Vuelta in the News
Click on the picture above to watch the RPC TV report on the Vuelta Sudamericana earlier this month in Brazil.
|
Posted August 26, 2009 by Shanny Hill
Brazil |
|
Click on the picture above to watch the RPC TV report on the Vuelta Sudamericana earlier this month in Brazil.
Tales from the Road
This trip pushes you to do things you didn´t think you could do and then rewards you with things you never imagined.
On the third 150 km day in row on sawtooth hills I ran out of food. I had been eating on the road at about twice my normal rate. Sandy MacMillan gave me two bananas and an energy bar that got me to the top of the next two hills and then to a grocery store where I bought a bag of mints that kept the legs going to the end.
The next day was another 150 to Foz do Iguacu, the impossibly beautiful waterfalls that decorate the intersection of the borders of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. The mints stopped helping 30 kilometres before Foz, but the view of the town´s surprising skyline (office towers built by money spilling from the tourist trade and the world´s largest hydroelectric development at Itaipu) the smell in the falls in the air and the mist-forest starting to appear aound us -- those things lit my spirits.
Two days here to see and wonder and rest and fix the bikes. You jump off the tourist bus and walk up river to the falls, view on view of increasing drama, the permanent rainbow in the morning, the sound of the falls rising and falling, a foot bridge across the foam at the foot of the largest catarct, everyone soaked and laughing. Riding a Zodiac back up the river, bucking on the rapids and ducking in and out of smaller falls, a blizzard of water and light. The boat driver reaching over the side to rescue a hawk caught in the water crashing around us, the bird recovering its wits on a seat beside us . . . and then scrambling back into the sky, heart beating as loud as our own.
- Tim Padmore
|
Posted August 14, 2009 by Guest Author
Brazil |
|
Another Goodbye
My experience with the riders and with Tour D’Afrique, was short, but absolutely magic… I’d love to share my experience and my emotions in these 10 days… I’m brazilian and I’ve past with then, through many places and cities that I already knew. But I saw and I felt a “different” Brasil, riding my bike with very friendly riders, and it was really great… The sensations are absolutely different than when you are into a car or a bus. The smell, the wind, the sun, the rain, the views... The most precious of all is people we met along the way, very friendly, always curious and trying to help us with everything that was possible… The contact with local people has no price... When we past into Iguape, a small town in São Paulo, there was a big religious Festival. We arrived in the city with many people coming from different places in Brasil. Some of then were coming by horse, in a 03 months trip from the south of the country. Me and the others, ate a special and delicious local sandwich, made with meat and some vegetables. We were very lucky to being there while the Festival was happening, participating a little bit of that.. Everything worked very well, very organized, the staff was really great, competent and very professional. They work hard for everything goes on the best way and it happens like this… The riders haven’t lost their sense of humor, even it was raining for many following days… I came back to São Paulo, crying… It was really funny… happy and sad at the same time, cause I’d love to continue with the group, but I really couldn’t… I’ll never forget this great experience...
- Talita Giglio
|
Posted August 13, 2009 by Guest Author
Brazil |
|
Leaving the Expedition
We have just arrived to Foz do Iguaçu, and it is the end of the line for me. After a lot of rain, the weather became beautiful, and we are now very thankful for both the warm sun we are getting and the unusual non-stopping rain we got on the first weeks. As soon s we got to the Iguazu Falls, we understood that everything has its price. And its reward. The river was very high and there was plenty of water beautifuly coming down. As time to say good-bye is approaching, I realize how different this trip has been from anything I have ever done. It was not about the bicycle, and it was not about the places. For me, it was about the people. I can definetely say I am taking with me at least one lesson learned from each one of this incredible group. I am very proud to have been part of this insanity, even if for a short period of time. I am very happy to have met these people, and even happier to be a small parto of their story. The caravan can not stop, and I wish the Vuelta Sudamericana the best luck on the next 4 months. Incredible is the best word to describe this trip.
- Christiano Werneck
|
Posted August 13, 2009 by Guest Author
Brazil |
|
Iguazu Falls
We have arrived in Foz do Iguazu and the first section of Vuelta Sudamericana is done. It was not easy. After riding for three days and then a rest day, then four days and a rest day, we rode for eight days arriving if Foz yesterday. The terrain difficult, many rather too many rolling hills, the lodging varied from lovely camping, to nice hotel, to an interesting hostel, the food good to excellent, the weather mostly cooperative, the scenery an interchange of green farms, forested areas and small towns, the only problematic issue - Brazilian drivers. But the group was not fazed by all of this and in fact the challenges seem to have positive affect on the group.
