Finally got the bikes on Weds 29th after a flurry of paperwork and literally running around the cargo depot ... then left Quito on Thurs a.m. The first hour was probably the worst cycling experience of our lives ... uphill, very hot, and choked by stinking diesel lorries. We then left the main road enticed by reference to a good cycling route on the map. This turned out to be a hellish cobbled track, made even more enjoyable by long steep sections requiring bike pushing.The upshot being that we failed to reach our destination, Machachi, but then stumbled across a lovely national park campsite, complete with roaming llamas.
The second day was equally challenging, with a lot more cobbles (including more uphills) until we reached a dead end at 3,700m. Enough for one day so we knocked it on the head and retreated to El Chaupi and stayed in a freezing but hospitable hostaria.
Today (Sat) has been much more enjoyable, on decent tarmaced (!!) backroads, bringing us to Latacunga. Tough lessons learned include 1) there´s little tarmac off the Panamericana (the M1 equivalent) 2) cobbles are not an option 3) when locals say ´no problem, it´s flat´, it means no more than 1 in 10 gradient.
So, we´ll continue to work our way south to Banos and Riobamba. More anon.
The second day was equally challenging, with a lot more cobbles (including more uphills) until we reached a dead end at 3,700m. Enough for one day so we knocked it on the head and retreated to El Chaupi and stayed in a freezing but hospitable hostaria.
Today (Sat) has been much more enjoyable, on decent tarmaced (!!) backroads, bringing us to Latacunga. Tough lessons learned include 1) there´s little tarmac off the Panamericana (the M1 equivalent) 2) cobbles are not an option 3) when locals say ´no problem, it´s flat´, it means no more than 1 in 10 gradient.
So, we´ll continue to work our way south to Banos and Riobamba. More anon.
3 comments:
Hola!
Great that you've made it out of Quito ... and on your bikes! Sounds like you've had a tough, rough start, so it's good to see countryside, tent and llamas at last!
H x
Feel saddle sore just reading about it! Still it makes me wish I was somewhere else rather than sitting at my computer. Bon Voyage.
Sheryl
Fantastic to hear you are on the way at last! Pics are great, love the Llama! Roads(?!) sound interesting - still great for the legs and butt. Think I'll stick to pilates and reading your blog!...
Trishx
Post a Comment