February 23, 2005
Ruta 5
"Hola" said Cristobal as he flew past, kitted out in cycling jersey and racing bike. Route 5 has a wide shoulder and runs parallel to the coastline. Cris and other cyclistas can be seen up and down it. When he overtook us we had just joined the highway, having taken the back route from Santiago via Lampa - Til Til - Quillota.
Escaping Santiago was a bear. Our maps were out of date and the roads we counted on to constitute a low-key route only existed in discontinuous segments. We cycled in circles taking directions from people too polite to tell us they didnīt know what we were looking for, through barrios with iron bar-protected liquor shops that reminded Brice of some of the housing projects where he worked while on the cops beat of the Nashville Banner 15 years ago.
We finished the day with 75 kilometres on the clock and well clear of Santiago.
Cristobal slowed down and waited for us to catch up. After chatting about our route and cycling and the Tour de France, he invited us home for lunch. He is an 18-year-old cyclist and excellent bass guitar player, jamming with his father on keyboards after lunch.
We swam a bit and headed for the pass en route to Los Molles.
Cristobal waving goodbye as we cycle away on Ruta 5.
Che and I did a similar route a while back, albeit on motorcycles. Could have used that wide shoulder on Route 5 a few times myself after too much vino. Viva la Route 5.
Posted by: George at February 23, 2005 07:15 PMlooks like you can't get out of the corporate clown mode mincing Minnigh, wearing that cufflink white shirt while cycling...don't forget the cycling hard mags...
Posted by: Markie Mark at March 12, 2005 08:00 AM