Like everything in life, there is an end to everything good and bad. Which makes us stronger, more wise and more ready to face more of life's challenges.
This season has been a rollercoaster, to say the least!
So I have changed companies at the last hurdle, I am no longer working for "Futaleufu Explore" and now I am on a trial run for the forth coming Futa season with Chris Spelius's "Expedeciones Chile".
Looking back, I am glad of the experience and knowledge I have gained from working with Josh on the Futaleufu river. Being thrown into the deep end in safety cata-rafting and guiding almost from the get go.
Some people crumble under that kind of pressure and some people strive under it. Which I think I strove under this. Which is what Chris Spelius described myself as "Rough and hard" coming from the river and circumstances I came from. And a "Drunk bar fighting Irish man" which is what he also mentioned.
After the whole "Futa X" scene, I hung around and we went south to Cara del Indio for the "futafest".
Good party, good times. There was some competitions such as Rodeo, boatercross, sprint, long distance(Puente a Puente).
I competed in the Boatercross and Sprint, which started up above "Toro" and finished below "Mundaca". There were some big name paddlers in there too, with the likes of Ian Garcia, Tino Specht and Jakub Sedivy along with some solid peruvians and local kayakers too.
In the sprint I was against Ian Garcia and some local guys. Along with Pedro my friend from working in Mendoza last year. Was a good race. I was last until the guys hit Mundaca hole and some flipped which I took advantage of and passed them by for second place.
Once the "FutaFest" was over I started working for Chris to prove myself for the following season. As an Interim, I work getting room and board for the two weeks, I was there. It all went well. I have a promising season coming up. For the first time in my guiding work, I have two season lined up before I even start them.
Working in Norway this coming May/June. Followed closely by another Futaleufu season.
When there's highs, there's also LOW'S!!!
Towards the end of my time there in Futa, I started booking future flights to go and visit my sister in Germany. With the knowledge that my Flight out from Buenos Aires was on the 21st of March(my mam's birthday) which is why I remembered.
Word of warning when your flight is really cheap and it seems to good to be true, IT IS. I booked with Edreams and for sure they changed my flight when I booked way back in october. They never gave me anyway notification a week or days before the flight. Which my return flight was last year in december.
If I was made aware of this by the company, this mess up would never have happened and I would be in around London now. I believe it is a money making scheme by the company and I am not the only Muppet it has happened too.
So now, I had to pay a new flight!! Fantastic. Now I am in debt and all the plans I had or was thinking of, have gone out the window. Oh well life goes on.
Now I am sitting in the Airport in Buenos Aires, after leaving Futaleufu on Monday evening and getting a 25 hour bus ride. Im kinda tired.
The definate plans are to fly to London. Then to Dusseldorf for a few days and eventually fly home to Dublin for a well deserved pint of Guinness that has been waiting for me for over 3 and a half months now. If I can afford it.
Photos are coming soon.... bare with my folks.
Also I will have alot of time at home so eventually we will see some footage my futa season..
Until next time.
Pura Vida
1Adventure Life!!
