The original plan was to ride from Iguazu to Colonia Delicias/Magdalena – about 75km. We made good time taking an hour in Colonia La Esperanza to hydrate.

This is fairly hilly country (our ride was 3550ft in elevation gain) – jungle like so high temperatures and high humidity. Until about 1600hrs, it was a cloudless day and the run was relentless. We got to Colonia Delicias at 1400hrs and the town was dead – it was siesta time.

We bought a 7kilo watermelon and shared it between the two of us and just hung out in front of the local market (also closed for siesta) and just chatted. We decided that we didn’t want to stay there so we planned on heading out after it cooled down with a departure time of about 1800hrs. We only had 12km to go to a gas station that has a covered area to pitch the tents and more importantly, showers.

1800hrs rolls around and we head to the ruta (highway). A pack of dogs decided it would be fun to chase us and Rocko was not in the trailer so we were using our bikes to keep them away from him. (This is and important moment for later in the story).

We hit the road and the shadows were long which made riding nice. It was still warm but the direct sun was minimal. We figured it would take us less than an hour to get to the Axion Victoria and sunset wasn’t until 2000hrs so we had plenty of time.

Making good time, after a celebratory fist bump, I closed the trip on the bike computer and there wasn’t the familiar beep-beep saying it synchronized with my phone. Sometimes that happens. So I went to get my phone…

It wasn’t there!!! I looked again… it still wasn’t there. I borrowed Guille’s iPhone (lucky he had an iPhone), used Find MyPhone and it showed up right away – 12km away….

Deciding how get back Guille offered to ride back and get it – I refused. We asked the gas station attendant and his friend didn’t answer.

By this time, Guille flagged down a motorcyclist and he recognized Rocko and Guille from #missionesenbicicleta (its a phenomenon how many people know of Rocko through social media).

@julio_marecoo gave me a ride back to the market and waited for me to find my phone. Upon getting on the bike, I promptly burned my calf on the hot muffler – that’s gonna… no.. damn it hurts…

Guille lent me his phone so I could track my phone – but he didn’t have signal there so I found some locals who lent me their hotspot to use find my phone. These people are amazing – friendly, honest and just plain good people.

Ends up, when the dogs were interested in Rocko, I dropped my phone by a bus shelter. Right after I dropped the phone a local picked it up. He opened it up and found my passport card and was worried. He wrapped it up in paper, put it in his backpack and went home worried how he was going to get it to the American.

So, end of Day 6 (but really Day 1 of the ride to Buenos Aires), we’ve clocked 90km of the 1400km or so.

A very successful and eventful day.

For those that are interested in the ride stats, visit:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/4400973088