The Worst Fishing Trip Ever...

Another lazy day. We were actually only scheduled to be in Barriloche for 2 nights, but I always have felt that it’s not enough and since we were originally scheduled one night near some waterfalls that aren’t worth more than a half hour or so, I’ve given us an extra night here. This gives the pax and extra day to check out the ski gondolas overlooking the area or rent bikes.

One other activity that I organize is lake fishing and besides myself and Dad, 3 other people Claire, Alison and Martin sign up. Weirdest tour ever. First of all, the tour operator is this big awkward Swedish guy and he shows up a half an hour late seeming genuinely shocked that we would still want to go fishing when there’s a bit of a breeze. Then when we walk down to the dock, I realize that he only has three poles and when I ask him about it, he just smiles and says that only three can fish at a time or the lines get tangled. So now we’re starting to have some misgivings. The pax paid like $50 for this tour and we’re not sure that it’s worth it if 2 people have to sit and watch at a time. As we’re discussing this, the Swede is pulling in his boat to the dock, which is about 8 feet tall above the water and out of the corner of my eye I’m wondering how we’re going to get down to the boat. Then the guy makes kind of a half hop off of the dock, then in slow motion bounces off the rubber pontoon side of his boat and somersaults head first into the water. Heavy coat, pants, leather shoes and all. Well…that kind of ends the conversation. We’re just peering down into the lake struggling not to laugh. Somehow I manage to offer words of concern without giggling, as he flounders about in the water, but really there’s not much we can do, short of jumping in the water ourselves, which none of us are that keen to do unless he’s really drowning. Finally he manages to clamber up on to his boat and climb sopping wet up on to the dock. So now I kind of feel bad, because we’ve definitely decided to cancel the trip and now he’s cold and wet for nothing. Anyway, there’s no way we’re going fishing now, so I mumble a kind of thanks but no thanks and we all scramble up the shore, only just holding our laughter long enough until we’re out of earshot. It was all very surreal.