It was cold at the Cumbre, at 4700m where our bike ride down the World's Most Dangerous Road started. First, we got a safety briefing. Use both breaks at once, only look to where you want to go and not to where you don't want to go, et cetera. Then we could practice a bit on the highway we started out on. Great views brought out only one song in me: our God is an awesome God. It was great.
After a while, we got to the real Camino de Muerte, as it is called. Many people died on this road while trying to pass another vehicle in theirs. The rate of deaths dropped, however, when a new rule was established that everyone is supposed to drive on the left side of the road. This way, the driver can see how far his wheel is from the edge.
By bike, it is safer though. In the past years, seventeen people died, one third of them tour guides. One guide stepped back too far while taking a group photo.
Other people dropped over the edge as well. About halfway through, there is a monument for the 'Martyrs of Democracy' as they are called. They fought for democracy and were taken to this place and dropped over the edge. Whether they were alive or dead when they were tossed in, nobody knows.
But in our group, nobody even lost their balance or fell. It was a great ride. The sun was shining and the views were magnificent. At some point, we could hear the birds in the bushes, and see the butterflies. As the temperature rose, we got rid of more and more layers of clothing and we got in a better and better mood.
Down the road, in Coroico, we stayed at an animal shelter, where we could take a hot shower. This was quite necessary from all the dust and the mud we had encountered on the way. After the shower, we ate some great pasta and salad at the buffet. We could also play with the monkeys and the other animals of the shelter. The parrots weren't too friendly though, they chased us as soon as we passed by ;-)
It was cold at the Cumbre, at 4700m where our bike ride down the World's Most Dangerous Road started. First, we got a safety briefing. Use both breaks at once, only look to where you want to go and not to where you don't want to go, et cetera. Then we could practice a bit on the highway we started out on. Great views brought out only one song in me: our God is an awesome God. It was great.
After a while, we got to the real Camino de Muerte, as it is called. Many people died on this road while trying to pass another vehicle in theirs. The rate of deaths dropped, however, when a new rule was established that everyone is supposed to drive on the left side of the road. This way, the driver can see how far his wheel is from the edge.
By bike, it is safer though. In the past years, seventeen people died, one third of them tour guides. One guide stepped back too far while taking a group photo.
Other people dropped over the edge as well. About halfway through, there is a monument for the 'Martyrs of Democracy' as they are called. They fought for democracy and were taken to this place and dropped over the edge. Whether they were alive or dead when they were tossed in, nobody knows.
But in our group, nobody even lost their balance or fell. It was a great ride. The sun was shining and the views were magnificent. At some point, we could hear the birds in the bushes, and see the butterflies. As the temperature rose, we got rid of more and more layers of clothing and we got in a better and better mood.
Down the road, in Coroico, we stayed at an animal shelter, where we could take a hot shower. This was quite necessary from all the dust and the mud we had encountered on the way. After the shower, we ate some great pasta and salad at the buffet. We could also play with the monkeys and the other animals of the shelter. The parrots weren't too friendly though, they chased us as soon as we passed by ;-)
