Riobamba to Alausi. 96.6kms. 1946 metres of climbing. Summit 3315 metres.

After an ordinary night's sleep and an early morning due to noise in the hotel, I was awake before 5.30am which is far too early considering breakfast wasn't going to be ready until 7am. Breakfast consisted of bread rolls, jam, scrambled eggs, juice, coffee and fruit.

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 is looking down into the town of Alausi our destination for the day.

 The photo above is one of the cyclists being ticked off by Lupcho the bike mechanic for the tour. Every person on the tour receives a time each day and at the end of the tour you receive your placing.

 The photo above is some of the only flat road we rode along today. The conditions in part are excellent.

 We are staying at the Hotel Europa and it's pretty good.

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.

Latacunga to Riobamba. More mountains ahead. 101kms, summit 3611 metres.

Today we are taking a different approach. Barry and I are going to ride with the bunch till lunch and then ride at our own pace.

After a nice breakfast of juice, coffee and tasty rolls with jam and eggs, we were ready to attack the day. The group rolled out of the hotel at Latacunga at 8am to ride about 50kms to the lunch truck. The road was gently undulating for the first 30kms then the group splintered to pieces. Barry and I rode with Michelle, Jerg, Rien, Patrick and a couple of others I'll get to know as the tour progresses.

The final climb to the lunch stop was about 15kms long at a gradient of 8 degrees. At least it was hot like it was yesterday. The scenery was mountains all around us as far as the eye could see. We rode through a couple of towns which looked like they were about to fall down at any moment. Dogs, trucks, buses and taxis all had to be avoided as they made there way over the road without any concern for the impending cyclists.

As we crested the summit it was smooth sailing to the lunch stop. Once again our good friend Buck missed the lunch truck and rode on without any food supplies. With a nice lunch on the side of the road, Barry and I left and rode on at our own pace. We were now at around 2800 metres and we still had 30kms to go to reach the summit before the drop down into our destination for the day, Riobamba.

As soon as we reached the base of the climb Barry and I took turns in setting the pace. We managed to catch up to Buck who was travelling well considering he missed out on lunch. He's such an easy going chap and pleasant to hang with. I'm sure I'll get to meet more as we head south to the end of the world.

I set the first 30 minutes and then Barry took over. Barry was setting a very good pace and at times my legs were burning like hell. I had to take my share of the work regardless of how sore my legs were. If there is any consolation from the ride, it was the fact my legs didn't hurt 1/2 as much as they did yesterday.

We crested the summit at around 12.30 after 1 hour and 30 minutes of climbing to reach an altitude of 3611 metres above sea level. Now it was time to be rewarded for all the hard work of today with a 20km drop down into town. We roared down that mountain as fast as our bikes will allow us, reaching speeds in excess of 70kph. As we crested the summit our riding partner Rien caught up to us. We all got together and rode the final stretch into town to finish our 101 km ride at around 1.30pm.

In total we climbed 1720 metres over 101 kms. A tough day and loved every minute of it. We checked into our room and took my clothes off to have a nice hot shower only to find there was not hot water. Not happy at all. All I could have was a wash with a face towel. I'm sure a bit of spray will kill the odour for tomorrow.

After getting dressed I walked across the road and entered a tourist train station which provides train trips into the surrounding country side. Unfortunately we missed the train, but did get to see it arrive. It's like a bus with wheels and I think would be great fun for 1/2 a day, We hope to catch up with the train later on in the journey.

Now for the interesting part of the afternoon. Whilst sitting down in the train station two ladies came up to me and wanted to try their English with me. To cut the story short, they each took turns asking me questions and having me reply in perfect English. They were English students at the local university. For 30 minutes they filmed both interviews asking similar questions. I didn't mind as I remember my days at university and I needed as much help as possible to pass. The photo below are the 2 ladies who interviewed me.

 After doing the media stuff I went back to the hotel in time to celebrate one of the cyclists birthday. Of course I had a huge slice of cake.

The afternoon was getting away from us and dinner time was now calling. A group of us walked up the road and had pizza for dinner prepared by a real Italian in Ecuador. If you're ever in this neck of the woods try out the pizza shop near the railway.

Now I'm getting tired and I need to hit the sack. 9pm is bed time around this place. Tomorrow is more climbing and hopefully sunny weather. Due to the slow internet at the hotel, I'll post a more comprehensive story about the region in the next couple of days.

Until tomorrow, safe riding.

Quito to Latacunga. 95.9 kms. Climbing to 3500 metres.

Well, what a day. A good sleep, followed by a an excellent breakfast, and we were ready for a hit out.

