Patagonian Times....

There is a few things I love about living in Futaleufu, Chile.
I like the way the town is only 4 blocks wide and around 8 blocks long. Nothing is really too far away to walk. That sounds a bit lazy but its good when it comes to looking for people to go rafting on the street. Because its pretty obvious most of the time that there is no tourists.

I like the completos (Hotdogs) because its not just full of crap that you would find in a typical american fast food place or at home in Ireland. If they even sell hotdogs in any place at home. The completos are yes, a typical german "Frankfurter". But the completo is made up of fresh avocados, tomatoes, americana salsa which is a nice chopped up lettuce and onion in some nice sauce really(not sure of all the details but its pretty darn good). And the usual Mayonnaise, a nice savoury mustard and ketchup. Made by a really nice old lady for a thousand chilean pesos. Thats around 1euro 30.
And for a Six pack of beer its 2 thousand pesos. Although it is small, a little of over size cans its pretty good.
Coming from a company like "Splash whitewater rafting" that we had clients always coming in the door and we concentrated on the numbers to a company here in Futaleufu that we have to go and find clients and persuade them to go is another thing. Which I dont mind looking for people but depending on it in the town isnt the best business idea. As there is quite alot of competition for a town this size.

Looking for Clients. 

So I think the season has being going pretty well for us, Futaleufu Explore. Alot of guides have left, not wanting to work anymore with certain people within the company but despite this I've kept going as I believe I can tolerate alot of shit from people which is patience, right?
So I have been working alot. Since the start of January almost every single day, bar 3 or 4 days up til now. It started out with alot of safety kayaking and now I am mainly Safety kayak and a good bit of Rafting guiding aswell.

Action Shot at Pillow

Watching the flip and ready to work at Mundaca

Surfing the Cata Raft on Magic Carpet. 

There's never been a dull moment working for Futaleufu Explore. It keeps things interesting in a way most raft guides dont like. But sometimes you just gotta try and make it work. And to a certain extent it has, more or less. But the river is incredible. You just simply can not get bored of this river. Because it is something different everytime. Some times anticipating flips to happen and other flips suspiciously happening. Its good because Josh my boss doesnt condemn flips. He thinks they are great. Because most of the time people want to flip then tell everyone which brings us more business.
Here in Futa, I like that there is no rush for doing things. Most of the time we make clients wait which isnt good in my books, especially coming from Scotland and my boss there Muzza saying specifically "Clients dont wait, as they've paid money." So we should be on time. But things here happen differently, Patagonian style. As usually a round trip to and from Futaleufu takes around 5-6 hours. And we usually provide a quality trip but its vertically impossible not to on this river. And not have any client smiling from ear to ear.

Scouting Throne room

Running Throne Room

In Futaleufu its good because there always seems to be something happening in the town. 2 weeks ago there was a weekend of Rodeo. So bull riding and so on. Lots of gauchos getting drunk and trying to lasoo a bull. .
There was a really good vibe to the Rodeo. Not like your typical American Bull riding show. Where the guy riding the bull is only on for 5-10 seconds.

Rodeo in futaleufu

Some fella giving it socks on the bull

This guy got a standing ovation for his ride. 

Future plans are that I have secured a job in Norway for the next European summer which I'm well happy to get and looking forward to kayaking alot in Norway and getting to know the people and culture.
Then for here in South America, the plans seem to be after Futafest that there is a group of us heading to the Rio Baker. So Im trying to find a boat for the excursion which is interesting because this river is about to be dammed in the next year or two.
After the Baker trip I think I'll probably go to Mendoza and see some friends and then on the Buenas Aires to fly to Germany to visit my sister in Dusseldorf.
So alot planned, so I'll see if that actually materialises.

Thats all for now on valentines day. Enjoy some more photos
Pura Vida
1 Adventure Life

Entrance rapid in Canyon del Infierno

Take out at Puente a Puente section

Scouting the Entrance Rapid to Canyon Del Infierno

The Futaleufu Explore crew with some Clients