After I signed off last time, we headed back to the campsite to get ready for horse riding. I found out, I had taken the wrong shoes off the truck - stupid me. Oh well, I took them with me but I was worried they may belong to the one person on the trip who wouldn't appreciate me wearing them. At the ranch, we were greeted with lots of bottles of red wine. I tried it, but just couldn't do it, until I asked if they had lemonade and then I had half red wine and half lemonade - almost a sangria. Much better. The other group soon got back from their morning ride and then it was time for lunch. It was fabulous - sausages, fantastic steak, baked potatoes, pumpkin, carrot and onion, salad, fresh bread and it just kept coming out. What a great afternoon. Although, we then had to get on the horse for our ride. I actually borrowed shoes from Keryn who had ridden in the morning - much safer option.

The ride was very peaceful and the horse very responsive. The cowboys in Argentina are known as Gauchos and world famous for their horse skills. Rode along creek beds and narrow roads. Rain held off and it was just a lovely afternoon. 2 people fell off their horses but were OK. It was a shame when it was over. Back at the ranch we were given afternoon tea (at 6pm) before driven back to camp. The pool was slowly being filled up but I'm sure it would take a few more days before it was full.

So yesterday was our turn to cook so Nikki and I set our alarm for 5.45am so we could get our tent down and everything packed up before putting cereal and bread out for brekky. We had a long drive to the Chile border. Did a lunch stop and used up all our fresh fruit and vege as it cannot be taken across the border. We crossed the Argentina border but then it was a 2hr drive thru the desert before reaching the Chile border at the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Had to lug all our bags out again for a search and finally let through. Campsite is nice and dusty with a few weeds for padding under the tent.

Ross rushed off to see what he could buy for dinner and came back with chicken wings and thighs, fresh tomatoes, onion and zucchinis and said 'Maybe a chicken stew'. So I sort of took charge and cooked up a chicken casserole with spaghetti. Was a bit worried about how it would turn out but everyone seemed happy and went back for seconds. Nothing was left over which was a relief as this was our first time to cook dinner.