El Palmar National Park, Argentina

Full day on the truck today, boiling hot and everyone getting truck fever so as soon as we reached the National Park everyone jumped off the truck and straight into the Rio Uraguay. This is the natural border between Argentina and Uraguay. The river is quite silty looking but the floor sandy with little vegetation so perfect for a late afternoon dip and wash. I say river, it is huge, some people swam half the way out but undercurrents make it too dangerous to swim too far. At one point I was sitting in the shallows and something slimey wrapped round my ankle then tightened. Ollie said it was a leaf, I saw no leaves, but it looked like eel territory to me, I got out quick and started dinner as I was on cook group.

We got the fire up and started to roast off vegetable, beef and chicken skewers with freash salsa. Once the darkness came in around camp we started hearing strange screaming noises and shuffling. Having not long ago watched the film, "I am legend" my senses pricked and we started investigating. All around us were these strange little creatures, resembing a cross between a Possum and a Chinchilla, coming up to knee height. Although cute they made the strangest noise and were as blind as bats - but could smell the bread Ollie was hiding in his pocket. A few minutes later he had them eating out of his hand, it was then when we noticed their massive sharp teeth and claws. In fact Ollie was so fascinated by the creatures he forgot to take a photo of him feeding it, Ollie showing off, missing a kodak moment - this NEVER happens.

The locals called them wild rats but I have since learned that they are rodents called a plains Viscacha.

Very early start the next day but managed to glimpse the morning break, a beautiful red sunrise over Uruguay, then back onto the truck for the next adventure.