Distance: 35.16 km
Ride time: 4:08:05
Average: 8.51 km/h
Altitude: 3732 m
Total: 27779 km
Cycling across the Salar de Uyuni had been a unique experience, and some of the easiest cycling in a long time. I was now leaving the flat parts of Bolivia behind and headed straight into the mountains again.
Not only were the climbs steep, the road was also one of the worst I have ever cycled. Luckily I had only planned to cycle the 35 km to Salinas today, so I took it easy, having plenty of breaks and enjoying the views.
In a few days I will be back on tarmac on the way to the big city of Oruro. From there the road should be good all the way to La Paz… and well, Canada in fact! As I battled the bad dirt road I was very much looking forward to asphalt again, but at the same time I knew that I would be missing being out here in the middle of nowhere – in places such as this, only dirt roads can take you!
A few kilometers before Salinas I could hear loud music from there square. It turned out that I had jumped right into the biggest fiesta of the year – the Festividad de los Aposteles San Pedro y San Pablo.
Everyone in town seemed to be out dancing and drinking! The somewhat reserved Bolivianos had suddenly turned into real latinos!
Being the only gringo in town I could only walk a few steps before I was offered a cup of beer. The atmosphere was truly euphoric. I enjoyed a few drinks with the locals, but otherwise I was quite content to resume more of an observers role, snapping a lot of photos in the process.
I know cyclists who really don’t like towns and prefer to spend all their time in the wilderness. To me however, I think observing people in a place like today is in many ways even more interesting than being out there in nature.
It was late before I got back to the hotel, having met a lot of new friends in town.
