BuenosDias !!

Today we had a magnificent ride to the edge of the salt plane. It was about 70 kilometers long, and we went first to Salinas, about 36 kilometers from bushcamp. Everything went fine, and I was flying over the unpaved road. I was ahead of everybody, but had no idea how far I was ahead, so just keep paddeling and see how far I could stay ahead. When I arrived in the village I followed the directions on the map, that leaded me out of town. We should gather on the plaza, Wilbert told us that this morning, but I forgot about that. After searching for 5 minutes and going back to town, I arrived at the plaza. Still thinking that I arrived first at the plaza I almost bought a bottle of rum, to celibrate the 2^nd victory ... But .... I arrived at the plaza, and Peter B was there ... what the hell !!!! ... how was that possible ... nobody in sight and suddenly Peter was there ... just got of his bike, so if I just remembered what was told that morning I was there first ... Anyway that is life, next time better luck ... I decided to buy a bottle of rum anyway, to celibrate that I had a good day.

After everybody arrived at the plaza, we went as a group to the edge of the solar de Uyuni. The ride was great, very nice views of the vulcano, the road was unpaved, lots of rocks and stones on the road, so it was a challange not to fall and stay on the bike. Unfortunately English Rob fell off his bike, and got pretty bad injured, and broke his collar-bone. We arranged a car to pick him up, and they took him to a local hospital. Next morning Didier and Rob went to Uyuni, to make some X-ray pictures. Later it was clear that it was broken on 2 places, and that probably his trip was over. Only a few kilometers away from the solar, and something like this happenes to Rob ... :-( ... It is still dangerous going downhill on unpaved roads, with big rocks and loose sand and stones.

After a few kilometers we reached the edge of the Solar de Uyuni, and had a glimpse of the inmense salt-lake, the biggest in the world, about 10.000 square kilometers, at an altitude of about 3700 meters. Perfectly flat, used by satelites to calibrate their altitude equipment. Bushcamp was on the edge, and next day we will bicylce about 100 kilometers on this salt plane to reach the salt-hotel, near Uyuni. The day was great, but overshadowed by the accident from Rob ... Hope he is ok ... but it looks like that his trip is over ...

Adios ...