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March 18, 2006 10:54 AM
The Continental Divide
BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMA - I keep trying to tell myself that the reason we've been hanging out so long (5th day)here in Bocas Town, is because of ease of life here. I genuinely like living in a building that hangs into the Caribbean Sea. You know the kind, made completely from wood and built on stilts in the water. It makes for easy fish watching from bed. All one needs to do is close one eye and peek between the floorboards.
I know though, that deep down, part of our hesitation to leave this place is tied up with the fact that we've cycled ourselves into a geographical corner of sorts. With the only road out of here leading straight up and into the clouds.
Panama is described in some circles as a cyclists dream. The only major highway, the Panamerican, runs along the hot Pacific Plain straight toward the capital. People who run in those circles obviously don't start from the remote Bocas Del Toro province. In order for us to reach this dream highway, we first need cross the continental divide. That's right; up and over a giant mountain range. Allegedly 40km run straight up. The fact that it's meant to be some of the most spectacular virgin rain forest in all of Central America is little consolation.
All along we've maintained that we weren't going to be purists about the cycling. If the going got tough, we'd simply throw our bikes on a bus and zoom ahead to flatter (or friendlier) terrain. Thus far we've made all our forward progress solely by bicycle except for a short 30km stretch of road leading to the capital of El Salvador. I'm certain the reason was valid though, as Brian was suffering, at the time, with Dengue Fever. It's easy to say we'll attempt the climb, as I sit here at the computer, but it's an entirely different matter when we're out there on the mountain. I'm not sure how this one will play out...
Comments
Hey guys,
I bet if you took those bikes, put them on your back and called this mountain a portage...that would be all the inspiration you would need!!!
Tom
ryan, brian:
good luck with upcoming interview, brian!
ryan: any sense of where to in the 'post brian' leg of the journey?
sean
Brian,
My brother went through that interview last year so if you want the scoop on what it entails let me know and i'll give him your email.
Hartman
If I recall correctly, you spent the first night of your voyage in the beautiful city of Oshawa. Why wasn't it marked on your "latest position" map???
I was going to write something along the lines of 'how amazing the feeling of accomplishment is' and 'think of how great you'll feel when you see that sky on the other side and the road begins to slant in your favor'...but as I'm still putting off writing my thesis for yet another couple of days, I understand that that talk isn't so motivating. And I also can't see the mountain you have to climb, google earth leaves a lot to the imagination. However, I can't help but think that it must be easier than rowing across the Atlantic... but do what you must...wuss out if you have to. But if you have the bravado to do it, good luck... oh and I'd think you were the coolest guys ever, and I know that you really value my opinion, so that should be inspiration enough to get you over that hill ;)
Cheers
... oh and happy belated st. pat's day!