Gooood night readers! Giving continuation. Two crazy guys, two bikes, 400+ km riding bikes, 12 days. Check this travel story.

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This is the PART 9 of a story a friend and I experienced this past february. We made our way to Montevideo in Uruguay, bought some bicycles and rode them back to Brazil. An amazing experience full of overcoming situations that I'd like to present through this texts.

If you are landing here now consider checking PART 1, and moving from there. Link presented below:

[PART 1] Travel Story: Coast of Uruguay by Bicycle | Planning

In PART 1 I talked about the motivation behind the idea and how simple it was to plan everything. It gives you and introdution to the main idea, preparations and the basic road map for our trip. If you like my work please consider checking that out, it'll be much appreciated.

In PART 2 the initial steps of our trip were presented, how we failed to hitchhike and the solutions we found. I also try to give you an idea on how you can find positivity, always, everywhere!

In PART 3 we wandered around Montevideo and drank beer to pass time. It was carnival holidays and we were not able to buy our bikes.

In PART 4 we actually bought the bikes and started our way back to Brazil. In this part you'll discover how the first 50km were.

In PART 5 we found a little counter wind and I talked a little about the routine and how it'll be in every aspect of your life. Even when you are travelling.

In PART 6 we sufered with the counter winds and the hot sun, but in the end we enjoyed a perfect wild camp.

In PART 7 we've had one of the best rides so far, the wind changed and was now helping us. We've experienced a Mad Max moment, I've got a flat tire and the rain washed us on the road.

In PART 8 it is a continuation of our stay in La Paloma. I talk about how great a simple day can be.

Hope you enjoy reading this continuation and the ones to come, feel free to leave your feedback down below!

Sadly for this part I don't have any pictures. I'll leave you with the narrative and the best of your imagination. I hope you can transport yourself to the moment and create your own image. I'm sorry in advance.

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The Storm

Feb. 21th, 2018. The two days in La Paloma were a dream, what a peaceful small city by the blue Atlantic Ocean! I wish I was a worker on the lighthouse so I could go up the structure everyday to check the sunset. I just could not help but think I could imigrate to Uruguay and move to that place, no violence, no traffic jam, no stress. This is still in my mind as I write this part of the journey almost one month later. Who knows what future will bring?

It is acceptable to dream, long ambitious dreams, but you cannot dismiss the present. I've seen people dreaming about all sorts of things. Many of them will certainly achieve, but many will forget to live the present. By the time you realise, it's to late. Time passed by and you forgot to enjoy the ride along the dream road.

That's why that morning I woke up energized, we were leaving La Paloma that day. Instead of being upset for saying good bye to an amazing place I said a big thank you! Thank you life for the opportunity to be there, thank you for giving me the chance to open a new 'dream road'.

Day was beautiful as always, sunny with low clouds, wind was coming from W-SW (helping us again, thank god). Breakfast consisted of oatmeals, tapioca, eggs and bread with the everytime classic uruguayan dulce the leche. By this time we were pros on the packing competition; This goes here, that goes there, tie everything and done!

We've left La Aguada camping in the morning, our goal for the day was to reach Valizas, 55 km away through Ruta 10, following the coast line. We were happy, progress was being superb with the wind helping us, turning the ride into a much more enjoyable exercise. The road was a single lane with no roadside, obligating us to stay on the main lane sometimes, competing space with the cars. In a situation like this extra care and patience are needed, if a car comes from behind you have to squeeze to the outside. 

Fortunately traffic was somewhat low and hats off to the incredible uruguayan drivers. I have no words to describe how respectful they are to cyclists. Drivers in uruguay not only give you a lot of space on the road but they admire what you are doing, many cars passed us waving and cheering us up. Amazing!

The ride continued until we've found some shades below a small forest of eucalyptus trees along te way, checking the map showed that Cabo Polonio was near ahead, possibly 10 km. We were having a break to pee, drink more water, stretch our legs and eat a snack when I looked back.

- Wow! Look what's coming to us! - I said. Pointing to the distance.

Since earlier that day we've spotted some stormy clouds on the distance, but, given the wind direction, I was almost sure that they had already passed so I was not alarmed.

Now though the sky was scary, the blue colour gave place to a grey almost black combination. Low, scary and heavy clouds forming. Temperature was dropping and wind picking up, I almost knew what was going to happen. From previous observations back in my city I've noticed that increddibly hot days during the summer plus cold winds coming from Antarctica usually result in storm. You think it's not coming, but suddenly wind shifts and it hits you hard with the rain.

- That's been following us for some time now. - André said.

- Yeah, I thought it had passed. But looks like it'll come to us! - I said while putting my gloves.

- True, we gotta go fast! Cabo Polonio is not far. - André said.

