12/2/2013 Chachagui to Yucuanquer
D58, T5.3 (9.5 on the road), Av10.6, Max55, Total 11209, 1009
Wet, cold, 17°, still and overcast when not raining
Yesterday was spent, updating my blog, reading and watching a bit of TV, it was great to get some clothes washed well. They were dry. Also bought was another small towel to keep on the handlebars, the existing one was lost yesterday. Riding without is impossible due to my profuse perspiration.
Alli told me about that elevation profile site which is now embedded in this blog. It is great as one can be prepared for some of the climbs, at least you know what’s around the corner and how long it will be there for.
Anyway, it was pouring on awakening. The day of rest had been had, it was time to move on. The San Miguel was great as it was ground level. The gear was loaded. The decision was made to wear my keen sandals, cold and wet it was, sweat I would, so what was the point rugging up.
Shorts, Icebreaker boxers and an Icebreaker tee shirt were worn beneath my raincoat and my good old Filson peak hat finished the attire.
Once in town a couple of coffees were enjoyed as was a chat with a few guys hanging about. They get 3000mm of rain here a year. There is an airport here also, though only domestic. One hour to Cali, one big ride from Cali!!
I realised some 4km south I had accidentally taken the keys of the motel, a taxi was flagged down, the driver was happy to return them.
From here it was all uphill, riding all the way, though many short rests were taken, my fitness has improved alot. Hills are now just the norm.
For me it is important to have dreams to ponder, or else some of these climbs, could lead one to becoming a little unenthused. For starters, a dream is being lived, that in itself is a huge help.
Finally reaching the top, a meal was enjoyed at a little roadhouse that fed all the workers from the nearby gas plant. Normal food now is soup with veges and beef, then rice, beans, yucca and a couple of coffees with a bottle of coke,.
The lowest temps they get here are 8°C a guy told me over lunch among other things.
From here it was pleasant gravity driven ride to Pasto. Leaving the Pan AM, a tour of the city was enjoyed, a busy pace to say the least.
I decided to go on, it was only 1300. It was now getting cold, myself, wet and fairly trashed was a good description. A hotel out of town would be ideal.
One about 8km was found but it was a “motel” a kind of drive into your room affair, each room had a garage as part of the deal, not for me. Keeping going, it was getting late. I needed a hotel.
Getting all sorts of directions from 50k to 15km. By now it was 1600hrs, going down another hill, a dry shirt was put on just to keep warm.
Of in the distance to west of the highway a small pueblo could be seen. ”There had to be accommodation here, there had bloody better be”.
I was in luck, the town was Yucuanquer and there was a motel there. A bunch of young guys on motos at the turn off confirmed it. Heading off the highway, the town appeared close, however between it and me was a ravine. Tomorrow a huge ride out of here is required, not being a primary road, it is steep.
Potatoes are an agricultural staple here.
The thought of not having to camp on the roadside or ride into the night, kept me going.
On having a browse around town, many people were wearing ponchos, this after all was the high country of South America. The mercury was doing well to register 12°C.
Getting a room, the owner could find the key to my room, it is very rustic, but better than a tent on a cold night. Once found the key, later the door knob fell off. The owner was a good guy, we both had a laugh. My key for the duration here was a screwdriver.
All was good.
The video is approaching Pasto
D58, T5.3 (9.5 on the road), Av10.6, Max55, Total 11209, 1009
Wet, cold, 17°, still and overcast when not raining
Yesterday was spent, updating my blog, reading and watching a bit of TV, it was great to get some clothes washed well. They were dry. Also bought was another small towel to keep on the handlebars, the existing one was lost yesterday. Riding without is impossible due to my profuse perspiration.
Alli told me about that elevation profile site which is now embedded in this blog. It is great as one can be prepared for some of the climbs, at least you know what’s around the corner and how long it will be there for.
Anyway, it was pouring on awakening. The day of rest had been had, it was time to move on. The San Miguel was great as it was ground level. The gear was loaded. The decision was made to wear my keen sandals, cold and wet it was, sweat I would, so what was the point rugging up.
Shorts, Icebreaker boxers and an Icebreaker tee shirt were worn beneath my raincoat and my good old Filson peak hat finished the attire.
Once in town a couple of coffees were enjoyed as was a chat with a few guys hanging about. They get 3000mm of rain here a year. There is an airport here also, though only domestic. One hour to Cali, one big ride from Cali!!
I realised some 4km south I had accidentally taken the keys of the motel, a taxi was flagged down, the driver was happy to return them.
From here it was all uphill, riding all the way, though many short rests were taken, my fitness has improved alot. Hills are now just the norm.
For me it is important to have dreams to ponder, or else some of these climbs, could lead one to becoming a little unenthused. For starters, a dream is being lived, that in itself is a huge help.
Finally reaching the top, a meal was enjoyed at a little roadhouse that fed all the workers from the nearby gas plant. Normal food now is soup with veges and beef, then rice, beans, yucca and a couple of coffees with a bottle of coke,.
The lowest temps they get here are 8°C a guy told me over lunch among other things.
From here it was pleasant gravity driven ride to Pasto. Leaving the Pan AM, a tour of the city was enjoyed, a busy pace to say the least.
I decided to go on, it was only 1300. It was now getting cold, myself, wet and fairly trashed was a good description. A hotel out of town would be ideal.
One about 8km was found but it was a “motel” a kind of drive into your room affair, each room had a garage as part of the deal, not for me. Keeping going, it was getting late. I needed a hotel.
Getting all sorts of directions from 50k to 15km. By now it was 1600hrs, going down another hill, a dry shirt was put on just to keep warm.
Of in the distance to west of the highway a small pueblo could be seen. ”There had to be accommodation here, there had bloody better be”.
I was in luck, the town was Yucuanquer and there was a motel there. A bunch of young guys on motos at the turn off confirmed it. Heading off the highway, the town appeared close, however between it and me was a ravine. Tomorrow a huge ride out of here is required, not being a primary road, it is steep.
Potatoes are an agricultural staple here.
The thought of not having to camp on the roadside or ride into the night, kept me going.
On having a browse around town, many people were wearing ponchos, this after all was the high country of South America. The mercury was doing well to register 12°C.
Getting a room, the owner could find the key to my room, it is very rustic, but better than a tent on a cold night. Once found the key, later the door knob fell off. The owner was a good guy, we both had a laugh. My key for the duration here was a screwdriver.
All was good.
The video is approaching Pasto
An early morning coffee was enjoyed in Chachagui with these guys
The Colombianos are big on epitaphs to those who been sadly lost on the road, these are everywhere. It is a grim reminder that the road is one of the most dangerous places we frequent.
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Nearing the top of the range where the gas depot was, it was all hard work.
Yacuanquer was across here, so close and yet so far. As viewed from the Pan Am
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