All are in good health and now are enjoying the sights and sounds of one of the most spectacular waterfalls on the planet. Personally having had the opportunity to visit Victoria Falls four months ago, Niagara Falls two months ago and seeing the Iguazu Falls this morning, I would have to say that the Iguazu Falls and the surrounding area are certainly the most spectacular of the three.
Tomorrow another rest day, time to decide what to do - see the falls from the Argentinean side, go for a day to Ciudad del Este or spend the day in the city.
bckbk
|
Posted August 12, 2009 by Henry Gold
Brazil |
|
Curitiba
This morning it looked bad once again. It was foggy and cool. There was a feeling that after a couple of nice sunny days we were back to the weather of last week. But a couple of hours later, the sun burnt the fog, and with the wind in our backs we sailed into Curitba, a city famous for its public transportation system and creation of public places.
Short history...
It was in the 1960s when Mayor Jamie Lerner came up with an almost heretical concept and created surface metro which used buses, dedicated lanes and other innovations. The result was that, for a fraction of what it costs to build an underground subway and all done in a fraction of the time, Curitiba's bus system now manages to move as many people as efficiently as a subway would.
Today Curitiba has the highest standard of living in Brazil, with some great pedestrian areas, many historical buildings and a general sense of a city that works. It is no wonder that for many city planners Curitiba is high on the list to visit.
Short history...
It was in the 1960s when Mayor Jamie Lerner came up with an almost heretical concept and created surface metro which used buses, dedicated lanes and other innovations. The result was that, for a fraction of what it costs to build an underground subway and all done in a fraction of the time, Curitiba's bus system now manages to move as many people as efficiently as a subway would.
Today Curitiba has the highest standard of living in Brazil, with some great pedestrian areas, many historical buildings and a general sense of a city that works. It is no wonder that for many city planners Curitiba is high on the list to visit.
|
Posted August 04, 2009 by Henry Gold
Brazil |
|
Sunshine
Henry and the Brazilians
We had sunshine just long enough for us to make a photo shoot at the Praia do Diablo our starting line. That was the last time I saw the sun. Seven days of rain. Not just drizzle; we had one 48 hour stretch where it was consistent driving rain. Pitching your tent in the rain and keeping it dry is not an easy skill. Everything we owned was drenched. Drying my gear was an impossibility and I realized that if this weather persisted I soon run out of clean dry cycling clothes.
So I gave up, each morning I would cringe as I tried to pull on my cold, wet, sandy gear, then frantically jump around for five minutes trying to warm it up. To endure such condition in the first week of a 5 month tour has certainly tested the integrity of this group. Yet they manage to grin and bear it, their spirits are high, but the cachaca (local cane spirits) might have something to do with that.
Yesterday we rode the length of Ihla Comprida, a giant sand bar island. Although it was not raining it was an over cast morning. The first 13km of the day were along a smooth paved road. When the blacktop ended there were a few km’s of rough, flooded corrugations to lead to the beach. The beach is an official road, they actually run buses on it. I waited at the beginning of the beach ride for the last of the cyclists to catch up. Sitting there I watched a fast moving frontal cloud bearing down on me. Pulling out my rain gear I was preparing for the worst. The wind accelerated to gale force, blowing right in the face of cyclists who were ahead. But the front did not bring rain, it actually blew it away. As I started riding down the 35km stretch of beach the wind subsided, then it did a u-turn and the sun came out. The next thing I knew I was riding through the surf with waves crashing through my spokes and I could not remove the giant shit eating grin from my face as I sang at the top of my lungs “I can see clearly now the rain has gone… its gonna be a bright sun shiny day”. It was the shortest stage of the tour at 54km but certainly a memorable one. Any other beach of this caliber would be developed with condos, restaurants and night clubs, but not here. This place was pristine, just a few fishermen and a joyous group of soggy cyclists. At the end of the beach we boarded the ferry to Cananeia.
Our second rest day here in Cananeia was much needed, not only to recuperate but also to dry out all our equipment. This village was one of the first ports of call for the Portuguese explorers nearly 500 years ago. In the historic centro there are still some buildings remaining from that era. There is a legend of the “Bachelor of Cananeia” who was a convict who escaped from one of the colonial ships centuries ago and proclaimed himself a king amongst the indigenous populations, no one is sure what happened to him.
