So I left the hotel with a strange feeling in the legs, as if I had not biked for weeks. The wind pushed me among the coast for a few kilometers until I had to take right in direction of the 5. What would it have been to continue flat, with back wind for thousanbd of km… ;-))
But I new what was waiting on me: I had to go back on the plateau of 450m heigth, on which the 5 is passing near Antofagasta. Slightly pushed by the coast wind I went up about 3-5%. Not a nice part…the wind is blowing all the stuff around that people put away…
What I really enjoyed today was that the slop on the plateau towards Baquadeno is so gentle, that don’t really feel it, especially with the help of the wind. Then I crossed the Line of Tropics of the Capricorn – the second time after the Australia, but this time not by car but by bicycle!
Later, the wind shows ist other face: creating little tornados and little sand storms…close your eyes and wait! Or even better: anticipate!
The railway is “good” used in that region: I crossed four trains with copper metal bars and sulfuric acid wagon. They are the connection between the treatment plants (not vegetation but industry) / mines and the backcountry of Antofagasta.
So at the end of the day I reached Baquadeno, ate diner and continued for some km to find a hidden place where to put the tent. As dessert: some chocolate and beautiful colored sky, due to the sun goinf in the sandy air down….
:-)))
