stage 2 Quito-Latacunga by malcandmarjetpatterson at Garmin Connect - Details

stage 2 Quito-Latacunga by malcandmarjetpatterson at Garmin Connect - Details

12/08/13 Quito to Latacunga

Leaving Quito by bike in the early morning rush hour was an experience I wouldn't like to repeat. It was mad with traffic coming at you from all directions. But we made a safe exit and once we had climbed out onto the panamerican highway we were treated to some fantastic views. The going was very tough and when I realised it had taken us nearly 3 hours to cover 20 km I began to think that we might have to revise our plan. Luckily some downhill helped us to cover the ground quickly but just after 11 we started climbing seriously. After about an hour my legs started to fail me I just didn't seem to have any strength left. So in true Patterson style we found some food to cheer me up. It is almost impossible to by bread but you can always find a little place where you can buy an almuerzo for about $2.- Invariably this consist of a large bowl of soup followed by rice and some chickpea mix and usually a bit of meat that could be chicken. Included in the meal is a large glass of squash as well. With frequent stops we did make it into latacunga which turned out to be a fascinating place much more attractive then Quito.

stage 1 quito -mitad del mundo by malcandmarjetpatterson at Garmin Connect - Details

stage 1 quito -mitad del mundo by malcandmarjetpatterson at Garmin Connect - Details
This is the track log of our first day on the bike for those of you who like to have a closer look at the route and the details.

11/08/13 Quito to La Mitad del  Mundo and back .

First day on the bikes and feeling slightly anxious about our cycle fitness and whether we've acclimatised sufficiently . I've had a thumping headache for 24 hrs but don't feel and reduction in my exercise  tolerance . Roughly 30 kms out and  30 kms  back today to visit the monument that marks the  equator . It should  be a good test of what we can  or  can't do .
Route finding is always difficult in big cities but as luck would have it every Sunday in Quito they close a three lane highway to all traffic except runners and bikers and it goes roughly from where we were staying to halfway to our destination .Sweet .
The riding was fine and only marred by an over eager taxi driver bumping into Marjets bike from behind , knocking her off and significantly buckling the wheel . Once Marjets bike had been dragged to the  side of the road the taxi driver said  " disculpame " and  then drove off !
Fortunately no injuries and we managed to find a bike  shop where they trued the wheel for a dollar .

 Marjet in the Northern hemisphere 

2013-08-10 click for more

10/08/13   Sightseeing in Quito .

We had decided to walk to the old colonial part of Quito which we have been repeatedly told is too dangerous to visit at night but was supposed to be OK during the day as there was a strong police presence . There were certainly a lot of police  in the prime spots and it  felt safe  there , but in the  side  streets it was occasionally clear to see that there were lookouts who would  radio messages alerting those  indoors when the police  cars were in the area which then resulted in their heavy metal doors being slammed shut, a bit worrying  . When we asked  for  directions people were very helpful but told  us to take a bus as it was too unsafe otherwise .This was when I hung a note  around Marjets neck " I've  got  AIDS " . We never  were hassled after that .
 The old colonial area was truly impressive especially the Basilica were they let you climb on some pretty sketchy ladders to the bell tower at top which is  probably 300 feet above ground , something  that would  never be  allowed in the UK .
Exploring big cities inevitably means walking endlessly and by the time  we got  back we were exhausted and had another early night , tomorrow will mark the beginning  of the cycling .

                                                           view from apartment

                                                              spire with ladder climb

                                                                the Basilica

Arrival in Quito

Quito airport and successfully reunited with the bikes and bags .
Little  did  we  know however that this  was  a brand new  airport and not the one described in the South American handbook .  The  difference  being that the old  airport was quite close  to Quito and  this one  is a long drive away which caused  some  confusion when discussing taxi fares.
We thought the 40 dollar  fare was  extortionate but  after watching  the man stuff the bike boxes , bags  and  us into a fairly small taxi and  then drive us for 1.5 hrs it seemed quite reasonable . Mustn't grumble  though as  when we  checked  the  bikes  in at  Bristol they forgot to charge  us the £100 per  bike  charge and we forgot  to remind  them .
Now at just under 3000 m and  tomorrow has to be an  acclimatizing  rest day with  bike  assembly  and  a bit of  sight seeing.

Everything packed and ready to go

Untitled by malcandmarjetpatterson at Garmin Connect - Details
Trial run on the Tarka Trail with everything packed.I don't think we have ever been this slow!
If you click on the garmin connect link above you can find out just how slow!

We might be following this route if we feel like it or we might do something completely different. This route has been designed by Bike Dreams and has given us the inspiration to go for it. Lots of information on their websitehttp://www.bike-dreams.com/AN/EN/00_Home.htm