Friday, March 31, 2006
Riobamba, Ecuador: Changing Elevations
My day started like most, except that the elevation I started at in Ambato was 2500 meters and then the road rose to 4200 meters. I crossed a tundra type area for some time before dropping down to Guaranda at 2800 meters. I made a turn off the main road here to get to Riobamba. The road I turned onto quickly turned to dirt
and then climbed too 4300 meters and along the way passed some of the best scenery I have seen for some time. (Check out the llamas in the picture.) I could stand on the side of the road look down at the people working in the valley below
and they only looked like ants, and the fields looked more like a patchwork quilt before the road then dropped down to the town of Riobamba at 2800 meters. I was hoping that I could do the train trip to Nariz del Diablo but I was told that it dose not run on Saturday. But all is not lost, as there is a market here on Saturday, after which I will do my usual safety check of my car for the week.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Crator Lake
Today I drove up to Crator Lake at about 4000 meters above sea level. It somewhat took my breath away. (Well, I think that it was the lack of air, at these elevations that was the real problem.) The view was something from a book, but I am happy to be back to 2800 meters tonight and even more when I can get to sea level again.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Center of the World
Made it to Quito and the center of the world. Just to prove it I took a pic of the GPS with 0 north and 0 south (see attached). I will be heading south down to Banos via a market town on Thursday. I am told it is good and a little off the gringo trail.
