Day 14, Tocopilla to Hornitos5.5 hrs total time, 5 hrs 10 min riding, 106 km, 1,100 m gain, 1,100 m loss. More easy riding along the Chilean Coast. Got to use my trust tent again. This time I put the fly on the right way. Definitely the nicest beach spot I have seen so far. Found a relatively secluded spot and pitched my tent. Had to eat from the panniers as there were NO restaurants in the area. I did manage to by 3 liters of Coke (the sugary, carbonated drink) which was vital to ensuring I didn´t shrivel away to dust.
Day 15, Hornitos to Antofagasta
3 hrs 55 min total time, 3 hrs 45 min riding, 86 km, 530 m gain, 540 m loss. You´ve heard it before ... more very pleasant (and easy) riding along the coast. The most difficult part of the day was finding a hotel. At about the sixth hotel I finally was able to get a room. OK, I don´t know if it was the two or three days without bathing or whether or there was not room. For the record, I did take a shower today.
THE PARTY IS OVER ... after 4 of the easiest days riding along the coast it is time to go back inland to the Atacama Desert. I have recuperated my energy and feel I am up to the challenge (famous last words?). I plan to wake up bright and early and take the desert by surprise. Lightning fast, like General Romel. OK, please don´t mention that he was eventually soundly defeated. I will try to be serious for a fleeting moment.
This next portion is EXTREMELY inhabitated. I have studied the map and believe that there are 3 key "posadas" (locations in which there is a tiny outpost comprising of a store / restaurant and a hut or two). We´ll see. I will load up my panniers for enough food for 2 days and enough water for 1 day. Therefore, those stores better exist or I´ll be flagging down truckers (asking for H2O).
SIGNING OUT FOR A WHILE ... the next major city I will arrive to is Copiapó, which is about 590 km from here. 3 days will be spent crossing the desert and another 2 or 3 days along sparsely populated coastline. Wish me luck comrades!
ps. Crossed the Tropic of Capricorn this morning. I´m an Aries. I don´t know if I messed anything up.
3 hrs 55 min total time, 3 hrs 45 min riding, 86 km, 530 m gain, 540 m loss. You´ve heard it before ... more very pleasant (and easy) riding along the coast. The most difficult part of the day was finding a hotel. At about the sixth hotel I finally was able to get a room. OK, I don´t know if it was the two or three days without bathing or whether or there was not room. For the record, I did take a shower today.
THE PARTY IS OVER ... after 4 of the easiest days riding along the coast it is time to go back inland to the Atacama Desert. I have recuperated my energy and feel I am up to the challenge (famous last words?). I plan to wake up bright and early and take the desert by surprise. Lightning fast, like General Romel. OK, please don´t mention that he was eventually soundly defeated. I will try to be serious for a fleeting moment.
This next portion is EXTREMELY inhabitated. I have studied the map and believe that there are 3 key "posadas" (locations in which there is a tiny outpost comprising of a store / restaurant and a hut or two). We´ll see. I will load up my panniers for enough food for 2 days and enough water for 1 day. Therefore, those stores better exist or I´ll be flagging down truckers (asking for H2O).
SIGNING OUT FOR A WHILE ... the next major city I will arrive to is Copiapó, which is about 590 km from here. 3 days will be spent crossing the desert and another 2 or 3 days along sparsely populated coastline. Wish me luck comrades!
ps. Crossed the Tropic of Capricorn this morning. I´m an Aries. I don´t know if I messed anything up.
3 comments:
I wish you luck!!! :)
Hey Mek,
I think you meant 'un' inhabited. Either that or you're spending so much time alone that 3 outposts in 2 days is starting to seem a bit crowded. Seeing as you are not showering for days on end, perhaps its a good thing that you are several thousand miles away. and receding.
Its starting to get cold here and the snow is starting to accumulate. Looking at getting out on the misery sticks soon. Getting in some good cardio and working up a sweat. and then showering.
Your stats look good but I noticed your average speed is a bit off. Lets pick it up a bit. and watch out for anxious llamas.
later
and whats with the place names: HORNitos, antoFAGasta. You sure you're not holed up in some red light district in Tijuana and just making these names up? Next up: Plaka de Whorehouse and Ruta la SoreButt (maybe I'm spending too much time on the wrong sites on the internet...)
ciao
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