100 kms. Undulating, 824 vertical meters. Again it was not the distance but the heat, combined with the undulating road that made it heavy in the end. In Sincelejo, which is a big town, we were on our way to the centre, since we like to stay in city centres, because it is more lively there. At a certain point we were stopped by a man who gesticulated that he wanted to speak to us. He appeared to be a man who likes to meet foreigners and who is a traveller himself. His name is Rodrigo Hernandez Falla. He owns a workshop, or small factory (app. 25 staff) , named “La Rectificadora”, that is specialised in revising car engines. Above the workshops he has an appartment that he offered us to stay in, for free. He has a particular hobby: vintage cars. He owns some 7 or so old cars, most of them in perfect restored condition and beauties to look at. He showed them to us and told that only a short time ago he had driven all the way to the utmost southern point of the continent, Terra del Fuego, in a 1928 Ford pick-up truck, one of the cars he showed us. It’s engine spun like sunshine. Together we had a fine dinner and it was his pleasure to present all this to us. In the morning he suggested us to go to the coast, where he arranged a special-price stay in a friend’s hotel. Too good to be true.

So, if any cyclist enters into Sincelejo from the road from San Juan, just stop at Calle 25B, No 28-33. You can hardly miss it, look for the signs “La rectificadora” on the right side of the road a couple of hundred meters after having passed Hotel Boston. Ring the bell, or just enter the yard and we are very sure that you will be received as we were. And if you don’t, his staff will see you come by (they know!) and they will notify Rodrigo. He will find you soon after! We were delighted to have had this encounter with this special man and his wife, and we thank him a lot for his kindness and the interesting time we had together.

Photo’s: click here.

The track: Download 20100128_sanjdnepo_sincelego.gpx