6/3/2011 San Clemente to Manta
D67, T3.46, Av17.61, max62, Tot12024, 1807
Humid, raining on hill tops, sunny the rest of the time.
Waking up early, observations revealed the ceiling to be leaking in quite a few places. In short the floor had surface water on it in some places. I was going to stay another night but my tent was drier than this room.
Other rooms here were dry I’m sure, though this one was best for my bike.
My computer had been put on the floor, it was just luck it was not ruined.
Wandering off down the beach, the local men were sitting under a rancho. The runoff from the rain had scoured a huge trench through the sand floor. It had indeed rained a lot over night.
The owner of the establishment gave me a couple of extra towels to sort things out.
Cooking up a great omelette, packing the gear, a lazy passage was made out of the place,. Riding along the local beachfront road, the next town of San Jacinto was encountered. It too was a sleepy fishing village.
The beach was not as nice as San Clemente, fisherman had just arrived back form the nights fishing, squid and bonito were among the catch.
This was one of those days when I didn’t feel like riding, my nice clean clothes were soon wet from perspiration.
Arriving in another town Charapotó, the rain unleashed itself on proceedings, refreshing, best describes its onslaught.
In the main street, some men of various ages were hand digging a trench across the road. What a laid back affair, many were watching, including me.
It is such a pleasure witnessing this kind of thing where no one is stressing out, traffic and pedestrians know how to look after themselves, without a proliferation of signs and barrier ribbon everywhere. People had time to onlook and relax. Impatient people were thought about due to their absence.
This scene summed up many differences in life between society here in many "developed" countries.
Firstly the people here were time rich, and secondly, they appeared to have money to buy needs, they weren’t overburdened with wants, both those desired and those thoughtlessly purchased, causing anxiety and stealing some of their time due to the need to meet the commitments of these wants.
My wants on this journey, are few beyond food and shelter, this affords me to see the beauty of life in these scenes without criticism. I had nothing else to do all day except ride 50k and find a bed and food in Manta. At this point in my life, this simplicity is everso rewarding.
Many people in the town also had time in their day just to enjoy the scene. They just didn’t have pressure from other aspects of their lives.
Some super sweet bananas were enjoyed, as were two heavenly pieces of coconut cake, freshly baked at the panadería on the corner where the roadwork’s were happening. I had a “front row seat.”
Moving on down the highway at a leisurely pace, crossing the river Portoviejo, near Rocafuerte, people were watching a guy with a long reach excavator clear logs from the bridge piles, lodged there by the swollen river.
On his way out of the work area, which was a swamp, the excavator, a 20 tonner, sank into the swamp. The operator did all he could to drag it out using the long arm.
Believe me, it was there to stay. Ironically, looking at the low loader on site to transport it away, signage on the door revealed the operation was being carried out by the Manabi council, I am in this department at the moment.
They too had plenty of time!!!!, though that of a different kind!!
A few fruits were enjoyed further down the road.
It’s sad, but people here still dump all sorts of shit on the roadside, from coconut husks, onions, household waste and piles of dirt.
Though disposable nappies, soiled of course are a favourite, if only babies could talk to their parents.
Dead animals, roadside, now are almost exclusively dogs. Those observed were in all states of decay, from that of fresh, too bloated and onto flush with the road, with only fur and bones revealing what was once life.
Having lunch in Jaramijó, at the corner that leads to the naval base on the coast, a meal was enjoyed at a kind of rustic diner were moto taxi drivers and truck divers were eating and playing cards.
Three bottles of coke, rice, beef and ensalada were enjoyed, as was the atmosphere, the guys were betting very big at the table adjacent to me. Being charged $3.50 for the meal and drinks, one couldn’t help but think, just how much does it cost coca cola to produce a bottle of their product.
A slow leak in my rear tyre with Manta not far away saw me pump it up and try to get there, one later addition of air sufficed.
Coming into the built up area there were large tuna processing factories.
A cycle track greeted me closer to town, as did a huge cruise ship docked in the harbour among myriads of smaller vessels.
It was peak tourist time here, after asking about the hostal Latina near the cemetery was found. It is a great set up. My room is on the third floor near the kitchen. Importantly it is dry and has an elevated view of parts of the city.
Manta is a large place with all you’d expect in a city of 185,000 people. Taxis are so ridiculously cheap, it would cost you more to walk by the time you bought a drink!!
The local Super Maxi was visited and just the best fruit was bought, all Chilean produce. Some crisp Royal Gala apples and black plums were savoured.
The bed was comfortable, the fan cooled me, no mozzies were about, this and the gentle rain bought on a deep sleep..
