Alausi to Chunchi. 34.9kms, 1744 metres climbing. Summit 2731 metres.

I managed to get to bed at 8.30pm last night because I was dead tired. I had a great sleep thanks to Terry No.1's (that's Terry Sandford from back home) ear plugs I slept like a bear. Probably snored like one too, but, who gives a toss.

Today is a 35km day to the town of Chunchi in the Canton region. We left the hotel as a group just before 8am. Because Alausi is situated in a bowl, that means we started climbing right from the start of the day. There was no use in going crazy on the climb as we intended on stopping as soon as we reached the summit at 2731 metres in 6kms. Although it's hard to get your legs going so early into the ride, I'm starting to get use to on this trip, as all roads seem to go to heaven. The photo below are some more cyclists arriving at the end of the day. The tables below is where we'll be eating our breakfast tomorrow. The Imperial hotel has all the amenities you need for a stopover.

That's Barry and I ready to take on the mountains.

As we reached the summit of the first climb we took a rest and took out the iPhone for some photos of the countryside. The view across the mountains to where we were heading and also looking back down into the town we just climbed out of was just breath taking. A photo sometimes does not capture the pure brilliance of the Andes Mountains.

The above photo was taken just around the corner from the summit. We were heading in the directions of the clouds in the distance. It might not be evident, but we were actually higher than the clouds.

We took the above photo after reaching the summit of the first climb looking back down into the town of Alausi. For those history buffs, the town of Chunchi is located in the Canton province of Ecuador.  The next 11kms were all downhill into yet another valley. Screaming down the mountain at 70kph is such a buzz. Today Barry and I stopped with the group and took as many photos as possible. Beautiful mountains followed us to the next climb. 

The photo above taken during the last climb up into the mist that shrouded the top of the summit.

The next climb was 10kms which took us to the point where we could see Chunchi in the valley below. We rode the last part of the day with Patrick, Jorst, Tim from Young, Australia and me old mate Barry. Once in town we found the 2 red fire engines parked out the front of the hotel and people unloading our bags. Barry and I got our room and went upstairs to find a double bed and a single bed. Well, you know who got the double bed, ME. I deserve it more than him. 

Once stripped down I turned on the shower to warm up and wash some of the dirt off me. Well I nearly froze my, you know the rest, the water was freezing and stayed that way for the 30 seconds it took me to have a shower. Once clean and dressed in 3 day old clothes it was time to go for a walk of the city. I did manage to come across the church and went inside to check it out.  The photo below is of the main worshiping site in Chunchi. 

Whilst sitting in the main square I spoke to a lady who said I should go and visit the church built on the rock, just down the road and built into the rock wall. Buck and I walked back to the edge of the valley and there it was, a little chapel where the local go to pray peacefully instead of the main church in the centre of town. What a spectacular view the worshipers would have looking out from this holy place. The photo below is of that church.

Not being one for sitting around too long, we went back up town to see if we could find somewhere nice for dinner tonight. Being in a extremely small village nestled on the side of the Andean mountains would be a challenge, but we did manage to find a couple of the cyclists having a beer in this cafe with all the locals. Look like we found our place for dinner.

As we made our way back to the hotel the mist started to cover the town and would stay like this for the rest of the day.

Tomorrow we have about 70kms which will be similar to today. I felt really good today and hope to feel like this for the next 2 days. We finally get to have a day off in 2 days when we reach the city of Cuenca. 

Until tomorrow, safe riding.