I'm feeling better each day with the altitude and so is Barry. Today would be the day that we could rate ourselves against the other riders. By the end of the day we would know who is the strongest and who is the slowest. I know it's not a race, but it's just the way we ride. The only difference between this ride and riding at home is about 3500 metres above sea level. And we feel every metre.

We rolled out of the Plaza Hotel International as a group at around 9am and no sooner had we left the city and the road went to heaven. We had a good shoulder to ride on and felt pretty safe all day. I was at the back of group talking to one of the female cyclists for too long and as a result Barry was along way ahead on the climb. I'm not sure the name of the cyclist but I can't imagine what time she will get into town tonight.

I climbed through the pack and caught up with Barry after about 10kms and we still had another 3 kms to go to reach the top of the first climb. Now it was time to roar down the other side (max speed 68kph) and head towards our lunch stop. As we approached the lunch stop we could see Cotopaxi with it's snow covered peak. Quite spectacular to see, but unfortunately the clouds prevented us from seeing the entire volcano. We rolled along and found the 'Bike Dreams' flag on the side of the road notifying us that lunch was ready. Lunch was in a small grassed area off the road, and just like Africa, the kids, dogs, and geese came over to see what was going on in their backyard.

 The above photo was taken during lunch of two of our admirers. I just can't imagine what these people think when they see a huge truck with all this food and cyclists dressed in lycra on expensive bicycles with computers, navigation units and more. Sometimes a feeling of guilt does come over me when I see people who obviously will find it difficult to do what we are doing today. My lunch was 2 bread rolls with cheese, tomato and onions. I'm not one for eating too much when you have to ride 50 kms and have 1 more enormous mountain to climb.

The photo above are some of the staff of 'Bike Dreams' getting the lunch ready. All the food is placed on a large table, so when the cyclists arrive they eat till their hearts are content. I don't need to carry a huge belly fill up a mountain so I eat in moderation.

 The photo above is a better view of the lunch truck. Notice the 2 admirers sitting down near the truck. An excellent lunch was had by all. Barry and I and 2 other guys were the first into lunch today and the first to leave. Now it was time to hit the road and start the final climb of the day.

The climb started at the 35km mark and it went up and up for the next 25kms. At stages the road ranged from 5-10% gradient. We kept climbing for nearly 2 hours and the navigation unit was showing how high we were going. Barry and I just kept plugging along till we reached the summit at 3500 metres. I was stuffed. My legs were burning for the last 5kms and I couldn't afford to stop, I had to reach the summit and then I could take a rest roaring down the other side of the mountain. Max speed 74kph.

The rest of the ride into the hustling and bustling city of Latacunga was basically downhill. As we approached the outskirts of town the traffic was horrendous. Cars pulling in front and pulling out from the kerb with total disregard to the 3 of us. Rin the guy we were riding with got a puncture outside of town so we stopped and gave him a hand. We had ridden together the whole day so we couldn't just leave him there and ride on. It's just not bike etiquette. And I know a lot about bike etiquette.

In the distance you can see the the snow covered volcano of Cotopaxi.

We took a short break on the side of the road about 20kms out of Latacunga.

We made our way through the city and up near the square where all the locals were hanging. People were selling goods and others were playing music. Music is a big part of the Ecuadorean life. As we rode past the square we could see the big red fire engine parked up the road. We rode up to the hotel and were shown where to park our bikes and immediately given a key to a nice room. Two big double beds, WiFi, and colour TV. Too tired to turn it on. Time for a shower and relax. When you finish a ride each day, soup and bread rolls, tea and coffee is awaiting the riders when they reach the finish line. This is excellent to help in the recovery of tired old legs.

After our afternoon snack we went for a walk of the town. There are so many shops selling everything you could imagine. From electrical goods, food shop, clothing shops and at least 20 barbers. They are doing big business on a Saturday afternoon cutting hair. I'll wait till later on in the holiday to get a hair cut.

We did come across St Francis's church, the first church built in the city, but unfortunately the church was closed. So it was time to head back to our hotel and relax before we go out for dinner.

I found some information on Latacunga which goes like this;

Latacunga is a plateau town of Ecuador, capital of the Cotopaxi Province, 89kms south of Quito, near the confluence of the Alaques and Cutuchi rivers to form the Patate, the head stream of the Pastaza. At the time of the 2001 census Latacunga had 51,669 inhabitants, largely mesitizo and indigenous. It's situated at 2760 metres above sea level. The town was founded in 1534 and has suffered repeatedly by earthquakes between 1698 and 1798 and has been destroyed on 4 occasions. Lucky we're moving on tomorrow.

