Mulukukú to Matiguas
Today we all collected at one of the hotels we were staying at for breakfast and then we started out on our way. Today we were told was going to be the hardest day with two big climbs but we were also going to lay our wheels on some paved roads for the first time since starting our ride.
We started out with lots of energy after a slower paced day the day before. We weren't more than 10 km down the road when we saw a trucks front end sticking up in the air where it shouldn't be.
As we got closer we asked the young man who was resting in a hammock hung underneath the truck what had happened. A few days earlier the ground had given way while the truck was passing another vehicle and it fell into a big hole. The truck had been loaded with sacks of rice that they had already pulled out to send on to Siuna. This young guy was left to watch over the truck until a larger truck could pull it out in a few days.
We traveled a little further on to a little village and Wim had stopped to adjust something on his bike and saw a scuffle unfold as a bus was pulling through town. There was a man waiting for the bus and as the assistant on the bus saw him he jumped off the bus and proceeded to punch him and yell at him. The assistant then got back on the bus and left the poor man on the side of the road without a ride to town. Wim said it was a strange sight to see. Well we hope that he eventually made it to town without any further problems.
There were several flat tires today and a couple of problems with people's chains. As we were making the big climb up out of Rio Blanco today Brian's chain broke. Nestor was super fast to jump off his bike and get it fixed. Both he and Brian made got right back on their bikes and pushed it through to the top beating most of the rest of us who had resorted to walking. They were amazing. A few of the others decided to grab on to a Pepsi truck that was slowly going up the hill. The guys on the truck were happy to give them a pull and even gave them a 3 liter bottle of Pepsi.
As you can very well imagine we came across all kinds of animals along our route. Pigs, chickens, cows, horses, bulls and dogs. Today one of the riders had a close call with a dog. He toppled from his bike and had a light concussion and a sore shoulder. Thankfully after riding in the truck the remainder of the day and some good rest he was able to ride again the next day. What a trooper.
With all the uphill climbs we had there were some really nice downhill rides too. We climbed from 110 meters above sea level 340 by days end. On one of the downhills I clocked in at 56k an hour. What a difference it makes to ride on pavement. But oh don't go to fast you might hit a pothole and send yourself flailing through the air.
Today has been our longest day yet. We started at 7 am and some of the last riders were coming in as the sun was setting. Here is a pic of the beautiful sunset the support crew took as they followed the last group in. Dave joined up with use today as well. We are happy to see his smiling face and it is clear that he is glad to be with the team as well.
Tonight's devotion was about community. John compared community to the hub of a bicycle and how at first glance we don't see all the individual parts that go into making the wheel. Each one of us is a spoke connected to each other through the through the hub which is Jesus Christ. Working together, encouraging one another and positive attitudes go a long way in bringing all the pieces together to function well and properly. John shared this quote with the group and it really got me thinking. "Every rider has to trust every other rider not to do something stupid, unpredictable or dangerous. Every rider has to give up some portion of his or her autonomy for the collective safety of the bunch." Matt Seaton. As we head out tomorrow on busier roads we have to stick together as a team.
We started out with lots of energy after a slower paced day the day before. We weren't more than 10 km down the road when we saw a trucks front end sticking up in the air where it shouldn't be.
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| From Sea to Sea 2009 |
We traveled a little further on to a little village and Wim had stopped to adjust something on his bike and saw a scuffle unfold as a bus was pulling through town. There was a man waiting for the bus and as the assistant on the bus saw him he jumped off the bus and proceeded to punch him and yell at him. The assistant then got back on the bus and left the poor man on the side of the road without a ride to town. Wim said it was a strange sight to see. Well we hope that he eventually made it to town without any further problems.
There were several flat tires today and a couple of problems with people's chains. As we were making the big climb up out of Rio Blanco today Brian's chain broke. Nestor was super fast to jump off his bike and get it fixed. Both he and Brian made got right back on their bikes and pushed it through to the top beating most of the rest of us who had resorted to walking. They were amazing. A few of the others decided to grab on to a Pepsi truck that was slowly going up the hill. The guys on the truck were happy to give them a pull and even gave them a 3 liter bottle of Pepsi.
As you can very well imagine we came across all kinds of animals along our route. Pigs, chickens, cows, horses, bulls and dogs. Today one of the riders had a close call with a dog. He toppled from his bike and had a light concussion and a sore shoulder. Thankfully after riding in the truck the remainder of the day and some good rest he was able to ride again the next day. What a trooper.
With all the uphill climbs we had there were some really nice downhill rides too. We climbed from 110 meters above sea level 340 by days end. On one of the downhills I clocked in at 56k an hour. What a difference it makes to ride on pavement. But oh don't go to fast you might hit a pothole and send yourself flailing through the air.
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| From Sea to Sea 2009 |
Tonight's devotion was about community. John compared community to the hub of a bicycle and how at first glance we don't see all the individual parts that go into making the wheel. Each one of us is a spoke connected to each other through the through the hub which is Jesus Christ. Working together, encouraging one another and positive attitudes go a long way in bringing all the pieces together to function well and properly. John shared this quote with the group and it really got me thinking. "Every rider has to trust every other rider not to do something stupid, unpredictable or dangerous. Every rider has to give up some portion of his or her autonomy for the collective safety of the bunch." Matt Seaton. As we head out tomorrow on busier roads we have to stick together as a team.
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