We all rolled out of Riobamba at 8.10am into the traffic and up through town and onto the first climb of the day. We started at around 2700 metres and climbed until we reached 3316 metres. I was finding it much harder on the lungs today compared to yesterday and found it difficult to get my rhythm on the first climb.
Once we reached the summit it was a gentle downhill for about 25 kms to the lunch stop. At times we were flying down the road and trying to avoid these ripple strips which would shake your brain all over the place. Lunch was in a paddock just off the road and was ready when we arrived at 10.30am.
During our ride to lunch Barry and I rode together at a steady pace, whilst 3 others guys were up the road. I didn't feel like chasing anyone today and wanted a nice ride and time to enjoy the countryside at the same time. Lunch was excellent like usual, so we tucked into a nice bread roll and health bars to help us on our way.
We rode up into town trying to find the Indian market. We looked up a couple of side alleys but couldn't find a thing. We rolled on back to the highway and commenced the 45km rode to Alausi. We knew we still had some serious climbing to go before we hit the run down into town. We did have a couple of small climbs with long flat sections along the Andes. The weather was hot during the climbs and freezing as we roared down into the valley below. My top speed today was 82.4kph.
We did manage to ride past the inactive stratovolcano Chimborzao which is Ecuador's highest summit. It's last eruption is thought to have occurred some time in the first millennium AD. Its summit is generally regarded as the spot on the surface farthest from the centre of the Earth. The summit peaks out at 6268 metres. Like Cotopaxi volcano the other day, the summit was covered in cloud and I couldn't take any photos.
In a little bit of history about the mountain, in August 1976, SEATA flight 232 carrying 55 passengers and 4 crew members whilst flying from Quito to Cuenca disappeared en route. In October 2002, after 26 years the aircraft was found with the bodies of 59 occupants at 5400 metres elevation on Chimborazo by Ecuadorian climbers on the rarely used eastern route Integral.
Now back to the riding. We still had another climb which would take us back up to over 3000 metres. In total we climbed 1946 metres over the 96.6 kms. At least we didn't cook like yesterday. After more and more climbing we reached the summit at 77kms and now it was time to do some flying. We just took the hands of the brakes, tucked in tight and let it rip. You have to be rewarded in some fashion for all the hard climbing.
Down and down we went until we could see down in the valley below, the town of Alausi. Alausi got it's name during the conquest of Ecuador. Alausi is known for its architecture and most of the houses are over 100 years old. Once we found hotel Europa and got our room, we went for a walk of this quaint old town. I always like to find a place to sit down, have a drink and watch the world go bye. The world according to a very old town and it's people. The ladies wear these heavy dresses and shawl with bright embroidery to highlight the garment. They also have these large hats on which I presume holds a bundle of hair.
The photo above (poor quality) is typical of the clothing the Ecuadorean ladies wear in this part of the country.
We continued walking the streets and came across a Chinese restaurant which will be our target for dinner tonight.
So another day on Bike Dreams draws to a close and I'm glad dinner is over and I'm now resting on the bed ready to crash at 8.30pm. I need my sleep.
Until tomorrow, safe riding.
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