Day 3 - Time to tcb - take care of business

So today was the day that we had to get down, and start getting all the final preperations for the trip taken care of. The last two days had been fun, and relaxing and all that, but I came down here to ride and I had to get around to doing it eventually. So we went and rented my bike first thing this morning. That firs thing happened to be abotu 11am because we didnt get back till probably 4am or so from the club. We got a cab over the bike shop, and I gotta admit, I am pretty excited about the bike they had for me. Its a bit small, but I think I can make it work.

While we were there though, Aaron and I were talking to the owner, and telling him what route were planning on taking, and he told us that we had to be careful. You see, we gott get a cab across this bridge, because they dont allow bikes on it, which we knew. But apparently after the bridge is about 8 km (or about 4 miles) of some dangerous, very narrow road before it opens up into the transamerican highway. He said it was known as the Cobra Mountain or something like that because it was so windy, and with bends all over teh place. To top it off, because it was so windy, there was littel to no bike lane or shoulder AT ALL. Great, I thought to myself, just great. Aaron had told me on teh first day Igot here that the highway was four lanes, two each way, with a large and wide sholder. He pointed it out to me when we were going along it, it looked fine. As I am hearing this story, Aaron and I look at each other and say that we can just take a cab the extra 8km if it is that skinny and narrow, but we´re still debating. I mean, starting out the ride by riding through the cobra mountain, that sounds pretty cool. So we´ll see how we feel tomorow. After we got the bike all squared away, we got it back to the hostel, and got on a bus and took it across town to the mall, adn the other bike shop. I got my helmet and then we got some lunch. WE´re gonna get some cigars, and a few other things, and then head back and start getting our gear ready.

We are hoping to get on the road tomorrow around 7am, and we are going to cover about 40 km tomorrow, riding to La Chorrera. Wish me luck. From what I have seen it is going ot be like riding my bike along the 80, or 880, on the shoulder. Busses, and cars will be wizzing by. I am sure I will be shitting my pants, and it will be quite scary, but whatever. ITs all part of the expeirnece. I am excited about it, and still a bit nervous. I´ll check in when I can.

Dont forget to send out the link to friends and family and others. Feel free to email me at michaelt080@yahoo.com . And thank you to everyone who has donated so far. WE´re 4% of goal already. That is AWESOME!!!!

MT