But whether it’s the history that intrigues you or the fine seafood that satisfies you this is one of the hidden gems of Brazil.
Last night we had Barbeque provided by our local guides Talita and Cristiano, but today everyone is busy preparing for the next stretch of riding. Eight days to take us inland through the rolling hills and agricultural regions until we reach Foz do Iguacu, where the hundreds of cascades create the world’s most spectacular waterfall.
|
Posted August 03, 2009 by Randy Pielsticker
Brazil |
|
Rainforest
For those of us who have forgotten that the word rainforest means a lot of rain, the last few days have made this very clear. Since Randy wrote in the blog about lots of rain, we have had an increase in rain. In fact it has probably been raining continuously for the last 48 hours.
So yes, we are all wet but so far the spirit of adventure is holding strong and we are moving right along as per our plans.
Our Brazilian cyclists that are riding with us, tell us that there has not been so much rain in 70 years. Mata Atlantica rainforest in which we have been cycling is only 7% of what it used to be, but if the rain keeps falling the way it has, this area is sure to expand quickly.
I guess I am almost dry now, so it is time to get out there and make my way to camp.
So yes, we are all wet but so far the spirit of adventure is holding strong and we are moving right along as per our plans.
Our Brazilian cyclists that are riding with us, tell us that there has not been so much rain in 70 years. Mata Atlantica rainforest in which we have been cycling is only 7% of what it used to be, but if the rain keeps falling the way it has, this area is sure to expand quickly.
I guess I am almost dry now, so it is time to get out there and make my way to camp.
|
Posted July 31, 2009 by Henry Gold
Brazil |
|
Weather or not?
It was in 2005 when I first pitched the idea to Henry to run a bike tour in South America. But the original concept was to ride from Gros Morne Park in Newfoundland and end here in Brazil for carnival. After much refinement, research, planning and a bit of a reality check, the Vuelta Sudamericana rolled out of Rio de Janeiro last Sunday en route to arrive in Quito 134 days and 12,500km later. It still seems somewhat surreal.
Enjoying our first rest day in Sao Sebastiao a deafening crack of thunder interrupts my chain of thoughts. As I look out from my balcony to see the rain creeping across the channel to Ihlabela and I run to grab my desperately drying tent from the clothesline below. In the first three days this group of 25 cyclists and staff have pedaled 426km and climbed over 2800m of elevation rolling along a spectacular coastal highway of jungle, beaches, islands and fishing villages, but our biggest challenge has been the weather. I know it’s the rainforest, but come on… we haven’t had a single day without several periods of drizzle and at least one torrential cloud burst.
If I was in Algonquin right now I’d be praying to Okanda, but I guess I still have a few things to figure out about Brazil. Even the locals admit that this weather is unseasonal, the rainy season is over. And in 2008 the rainy season was extremely dry. When I hear about a cold rainy summer in Muskoka, increased avalanche frequency in BC due to snowpack instability or intense tropical storms that swamp coastal cities I revisit the debate on global warming. The truth is that weather inconsistency is becoming far more obvious than the subtle annual increase in average centigrade. Seasons no longer have a trend. But the question that remains is weather or not this is a response to anthropogenic activities or just a natural change in evolution of Gaia. Perhaps the TDA Foundation’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality is more than just jumping on the green bandwagon; it’s an investment in the future… for everyone.
The days leading up to any of our epic tours are always busy, but launching a new project is sheer pandemonium. The last week in Rio was a blitz of shopping sprees, welding bike racks and trying to figure out where to find 3000 energy bars and 1200L of electrolytes without paying the gringo price. The group is still forming, but it’s truly dynamic. At camp people speak to each other in French, German, Spanish, English and we all struggle with Portuguese. There is a good mix of experience and those who are still green. The starting line was an opportunity to reunite with some old friends and meet the newcomers. A sense of community amongst us is essential to the success of the tour and the foundation has already been set. Every person here is making positive contributions to the greater good of the group, the staff are hard working and the clients are quick to help with loading bags, fixing bikes and most importantly supporting each other through the daily challenges. The first three days have been very difficult, to be honest I was concerned that they may be too hard for being so early in the tour. But together they have faced the rains, the winds, the hills and all achieved their personal best. A fantastic start.
