Advertisement
Published: October 13th 2007
Edit Blog Post
After recovering from our walk to the waterfalls we returned to La Paz with the intention of cycling the most dangerous road in the world!! So called because on average 300 - 400 people per year used to die on it. NOT by cycling it but mainly due to road accidents - at its narrowest point it is 1.3 meters wide and these were big trucks they used to drive down it!
Anyway before we got to that we went out for a really nice meal in a restaurant called Vienna. We were celebrating our 9th, yes 9th, anniversary together, so decided to splash out. Pauline had a steak at the cost of about 2 British punds and my salmon was all of 4.50! Crazy I know but it was a special occasion! Anyway with a bottle of wine, some starters etc the whole thing came to just over 12 quid - bargin! And this is one of the nicer resraurants in La Paz!! The problem was, unbeknown to us, we had both picked up some kind of stomach bug / food poisoning thing. So we made it about half way through the food and half way through the wine
Ready For Action!
All kitted out we were ready to roll! (those who know me will know i must have been feeling off colour not to at least finish the wine!) before bailing for home.
So with the thought of cycling the ´most dangerous road in the world´we both stocked up on the immodium and hoped for the best. Unfortunately the best didn´t happen.
In the morning we woke at 6, partly because new immodium was needed, and also as we had to meet at 7 to start this cycling thing. Paulines stomach was doing sommersaults because of afore mentioned reasons, and the fact she was absolutley bricking it about the cycle ride! I was really looking forward to it and so we finished breakkie and started the 40 minute drive to the starting point.
The whole track is 67km long, and at the top we were surrounded by snow capped peaks so dressed up in numerous layers, waterproofs, hats, goggles, gloves and of coure a helmet. With a few brief instructions on how to ride a bike we were off!
The first section is all down hill and was great fun. There was a definate seperation in the group - testosterone at the front followed cautiously
First leg down
Pauline after racing down the first leg of the run! by the grils at the back! Once we had all cleared the narcotics check point they decidd to mention that we hadf to cycle the next 7 km up hill! We never signed up for up hill business, this was strictly downhill! Anyway, not wanting to loose face in front of the rest of the group off we went. There was always the safety net (and embaressment) of sacking it off and getting alift in the van - but none of us would do that.... would we?
I finally made it to the top of what can only be described as a b&%·"&d hill, when 5 minutes later the van rolls up and a fresh faced pauline jumps out of the van with a large (but slightly embarassed) grin on her face! Cheeky!
Anyway the rest of the ride was down hill and was absolutely amazing. The scenery was breath taking and the photo´s will follow. As we flew down the hill, the guide took it upon herself to point out various crosses where literally bus loads of people had previously plummeted to their death - which was exactly what pauline needed to hear to spur her on!
Where´s Wally?
The small ridge in the side of the very big mountain was the 1.3m wide path we were screaming down! Or not!
By the end of it we were all completely knacked, and to be honest, i felt like i´d spent a week in jail - it still hurts now, sat here writing this blog!
It ws only really when we´d finished that my stomach started to grumble and we both strated to fera the worst. As pauline finished off the last of the immodium, we bith settled down on the bus for a 3 hour ride home - oh joy! It was also then that the guide gave us the choice of using the old road or the new road to get home. Unfortunatley for pauline the majority went with the old road, and so after getting a few scathing looks and ´unsensitive, not caring´ remarks we embarked on the old road!
It must have been about an hour in when both of us were clutching our stomachs praying for the end to come. These roads are not smooth tarmac we are used to and the constant bumping wasn´t aiding the stomach issues!! As another 30 mins past I was thinking its all over, and i´m just gonna have to make a scene on the bus.
Don´t look down!
The view was amazing but the the fear of death very eminent so it was strictly eyes front!! The next 30 mins felt like 2 days and we were both contemplating the side of the road. By the time 3 hours was up and we were back in La Paz, i could hardly walk - funny now, but believe me, not at the time. Limping back up to the hostel, which was positioned at the top of a massive hill, i have never been so pleased to see my very own toilet in front of me.
I´ll stop there as you can imagine the rest - needless to say we both felt better after.
Anyway this morning was a different story. Feeling revived and much better, we set off for Copabana, Lake Titicaca which is beautiful. Our hostel is lovely, we have just had some amazing fresh trout from the lake, and so far it is still in our stomachs! Result! On Monday we head out to one of the islands on the lake which is the birth place of the incas, so will have much to report then i´m sure.
Sorry about the graphic nature of this entry but sometimes its just good to get things out!!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.097s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 10; qc: 51; dbt: 0.0569s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
amanda
non-member comment
omg
glad u got things out of ur system-quite literaly!