Cycling The Globe

Distance: 56.68 km
Ride time: 4:42:25
Average: 12.06 km/h
Altitude: 2099 m
Total: 27039 km

Before heading off for today’s ride, I was enjoying a coffee at my balcony overlooking the central square in Jujuy. I had booked a hostel room, but I was the only guest around. A bit of luxury is always appreciated.

I then started a long climb. Normally when you are ascending you can look forward to a corresponding descend not too far away. This time it would be different though. I am now climbing up towards the Altiplano, the Bolivian Plateau between 3500 and 4000 m in west-central South America. I will not be back at more normal altitudes before getting close the pacific coast in Peru!

On the way up the climb I reached 27000 km. 30K is within reach now.

I don’t mind hard cycling when the surroundings are beautiful – and that they were today.

In the village of Volcán I stopped to buy lunch and take some pictures.

I’m following an old railway line that I read was closed in 1994. In each village I pass, I see the now empty railway station and tracks. A Somewhat sad sight, this ghost town feeling.

The next village, Tumbaya, turned out to be a real gem with it’s adobe houses. As I walked around I thought how different life is out here compared to in Buenos Aires – another world really.

I considered staying at the guesthouse in town, but when nobody answered the door when I knocked, I continued a few kilometers up the road and put up my tent.