#13 What a Country/What a Contrast - 1/24 (Panama)

Yesterday, we were sucking mist laden air at 10,000ft struggling against the wet, the cold and the clock. Today, we're also wet, but the moisture is coming from the inside as we sweat in the tropical heat. Yesterday, people were suffering and a record number rode in vehicles for at least part of the day. A maximum of 71 people made it the whole way under their own power. Today, only the sick, the injured, and those who shouldn't be here, will ride in a vehicle and miss a kilometer of this scenery. This is Kahuna country with sugar cane, pineapple, banana, etc.

At the cafes today, people are talking about how much they suffered yesterday. Thanks to e-mails from my friend in Panama, Carla Black, I was prepared for the wet & the cold even if I wasn't prepared for the difficulty of the climbing required (10,300ft total). The downhill was 46 kilometers long on a windy bumpy road with "velocidad maxima 50" signs. Of the 71 riders who finished under their own power, only 50 finished before dark. By consistently pedaling going up, pushing passed the rest opportunities, and flying downhill at over 60kph, on the second most difficult day we'll face all year, I was #50! I have bragging rights!

Happy Trails,
Bruce