The photo above is Barry walking towards St Francis's church.

Tomorrow is another long day and more climbing at altitude. I don't intend to finish in the front group, but take it at a much more leisurely pace. The weather is getting colder as we climb higher and we still have to reach 4800 metres before we go down to the coast. I'm sure we'll sleep like bears tonight. 

There was one thing I forgot to mention, it was a strong headwind the entire day to add to my woes.

Until tomorrow, safe riding.

Quito to Mitad-del-Mundo. The Equator.

Last night all the cyclists got together to receive the briefing from the 'Bike Dreams' company on what we should expect for the rest of the tour and what we can and can't do. We also got our jerseys for participating, which now means I have to complete the ride or I will look silly saying I rode the end of the world when in fact I didn't. We also got a great book which covers each stage and the history and attractions of the many towns and villages we will pass through during the next 4 months and 2 weeks of riding. 

An early night was on the cards as I wanted to be fresh to take in the exhilaration of starting a ride that will have such an impact on my life. I never lose sight of the fact that I'm extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in this event.

Now for today.

Today's the day we start the ride. Our journey will take us from the hotel to 27 kms north to the Mitad-del-Mundo, or more commonly known as 'the equator'. Breakfast was at 7 am and we all had to be outside ready to leave at 9am in a convoy. This is the safest way to ride in this city. We all rode as a huge group with cars and buses giving way to us at each intersection. The first part of the trip was on good roads and nearly all downhill to the equator. You know what that means, all uphill to the finish line. My good friend from Germany, Hardy, had 2 punctures on the first day. Not happy at all.

We rolled into Mitad-del-Mundo to start the celebrations. We were given a guided tour of the monument in the photo below, and told about the history of the region, the Amazon and other ethnic groups from within Ecuador. We didn't have too much time to play around as we had to be down at the base of the monument to receive the official send off by a representative of the Ecuadorean Government.

Once the official part of the day was over, we got the chance to take some photos around the monument.

 And that's me standing between both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

 I took the photo above as the truck passed us this morning. There are 2 identical fire engine trucks that will carry our gear to the end of the world. Thank God I'm not carry my gear again. I'm over that crap.

 That's Barry and myself at the equator. Barry is my cycling friend from the mighty Gong.

 I took the above photo standing atop the monument that signifies the centre of the earth. Looking down on both north and south of the equator line.

 It's obvious I'm the chap with the eXsight Tandem clothing gear on. I've taken eXsight to many places around the world and I couldn't think of any other clothing to wear on such an important day. I might even wear the gear on the last day as well.

After the photos we had some lunch bought another T-shirt to go to my collection and headed back to Quito for the evening. Tomorrow we leave Quito and start the real journey south.

The ride back to the hotel was at our own pace. Barry and I stayed with the fast guys even up the long climbs. We turned off before the hotel and went shopping for a cycling jersey. Barry got a nice jersey but I couldn't get one to fit me. Maybe tomorrow.

My afternoon is now complete and it's time to go for dinner. Tomorrow is a 95km stage which will take us up to 3500 metres above sea level. 

Until tomorrow, safe riding.

Day before the tour commences. Quito.

After a fantastic sleep we were up for a breakfast which consisted of 2 bread rolls, a slice of cheese and a slice of ham. Now, I'm not complaining about what we had, and actually it was quite nice. Washed down with a nice fruit drink and a couple of cups of coffee.

Barry and I had planned to meet Jurg from Switzerland ( and he knows my friend Scott Chipperfield who use to play for Australia and one of the big football teams in Europe) at 9 am to go for a ride to the Parque Metropolitano about 5 kms away. The parque has big climb which Dermot rode yesterday, and like all crazy cyclists, we had to take on the challenge today.

We rode the cycleway for the majority of the way, took a quick right and up we climbed. The climb was at around 12% and didn't really let up until we reached  the summit at around 2850 metres. I'm not sure how accurate the altitude reading is on my watch. Tomorrow I'll be able to compare with my new Garmin 1000 with the reading.

The view from the summit over the city and down to the new airport was very impressive. Jurg pointed out in the distance the famous Cotopaxi mountain. Cotopaxi is a stratovolcano in the Andes Mountains, located about 50kms south of Quito, Ecuador. It is the second highest summit in the country and reaching a height of 5,897 metres above sea level. Some consider it the world's highest active volcano, while others give this status to the considerably higher Llullaillaco, which most recently erupted in 1877.

