Ride and River Tour: The Ride, Day 1

A three-hour jeep-ride got our group of 11 tourists, lead guide, and both guides-in-training from my quiet neighbourhood in La Paz to the mountain that picked us up for this journey and dropped us off at a lovely resort-style lodging in Sorata.  But first, the single track.

I'm the small person in the white helmet, if you weren't 100% sure.

This is the single track.

I should state right out that I was incredibly nervous for this trip after I initially signed up and payed my deposit.  I have never spent all that much time on a bicycle in my life and I actually would have never learned how to ride a bicycle if it wasn't for my brother, who had either taken pity on me because I was missing out on this glorious form of transportation or who just wanted someone with whom to ride around the neighbourhood...  Regardless, he took up the responsibility of patiently teaching me to ride a bicycle--mentally and physically.  Granted, these aren't things you tell the company when you sign up for a trip like this, but you can bet that I was thinking about Max when we exited the jeep (the tour's back-up vehicle) and were given the option to begin the trip with a flowy single-track or head down to the paved road and meet up with the rest of the group.

Mike was second guide for this trip and Marcos, the lead guide, is our apartment-mate, so both give this "option" expecting that I will understand which choice they prefer I make-- for my safety, of course.  (They had also padded my gear bag with a full-faced helmet and knee-pads, which, sadly, I don't have any pictures donning (as I didn't wear these pieces of gear), but I did appreciate that they cared.)  Unfortunately for this plan, every other person on the tour decided they wanted to try the single track route and I, curious as ever, agreed to try it as well.  I'd never seen a single track before, but I had heard Mike and Max talk about them.  I really hadn't a clue what they were about.

Perhaps it's needless to say, but I walked much of this trail and I fell twice.  The first fall happened at the beginning when I rode too close to a rider and squeezed my brakes too hard when they went to slow down... no one was hurt, though.  The second time, I was learning to go down my first large hill and my front tire got caught in a rut (or something) turned, and my handlebar forked me out of my seat and in front of the bike... there was a nice little bruise on my upper stomach from that one...  I got back on the bike, nonetheless, and made it down that hill.  I certainly wouldn't recommend the trail for someone with almost zero experience on a bike, but I am absolutely glad I did it.  I wanted to know what it was like and now I do.  Plus, it made the rest of the ride that day seem much easier.

A sandwich and power aid followed the single track and then we were on a paved section for the vast majority of the rest of this ride.  I cruised at the back of the group during this portion, while Mike, obliged by second-guide duties to follow the last of the group, gave me pointers on riding techniques.  He seemed awfully nervous, but I felt like I was doing okay.  The group had accepted me for my skills and was pretty kind about it all, too.  By the end of the day, I had also had the chance to react to a barking dog, too-- one of my main fears, anyway, on or off a bike.  I would learn more as the trip continued, but as Day 1 was a shorter day in the trip, I was glad when the route ended and we headed toward the beautiful lodgings that had been reserved for us in Sorata.

That night we slept cabins that dotted the land of the tranquil resort.  We were among so may fruit trees, friendly animals, a river, and every amount of nature that you can imagine-- I even found four or so four-leafed clovers!  Oh yeah, and this guy decided he liked our room, too:

All in all, after a good meal, a warm shower, and a rest, we all felt ready to appreciate a hot, homemade breakfast and the new day that would take our bikes from Sorata to Consata, dropping, I was told, over 150kms (93.2 mi) on a dirt road that is supposed to be wide enough for two vehicles to pass.  To top it all off, it was a foggy morning.  But that will be elaborated on in "The Ride, Day 2".