The next four riding stages take us through Guaruja, the holiday destination for the rich Paulistas, day two we pass a crazy festival in Iguape, then we have a series ferry boats to take us island hopping until Cananeia which was one of the first ports of call for the Portuguese colonialists, where we will spend our next rest day.
Enjoying our first rest day in Sao Sebastiao a deafening crack of thunder interrupts my chain of thoughts. As I look out from my balcony to see the rain creeping across the channel to Ihlabela and I run to grab my desperately drying tent from the clothesline below. In the first three days this group of 25 cyclists and staff have pedaled 426km and climbed over 2800m of elevation rolling along a spectacular coastal highway of jungle, beaches, islands and fishing villages, but our biggest challenge has been the weather. I know it’s the rainforest, but come on… we haven’t had a single day without several periods of drizzle and at least one torrential cloud burst.
If I was in Algonquin right now I’d be praying to Okanda, but I guess I still have a few things to figure out about Brazil. Even the locals admit that this weather is unseasonal, the rainy season is over. And in 2008 the rainy season was extremely dry. When I hear about a cold rainy summer in Muskoka, increased avalanche frequency in BC due to snowpack instability or intense tropical storms that swamp coastal cities I revisit the debate on global warming. The truth is that weather inconsistency is becoming far more obvious than the subtle annual increase in average centigrade. Seasons no longer have a trend. But the question that remains is weather or not this is a response to anthropogenic activities or just a natural change in evolution of Gaia. Perhaps the TDA Foundation’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality is more than just jumping on the green bandwagon; it’s an investment in the future… for everyone.
The days leading up to any of our epic tours are always busy, but launching a new project is sheer pandemonium. The last week in Rio was a blitz of shopping sprees, welding bike racks and trying to figure out where to find 3000 energy bars and 1200L of electrolytes without paying the gringo price. The group is still forming, but it’s truly dynamic. At camp people speak to each other in French, German, Spanish, English and we all struggle with Portuguese. There is a good mix of experience and those who are still green. The starting line was an opportunity to reunite with some old friends and meet the newcomers. A sense of community amongst us is essential to the success of the tour and the foundation has already been set. Every person here is making positive contributions to the greater good of the group, the staff are hard working and the clients are quick to help with loading bags, fixing bikes and most importantly supporting each other through the daily challenges. The first three days have been very difficult, to be honest I was concerned that they may be too hard for being so early in the tour. But together they have faced the rains, the winds, the hills and all achieved their personal best. A fantastic start.
The next four riding stages take us through Guaruja, the holiday destination for the rich Paulistas, day two we pass a crazy festival in Iguape, then we have a series ferry boats to take us island hopping until Cananeia which was one of the first ports of call for the Portuguese colonialists, where we will spend our next rest day.
|
Posted July 30, 2009 by Randy Pielsticker
Brazil |
|
Hola a todos
Ayer llegamos a Sao Sebastiao bajo una lluvia torrencial. Fue un dia intenso con 160 Km de pedaleo y una ruta con algunas secciones muy empinadas. Afortunadamente tenemos un grupo de ciclistas bastante fuerte que esta resistiendo bien las jornadas bastante duras que nos han tocado. Hasta ahora todo el mundo a navegado bastante bien siguiendo las coordenadas que Randy entrega cada noche. Estamos en medio de un paisaje muy verde, casi siempre al lado del mar y pasando entre medio de muchisimos pueblos. Hemos conocido gente muy amable aunque la comunicacion es dificil aun para los que hablamos espanol. Claro que eso lo hace mas divertido.
Hoy es nuestro primer dia de descanso o mas bien, de no pedaleo. Por supuesto hay muchas otras cosas que hacer como lavar ropa, hacer mantencion de bicicletas, conseguir repuestos o cualquier cosa que pueda faltar. Al mismo tiempo tramos de andar bastante por la ciudad para conocer un poco y encontrar buenos lugares para comer.
En fin, todo anda muy bien y estamos con muchas ganas de seguir explorando hacia el sur.
Hoy es nuestro primer dia de descanso o mas bien, de no pedaleo. Por supuesto hay muchas otras cosas que hacer como lavar ropa, hacer mantencion de bicicletas, conseguir repuestos o cualquier cosa que pueda faltar. Al mismo tiempo tramos de andar bastante por la ciudad para conocer un poco y encontrar buenos lugares para comer.
En fin, todo anda muy bien y estamos con muchas ganas de seguir explorando hacia el sur.
|
Posted July 29, 2009 by Ricardo Tomasevic
Brazil |
|
