Sunday Jan 3rd 2010.
94.7 kms, total ascent 711 mtrs. Total riding time 6 hrs 55 min. Odo 162.9 kms. Temp in the morning 8 ˚C, cold hands!, in the afternoon up to 30 ˚C, Maximum speed 69,6 km/hr (I was really surprised myself, never reached this speed before with a packed bike!Viva the stable (=stiff) Santos bike).
Got out of bed app. 06.30. At 07.30 breakfast 3 quadras (blocks) from the hotel, we were the absolute first guests of this Sunday. The proprietress was a very nice lady. We had fried eggs, bread, cheese and coffee. When she heard that we were heading for Chiquinquira on our bikes her first reaction was a slight gasp. But then she summoned her little son (10?) to guide us out of town towards the correct road and when we were getting on our bikes she came after us and gave us 6 melcochas, blocks of sugar cane, made soft with butter, like a soft caramel. For the calories, she said, Colombian cyclists always took them. They tasted really nice and I guess they helped us through the day.
Such nice people help a lot in giving you a good feeling and since we kept having very nice and spontaneous encounters with the local people during this day we are feeling quite comfortable in this country by now.
After app. 15 kms a climb started towards a pass at 3075 alt. Here I discovered that I have lost a lot of my good physical condition after my accident in August last year and a period of less physical activities as a consequence. I was panting and I couldn’t follow Eveline. My legs just weren’t strong enough. When we reached the pass at 23 kms I was really tired. A new experience. Eveline remained the fastest during the whole day (exept for this was very speedy descent, of course).
The ride was beautiful, we remained on a high plain, with a lot of grassland and cows, eucalyptus trees, strawberry gardens and lakes. We had a delicious home made fresh yoghurt and strawberry drink from a food stall at one of the dairy farms along the road.
We got fairly sun burnt. At the end of this long day we reached Chiquinquira at about 4 o`clock, where we checked in at Hotel La Vina (good, clean, hot shower) at a beautiful square. Right in front of the hotel was a beer stand, where of course we reported as new customers after having freshened up. The barman had seen us arrive and was giving us extra quick service as to express his admiration. Later we discovered a still nicer square, with a bigger cathedral and many reaturants and bars. We didn’t make it too late though, because at a certain moment the 94 k on the second day made us long for a bed.
The track: Download 20100104_zip_chiquinquira.gpx