We now needed to reach the Cabo Polonio entrance as fast as possible to protect ourselves, getting caught in such a storm on open field or near eucalyptus is a risk I was not willing to pay.

Road was empty; we hopped on our bikes and turned into Lance Armstrong. Wind was picking up faster and faster, sparse raindrops started falling.

- What do we do? - André shouted.

- We run dude! Follow me. - I shouted back.

I took the lead. Wind was getting stronger and stronger pushing us hard. Our bikes started picking up speed. I looked ahead, the road was a straight with a slight decline. My legs moving faster and faster. Let's go!

Incredible how fast we were moving, I've changed gear after gear and yet my bike was moving faster than my legs could follow. One mistake there and the fall would be catastrophic. Leafs flying and small branches started breaking from the eucalyptuses. I was getting worried, If one of those trees had broken!

I don't know for how long we've pedal, I was really concentrated on keeping the rythm. When suddenly Cabo Polonio! 

From the Ruta 10 there's a small gravel path with a speed bump, which leads to the reception. That is the place where people buy tickets and wait the transportation to go to the Cabo. If you want to go to Cabo Polonio you have no option but passing though this place. Since no cars are allowed to enter the reserve, transportation is done on open trucks.

I was so happy to get there! With my body full of adrenaline I almost forgot to hit the brakes when leaving the asphalted road, the bike slipped in a beautiful and controlled way. By the time we passed the speed bump, on full speed, the rain dropped, a few seconds later we've entered below the protected roof and the world collapsed.

Heavy rain with strong winds hitting the shed, tourists started to group there for protection. We had no option but staying there until the storm had gone. It was around 1130 and, as always, we were starving.

What do we do if it doesn't stop? - André said.

I don't know you, but I'll find a place to sleep here. - I said.

By that time I was low on money and I really didn't want to stay in a cozy hostel. I'm somewhat against paying expensive just to sleep in a normal bed. I love my tent.

 I'm thinking about going in the rain when it stops a bit and find a hostel with a hot shower. - André said.

Nah... I have no more money. I'll wait, if you want to go we'll meet there. - I said.

I'm glad that he is such a great friend! He, somehow, decided that we were going stay. Time was spent in the bar eating empanadas and crackers with dulce de leche. Crackers with dulce de leche is like a drug, one cannot just stop eating.

There were many tourists stuck doing the same as us, and many others coming back from Cabo Polonio, completely wet. Poor guys, they went there on a perfectly sunny day and came back cold and wet.

We also took the time to reevaluate the forward plans, we still wanted to base in Valizas to try to visit Cabo Polonio on foot, from there. Only the weather would say so. Storm had passed, however the rain was still strong. André was checking the weather on the internet constantly. 

- Look. It says that we'll have a weather opportunity at 1400 hour. - André said while sharing his cellphone.

- Great! How far is Valizas? - I asked

- About 6 km. - He said.

Checkmate! I've never seen a weather forecast so precise. Around 1400 hour rain gave us a break. We were on the run again.

Everything went well for the last 6 km. We finished that day at a camping called Amaranto in Valizas, an amazing place directed by a super positive and proactive guy who received us greatly well. 

It was afternoon when we set our tents, took that incredible hot shower and a well deserved coffee. Slowly rain started again, so we've spared some time for a power nap. That night I would cook for us, but that is reserved for the next episode.

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Journey Map

Route done by Bus.

Total Kilometers Travelled: +/- 600 Km

Total Cokes drank: 11 L

Total Beer drank: 5 L

Route done by bike.

Total Kilometers Travelled Overall: +/- 915 Km

Total Kilometers Travelled by Bike: +/- 320 Km

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And you? How to you deal with unexpected situations? Have you ever tryed some crazy adventure?

If yes, leave as comment telling what you have done, I'd love to read. If no, what is holding you back?

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I'm Arthur. I blog about Brazil, Travel, Camping & Life Experiences.

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LATEST RELATED POSTS:

[PART 1] Travel Story: Coast of Uruguay by Bicycle | Planning

[PART 2] Travel Story: Coast of Uruguay by Bicycle | D-Day - Going to Montevideo from Brazil

[PART 3] Travel Story: Coast of Uruguay by Bicycle | First Day in Uruguay - Montevideo

[PART 4] Travel Story: Coast of Uruguay by Bicycle | The Grand Beginning

[PART 5] Travel Story: Coast of Uruguay by Bicycle | Ouch My Butt

[PART 6] Travel Story: Coast of Uruguay by Bicycle | The Counter Wind

[PART 7] Travel Story: Coast of Uruguay by Bicycle | The Murphy's Law

[PART 8] Travel Story: Coast of Uruguay by Bicycle | The Simple Days Are The Best