- La Paloma: As I said, I leave the bike at the hostel in Montevideo and set of with Kathy to La Paloma. It's a 3 hour bus ride to get to La Paloma. A beautiful, well built sea resort. Low rise buildings, nice villas, a small village that blends with the beauty of the landscape.
We check in the Beach Hostel, a brand new hostel, just of the beach, run by Ricardo, a 60+ year old charming guy, who will go that extra mile to please his guests. We meet up with the girls and head to the local market to buy dinner. We buy prawns, calamari, some kind of white chunky fish for 200 pesos (7 euros). All on a tray and on the BBQ. Sea breeze, fish, potatos, salad and medio y medio. Pure pleasure.
The following morning after breakfast, we spend a few hours on the beach. Got to lunch time Ricardo kindly takes us with his pick up to the market. We have a seafood pasta and salad made by Kathy. The best salad ever!!! A traditional salad plus apples and peaches, with a apple & balsamic vinagar.I'm going to remember that salad forever!!! In the afternoon Ricardo, ever so kind, takes us with is pick up to the Laguna de Rocha, a "Reserva de la Biosfera", for birdwatching, fish, etc. Late afternonn, Ricardo decides to take us to the near by resort of La Pedrera. On the way out of the laguna, we are driving to close to the water, till we see a swamp area. Ricardo accelerates to pass the swamp, but we are to slow, we loose grip, wheels spin and we are stuck in the swamp. We find a few wood panels, place them under the wheels for grip, Ricardo backs out and we are free. Yeah!!! Ricardo goes around the swamp to end up in the swamp near by. Again we are too slow, wheels spin and we are stuck again. This time we are really stuck in deep mud (or shit?). It takes 2 fisherman, a 4WD pick up, wood panels, a cord and 2 hour of attempts to get out of the swamp. We are covered in mud, stink of shit, but we are happy. A last meal with Kathy and we head back to Montevideo. At the bus station I say good bye to Kathy with 2 easter eggs, one for her, one for Miriam back in Bs As. Feeling sad to say good bye to her It ahs been nice, but tomorrow back on the bike.
- Brazil: I've done some research on internet to see if any cyclotourist had any information about Brazil. On www.crazyguyonthebike.com,
- Day 3: Friday 10 April, Montevideo to San Jose de Mayo.
km 99.81, time h06:17min, avg speed 15.87km/h, max speed 31.71km/h, total climb 545m, cardio frequency 134, max cf 173, temp 29c.
A lot of wind today, first 40km blows from the left hand side up to Canellones, as the road turns west it becomes a strong head wind that slows me down from 23km/h to 13km/h. Ouch!!! Shit my left leg, I feel the pain of a 10 year old injury, the tendon of my bicep femoris, I feel it pulling, I have to cycle easy now. A very slow ride at 15km/h with a costant pain in my left leg. I get to San Jose de May dying for a shower, food and a bed. There is only a 3 star hotel. Tonight I'll have to treat my self with a bit of luxury, a room for 650 pesos (21 euros, normally I spend 10 euros for a dorm in a hostel), nice & clean, cable tv and I don't have to jump from the window to go to reception. I was lucky to get the room, the hotel is fully booked for the "Vuelta de Uruguay" which arrives tomorrow.
- Day 4: Saturday 11 April, San Jose de Mayo to Nueva Helvecia.
km 64.89, time h04:26min, avg speed 14.63km/h, max speed 38.43, total climb 362m, cardio frequency 119, max cf 153, temp 31c.
I leave San Jose as its preparing for the "Vuelta de Uruguay", I have the honour to cross the finish line with All Black in the opposite direction of the race. A lot of people are on the side of the road waiting for the cyclists, they give their thumbs up for me shouting "you are going the wrong way, the race is in the opposite direction". 30km out of San Jose I bump into the race, I stop on the side to let them through and take pictures. Not Many cyclist, less than 100. It's a small country after all. Today the wind is even stronger, at times it slows me down to 10km/h. My left leg still hurts, good that I'm only doing 65km today. On arrival I down a 1L carton of citrus juice. Stopping again at Hotel de Pedrera, this time they have a menu as there are plenty of guests.
Day 5: Nueva Helvecia to Colonia del Sacramento.
km68.65, h04:01min, avg speed 17.09km/h, max speed 37.47, total climb 459m, cardio frequency 114, max cf 147, temp 37c, total km 433.02
Very hot today, riding good and the leg is feeling better. I will stop in Colonia to rest the leg for 2 days, just to be safe. On arrival I down another 1L carton of citrus juice.
- Happiness Through Freedom: At El Viajero Hostel in Colonia I meet a real charecter, Richard, 62 year old Canadian, never left North America before, so excited to be in Uruguay. He quit is job to travel, as ex wife took the house and belongings. Like my self, he got a certificate to teach english to foreigners. At 62 he left all behind to start again, teaching english and travelling the world. He is now a very happy man. It's good to see people changing life to seek adventure, even at a late stage in life.
You enter the backpacker's travel stream and you realize that there are many people of all ages, each for their own reason, decide to take a break or change completly life style all for the same reason: live, breath, experience different cultures, countries, meet and exchange experiences with fellow travellers and local people. It's a cheap , simple way of travelling which fulfils your soul with the richness of the world and its people. It's all about meeting the world, living the unknown, the endless need for happiness through freedom. Being away from everyday life, away from everything that is familiar and everything that is supposed to be normal. For me all this feeling of adventure and freedom is enhenced through the hardship of cycling and doing it all on your own. I feel joy, satisfaction and personal pride. I feel happy, I feel good...I feel high. It's a very adictive and powerful drug. The most adictive and powerful drug of all.
After this final thought, I think this is enough for this week.
Thake it easy geezers lemon squeezers.
With love
jimbo
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