D67, T3.46, Av17.61, max62, Tot12024, 1807
Humid, raining on hill tops, sunny the rest of the time.
Waking up early, observations revealed the ceiling to be leaking in quite a few places. In short the floor had surface water on it in some places. I was going to stay another night but my tent was drier than this room.
Other rooms here were dry I’m sure, though this one was best for my bike.
My computer had been put on the floor, it was just luck it was not ruined.
Wandering off down the beach, the local men were sitting under a rancho. The runoff from the rain had scoured a huge trench through the sand floor. It had indeed rained a lot over night.
The owner of the establishment gave me a couple of extra towels to sort things out.
Cooking up a great omelette, packing the gear, a lazy passage was made out of the place,. Riding along the local beachfront road, the next town of San Jacinto was encountered. It too was a sleepy fishing village.
The beach was not as nice as San Clemente, fisherman had just arrived back form the nights fishing, squid and bonito were among the catch.
This was one of those days when I didn’t feel like riding, my nice clean clothes were soon wet from perspiration.
Arriving in another town Charapotó, the rain unleashed itself on proceedings, refreshing, best describes its onslaught.
In the main street, some men of various ages were hand digging a trench across the road. What a laid back affair, many were watching, including me.
It is such a pleasure witnessing this kind of thing where no one is stressing out, traffic and pedestrians know how to look after themselves, without a proliferation of signs and barrier ribbon everywhere. People had time to onlook and relax. Impatient people were thought about due to their absence.
This scene summed up many differences in life between society here in many "developed" countries.
Firstly the people here were time rich, and secondly, they appeared to have money to buy needs, they weren’t overburdened with wants, both those desired and those thoughtlessly purchased, causing anxiety and stealing some of their time due to the need to meet the commitments of these wants.
My wants on this journey, are few beyond food and shelter, this affords me to see the beauty of life in these scenes without criticism. I had nothing else to do all day except ride 50k and find a bed and food in Manta. At this point in my life, this simplicity is everso rewarding.
Many people in the town also had time in their day just to enjoy the scene. They just didn’t have pressure from other aspects of their lives.
Some super sweet bananas were enjoyed, as were two heavenly pieces of coconut cake, freshly baked at the panadería on the corner where the roadwork’s were happening. I had a “front row seat.”
Moving on down the highway at a leisurely pace, crossing the river Portoviejo, near Rocafuerte, people were watching a guy with a long reach excavator clear logs from the bridge piles, lodged there by the swollen river.
On his way out of the work area, which was a swamp, the excavator, a 20 tonner, sank into the swamp. The operator did all he could to drag it out using the long arm.
Believe me, it was there to stay. Ironically, looking at the low loader on site to transport it away, signage on the door revealed the operation was being carried out by the Manabi council, I am in this department at the moment.
They too had plenty of time!!!!, though that of a different kind!!
A few fruits were enjoyed further down the road.
It’s sad, but people here still dump all sorts of shit on the roadside, from coconut husks, onions, household waste and piles of dirt.
Though disposable nappies, soiled of course are a favourite, if only babies could talk to their parents.
Dead animals, roadside, now are almost exclusively dogs. Those observed were in all states of decay, from that of fresh, too bloated and onto flush with the road, with only fur and bones revealing what was once life.
Having lunch in Jaramijó, at the corner that leads to the naval base on the coast, a meal was enjoyed at a kind of rustic diner were moto taxi drivers and truck divers were eating and playing cards.
Three bottles of coke, rice, beef and ensalada were enjoyed, as was the atmosphere, the guys were betting very big at the table adjacent to me. Being charged $3.50 for the meal and drinks, one couldn’t help but think, just how much does it cost coca cola to produce a bottle of their product.
A slow leak in my rear tyre with Manta not far away saw me pump it up and try to get there, one later addition of air sufficed.
Coming into the built up area there were large tuna processing factories.
A cycle track greeted me closer to town, as did a huge cruise ship docked in the harbour among myriads of smaller vessels.
It was peak tourist time here, after asking about the hostal Latina near the cemetery was found. It is a great set up. My room is on the third floor near the kitchen. Importantly it is dry and has an elevated view of parts of the city.
Manta is a large place with all you’d expect in a city of 185,000 people. Taxis are so ridiculously cheap, it would cost you more to walk by the time you bought a drink!!
The local Super Maxi was visited and just the best fruit was bought, all Chilean produce. Some crisp Royal Gala apples and black plums were savoured.
The bed was comfortable, the fan cooled me, no mozzies were about, this and the gentle rain bought on a deep sleep..
This scene set one contemplating
Approaching Manta, cruise ship on the skyline
|
Rice fields enroute.
Roadside boat yard, they were on the beach.
|
