We slept in a bit, were all ready to go and got the hotel breakfast at 6:30. On the road about 7:30 and as soon as we crossed the bridge on Rio Cauca for the last time, we began to climb. 42km and 2000m to Alto de Minas.
At check-in we got the bad news the hotel had no idea where the bike boxes were. Panic button time! Lots of messages for help to get things figured out.
Once past the heat and humidity of the river the sun came out and the views opened up. It steadily got cooler and more beautiful.
Mike and Andy left me almost immediately and I would not see them until the city. They reached the top about an hour before me.
I stopped for a few short breaks including a delicious bowl of pollo sopa. The friendly dog watching me was very happy when I flipped the liver out of the bowl to him when the waitress was not looking. At Versalles I stopped for a Coke and knew I was getting close.
The last section was pretty steep: 8-11%, but then I saw the sign Alto de Minas and knew I was about the get my downhill payoff!
The descent was fast and I took the Avenida Las Vegas turn off and pulled over to find Mike and Andy. They could see me on the street from their chairs in the Mall Vegas Plaza. We had some burgers and ice cream parfaits before working our way through the urban traffic on Avenida Las Vegas and then bike paths to the hotel.
We had an end of tour beer before checking in.
For dinner we met my friend Lenin and went to an Argentina steak house. On the way a moto got cut off by a car and the rider bounced down the street right beside us. Lenin took charge and called an ambulance. The rider was dazed but conscious and moving. He was hurt but it seemed like he would heal.
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