Since 1738, Cotopaxi has erupted more than 50 times, resulting in the creation of numerous valleys formed by lahars (mud-flows) around the volcano.

From the top of the park we managed to get a view of the top of Cotopaxi which is covered with snow. The photo below is not that great of the mountain, but one can see the snow covered peak.

Back on the bike for some more riding of the park. We came across some Lamas and of course had to get a photo standing near one. And to my friends back home, they didn't shake when I came close.

 Back down the hill and out of the park and into the city below. We entered another park and wanted to see why there were so many people wearing Coca Cola clothing and walking around the place. There must have been about 50 people riding bikes and carts depicted in the photo below handing out free bottles. Now I'm always up for freebies.

So when this young lady came up to me and handed me a bottle of coke and insisted on having her photograph taken with me, I had to oblige. Now I can understand why she wanted the photo. I couldn't talk any longer with her and told her I had to continue, as I was on a mission. We rode around the park which was full of children playing football, basketball and having a lot of fun. I think the children must be on school holidays.

In Quito we noticed the cyclists riding in the bus trolley lanes. Barry and I hopped into the lane and rode behind the bus all the way to the 'Old City' where we had been yesterday. Once in the city we made a U turn and latched onto another trolley bus and rode back to the new town where we were staying. The photo below is Barry behind the bus in the trolley lane. Actually it is the safest I've felt riding around Quito thus far on holidays.

Once in town we went back to the Plaza Hotel to pack up some gear and get ready for the first meeting of the tour at 4pm. Bike went well and everything looks in order for tomorrow. I'm now starting to get excited about getting underway. It's time to leave Quito. I'll update you tomorrow on the meeting and how our first ride which is to the equator and back goes tomorrow.

Last night at dinner this young lad came up to us and asked if he could clean our boots. I had sandals on and Barry had boots which don't take polish. Barry ended up giving the boy a couple of coins and I took a really nice photo. Below is the photo.

Now all the work has been done, thousands of kms ridden back home, a bike which is built to take on almost anything. All I have to do is 'just do it'. The photo below is the helmet that's going to protect me over the next 11,000 kms. I'm also filming a lot of the tour thanks to my son's birthday present. Thanks Josh.

Until tomorrow, safe riding.

Sightseeing in Quito. The roads are not good for cyclists.

Before I go into too much about what we did today I thought I should tell you something about Quito.

Quito was a major Inca city that was destroyed by Atahualpa’s general Rumiñahui, shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. The present capital was founded atop the Inca ruins by Sebastián de Benalcázar on December 6, 1534. Unfortunately, no Inca structures remain.

Quito Old Town was built centuries ago by indigenous artisans and laborers, Quito’s churches, convents, chapels and monasteries are cast in legend and steeped in history. It’s a magical, bustling area, full of yelling street vendors, ambling pedestrians, tooting taxis, belching buses, and whistleblowing policemen trying to direct traffic in the narrow, congested one-way streets.  As a foreign cyclist I didn't pay much attention to them and rode on like we owned the place.

Quito (elevation 2850m) is Ecuador’s second largest city, after Guayaquil. Quito’s reputation as a dangerous city is increasing. The Mariscal Sucre neighborhood (in the New Town) is extremely dangerous after dark, and we were told that we should always take a taxi, even for short distances. The Mariscal has been plagued by drugs, muggings, assaults and prostitution, and the city has only recently taken even the most token steps to control it (and the police corruption that allows it to continue). Sound like a lot of police forces in many developing nations.

I woke today at 4.30 am and couldn't get back to sleep. Up early is not good for me. After breakfast, Barry and I, and Dave from England went on a ride of the city. First we had to go across the park and check out the bicycle shop so Dave could buy some new bar ends for his handlebars. This device gives you another position to rest your hands whilst riding.

That's Dave leaving the bicycle shop. We told him he'd go faster now.

The video clip was taken on the iPhone whilst riding around the square.

With the bike now sorted it was time to hit the road and fight for a place on the road in a city that is just chaotic. We took as many side streets as possible but no matter what turn we took, it was just dangerous to ride on these roads.  We made our way to the old city to check out the local square. This is a square where the majority of people are elderly who congregate to chat and let the day pass without a concern in the world. We did get to meet a nice chap who wanted to know why we were in his city.

The old chap above, that's the one in the middle, checked out our bikes and was amazed when we told him we were riding to the end of the world. We agreed it was a stupid idea, but we paid too much to chuck it in, so we were committed. After the nice chat we went back into the fire and rode on up to the church of San Francisco which was quite a spectacular church which I had to go in.  In the photo below it's hard to see, but the entire roof is painted in gold leaf. Took a couple more photos and kept riding around the narrow twisty alleys of the old town.

