J: We then bought some supplies and set off on the return journey. We were open to finding hitchhikers along the route to help pay for petrol with us, we soon found a couple, they spoke no English and only wanted to go up the road 30 minutes so we took them and tried to practice our clearly not good enough Spanish with them, they shared their matè tea with us and through charades and a translator app we were able to communicate. Then we saw a desperate looking couple crossing the road to get our attention, we pulled over and they were a couple from Holland who had been waiting for 5 hours for a lift North. It just so happened they wanted to get to Bariloche, they were happy to share the petrol costs, share the driving and happy to sleep rough in the car, perfect! So we got William and Eva into the car and set off.

S: we had explained to the guys we needed to be back in Barloiche the following day, so we would have to drive through most of the night. We made it over the 'worst' road in the world again and pulled over to have some dinner. We shared our dinner with the guys which they appreciated. We carried on for a bit more and got to a petrol station to fill up, so we didn't get into a sticky situation. The guys were a really great couple and we found we actually had a lot in common with them specially our music tastes. James finally pulled over about 2am in a creepy town called Rio Mayo for a few hours kip but after an hour there was a knock on the window and a man explaining in Spanish that we needed to move before the police came along to do it. James was a really star and drove for a couple more hours and then I took over in the day time. The drive was pretty much mundane until we got closer to Barloiche, but it was fun having the guys with us. We made it to Barloiche and took the car back and the rental shop and the guy said 'What are you doing here?? Your two days early??' Me and James looked at each other and laughed and went ok, we'll keep the car an extra day then lol. They had actually on the contract given us the car for 8 days, another win for us!

J: we found a great hostel in the town, it had a helpful owner and a lovely cat that enjoyed a fuss. We discovered we all loved cards and dice games so we cooked a meal and spent the night teaching each other games while enjoying some beers, it was a lovely evening with William and Eva.
The next day we got the owner to find out about our options at the local skydive company (as you do), and it turned out we could jump that afternoon, even though it wasn't cheap Sam said it was my belated birthday present. So we sorted out our bus and then headed to the air field. It was a lovely sunny afternoon, we had our introduction and within 20 minutes we were heading up in the plane, me and Sam were heading up first as we had a bus to catch and the tiny plane only held 2 jumpers. Then the door beside me opened, I stepped out into the small step outside of the plane under the wing and the guy on my back said ready? "Yeah!" Was was answer and we tumbled out of the plane.

S: I watched James go and I was a little nervous. After having not the greatest experience the last time I jumped it was to be expected. Oh I have to tell you, in the plane you have to sit on the instructors lap, so they can attach you to themselves. I thought he said 'sit on my lap,' James thought he said another part of his anatomy lol. But anyway I was safely attached, we stepped out of the plane and then we tumbled out. It was a great experience especially the first few seconds, just free falling.

J: while the adrenaline was rushing, falling through the air, I was so happy!
Then the instructor pulled the parachute and that fast upward feeing hit, what a buzz!

S: then my shoot went up and we were gliding now. My instructor said put your feet on mine and lift yourself up, which I did and then he lowered the straps so he could see better lol. Least it was a gentle action and not just dropping me in the air.

I: The view from up there over the 7 lakes was amazing, I could see Sam up above me then once the instructor handed me the GoPro he started tumbling down in a tight spiral I loved that feeling and I think you could tell so kept doing it, I felt like superman! Then it was time to land, a simple landing of lifting my legs up and coming down on my bum, it was an amazing 7 minutes!

S: my descent was a little more lady like and I could see James below us. The landing was exactly the same as James's and I loved every minute of it. Because our bus left so quickly we didn't see the Dutch couple do their jump which was a shame, we literally jumped on the bus and it started moving away, a close call some might say lol.