I thought this would be a rather short ride, but turned out to be rather difficult for a number of reasons. I spent some time doing the final arrangements on the bike. This was valuable time. I ended up starting a little late. As a result, I encountered two issues: traffic and heat. The traffic getting out of Cartagena was disconcerting. Buses would pull right in front of you, then stop for a while. There were a number of choke points which slowed traffic down. Given the difficulty of navigating the traffic, I have decided that I will not ride in cities as it just too dangerous. I will either take a bus or taxi into and out of larger cities. The late start also meant heat. I was burning up even when I was not riding. For this reason, the last few miles into Turbaco were very difficult.
Additionally, I found the weight of the bike too much. It was difficult to control at times. Lowering the weight is of primary concern. I ditched my lightweight cot (5lbs) early on. Now I am going through my bags and trimming things. Long underwear, long sleeve shirt, third pair walking shorts, third pair riding shorts, belt, extra travel toothpaste, extra sunscreen, third spare inner tube; all gone. This is round one of purging. Hopefully, I can continue without discarding more.
The ride to Turbaco was mainly flat, but then it started rising. It was a significant rise; enough to make it difficult for some cars and trucks to climb to the town. I finally made it. I ate some lunch and then looked around for a cheap place to stay. I think I am paying the gringo price for my hotel as I am paying $30 for something that is probably sold to locals for around $10. Aside from that, I did meet the friendliest bunch of kids. They all wanted to know where I was from and they also wanted to practice a little English.
No comments:
Post a Comment