In the distance high on yet another hill in Quito is the Mirador El Pancellio. We didn't want to climb the hill as we were already out of breath and the morning's ride was basically on flat roads. We just admired from the Square as the base of the hill.

The Mirador El Panecillo is a statue that stands atop the Panecillo which held immense religious significance during the pre-Inca, Inca and Spanish rule. The statue known as ‘Virgin of Quito’ is viewed as a protector of the city with the symbolic crushed serpent below her feet. The Panecillo hill has held the value of a fortress and a lookout for defense purposes. The Panecillo hill has also taken part and made its presence felt in the Independence battle of Quito.

It was time to head back to our accommodation. First we stopped off for lunch and then onto a nice coffee shop. I must say the people that go to this coffee shop are a lot more classier than the group I come across back home.

Now how's that for coffee and cake. I know it's not healthy, but I'm on holidays.

The rest of the afternoon is doing nothing. I do feel a bit better than yesterday, so Friday is looking good to start the tour. More cyclists.are arriving by the hour and the trucks are just around the corner.

For some other useless trivia to devour. Ecuador has had 7 presidents in the past 10 years. Now that's stability in a nation. Half the countries earnings come from petroleum based products.

Until tomorrow, safe riding.

Sydney to Quito. Ecuador.

Finally we've reached the city of Quito in Ecuador. The journey started with a 12 hour and 50 minute flight to Santiago, Chile and then a 5 hour layover. If there's one thing I hate and that's sitting around doing nothing. The next flight was to Quito which took another 5 hours and 45 minutes. When we arrived at the airport we were greeted by our driver and taken to the Hotel Plaza International which was another 1 hour of travel. Both Barry and I were stuffed.

Once at the hotel we unloaded the vehicle with all our bags and bike boxes, brought them inside, got our room, and after a quick shower it was time to sleep. And everybody knows how much I love my bed so I decided to sleep till 9.15am. I know my last 2 riding companions Peter and Len would be saying that lazy little Aussie ass, but as I told them both, I need my sleep more than others.

Although we left Sydney at 12.30 pm on Monday we still arrived in Santiago at 11.30 am same day. I'll lose the day or two on the return journey.

So after a great sleep it was down for breakfast. Our table was set with knife and fork, and I was expecting something very special.  Breakfast was 2 bread rolls, 2 slices of cheese and a cup of tea and a glass of juice. Not much if you were going to do any riding. Now for today.

After breakfast we went downstairs and opened the bike boxes to check out if they suffered any damage during the flight. My bike was perfect and went together in no time. Barry's bike suffered a bent brake disc on the front wheel, so we had to go and find shop to sort out the problem. I took over the negotiation skills and got the guy to fix the wheel for 3 dollars.  Now that's a bargain. He couldn't get the complete buckle out so we might have to find a better shop tomorrow. The photo below is Barry and Buck from America standing out the front of the bike shop.

The photo below is the mechanic trying to fix the wheel with a shifting spanner. Not a great mechanic with those tools.

After the bike shop it was time to try and find a shop to buy a sim card. I had spoken to Graham Rutter back home and he advised me to check out Movistar for a telephone and data packages. This will have to wait till tomorrow.

After walking around the city we decided to catch a taxi up to the Teleferico which is a cable car that climbs the mountain overlooking Quito.

The TelefériQo or TelefériQo Cruz Loma, is agondola lift in Quito, Ecuador, running from the edge of the city centre up the east side of Pichincha Volcano to lookout Cruz Loma. It is one of the highest aerial lifts in the world, rising from 3,117 m (10,226 ft) to 3,945 m (12,943 ft).^[1] The ascent takes about eight minutes, traveling 2237 linear metres.

Once at the top the views looking down over the city are just spectacular. 

The photo above is Barry on the left and Buck on the right. Walking at over 4000 metres really takes your breath away. I'll need to get use to it pretty quickly as we start our serious riding on Friday.

There is a good walkway along the rim of the mountain so we took a path get a better view over the city and seriously I was walking like an old man. I was dragging the chain so to speak. Out of breath and doing it real tough. 

We caught the cable car back down the mountain and made our way back to the hotel to clean up. We had a long day out walking around at 2850 metres which Quito is situated, and also up the mountain. Tomorrow is a short ride and getting to meet some of the other 40 riders who will be riding to the end of the world. So I'm not the only mad cyclist on this planet.

Until tomorrow, safe riding.