Malcolm & Gertie
Photos: 1960s

1960:  Our First Camping Trip to Pulmarí

We were 3 families: Charlie & Rosie Livingston (+ Robert), Jack & Nenai Traill (+ Veronica), and ourselves: Malcolm & Gertie (+ George, Peter, Tony, & “Bandy” our wire-haired fox-terrier).  We went for a month – mid-January to mid-February.  We left “El Piquete” late in the evening after a farewell asado.  It was a hot dusty 3½ day drive to Ea. “Pulmarí” (north of Aluminé, Neuquen) – well worth it!.
Malcolm took all these photos of the trip.

Pulmari-1a

Ea. “Pulmarí” - grounds/lawns
Expropriated from the Miles family by
Peron ca.1950.  In 1960, the army used
it to breed cavalry horses.
NOTE: Nenai’s father & Charlie’s mother were
Miles; they knew Pulmarí when it was theirs.

Pulmari-1b

Ea. “Pulmarí” - main house
Meeting the captain in charge & his family.
We were welcomed warmly.  Malcolm had asked
permission of a general (a fellow polo-player).

Pulmari-1c

Estancia sheds & buildings

We camped amongst the trees on the west bank of the Rio Pulmarí, next to where it drains from Lago Pulmarí.  To reach it from the estancia, we mostly followed a track of sometimes deep ruts worn into the rock by “catangos” (bullock-carts).

Pulmari-2a

Rio Aluminé or Rio Pulmarí
Likely, near the estancia casco (per low hills)

Pulmari-2b

Campsite
Charlie - Jack (back) - Nenai - Veronica
Background: our F-500

Pulmari-2c

Campsite
George- Bandy - Rosie - Tony
Background: Livingston Jeep (red) & tent

Pulmari-3a

Campsite dining table
Gertie - Rosie
Back-left: Malcolm & Gertie's tent

Pulmari-3b

Nenai casting
Mouth of the Rio Pulmarí, next to campsite.

Pulmari-3c

Nenai & rainbow
Campsite

Pulmari-4b

Exploring near Painted-Rock
George - Tony
In background, the east end of Lago Pulmarí.

Pulmari-4c

Exploring near Painted-Rock
Peter
The rock (5-10 meters high) had age-old
bleached designs on its top surface.

Pulmari-5a

Going to Quelique: Launching the boats
Left: Bandy Near left: George
Far boat, likely: Charlie - Veronica - Nenai - Rosie
Mid-boat: Peter - Robert - Tony (any order)
Near boat: Jack

Pulmari-5b

Quelique
Nelida Miles’ former summer home
Abandoned but in surprisingly good repair

Pulmari-5c

Quelique - Jack & Veronica
Surrounded by fruiting raspberry bushes!

Pulmari-6a

Loaded with loot from Quelique
Nenai - Charlie - George
Canvas folding boat & 25-years-old 2½hp Johnson,
towing another boat, or two?

Pulmari-6b

Lago Pulmarí, returning from Quelique
West end

Pulmari-6c

Lago Pulmarí, returning from Quelique
Rocky island was a good fishing spot.

Pulmari-7a

Riding in Jack’s Jeep
Likely on our way to Lago Ñorquinco.
Charlie in the lead.

Pulmari-7b

Araucaria trees - & Lago Pulmarí?
Nenai’s head.

Pulmari-7c

Araucaria trees, in the Rio Pulmarí valley?

The captain invited us to an asado at the estancia casco (HQ).  (We later reciprocated.)

Pulmari-8a

George - Jack - Gertie - NN1 - Charlie
(NN1: Likely a local friend of the captain or his wife.)

Pulmari-8b

NN1 - Charlie - NN2 - Captain - NN3

Pulmari-8c

Nenai - Rosey - Doctor’s wife

Pulmari-9a

Doctor lighting cigarette
2-3 weeks later we met again at the Ochoa
hostel while we waited for truck to be repaired.

Pulmari-9b

Don “Exactamente” – mayordomo?
Captain & family

Pulmari-9c

Don “Exactamente” & captive audience
Several of the older employees had worked for
the Miles family when they owned the estancia.

Pulmari-10a

Captain’s wife

Pulmari-10b

Captain & Doctor

Pulmari-10c

Polo, Duck Hunts...

Sport-0a

Malcolm, ca.1965
Duck hunt, Paraná river
near Coronda, SFé.
(Photo by Peter Simpson
of Venado Tuerto, SFé.
Source: P. Benitz)