restaurant facility, really a small dining hall, as all they feed is the 10 to 20 people touring that evening. The first thing we saw walking back up to the dinning hall was a half rack of a lamb cooking over the fire. Yes, it did smell delicious. The dinner was a great salad, the roasted lamb, some sausage and dessert. Then back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep with a full belly.
All in all, today was just a relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable day.
Psalm 104:14