Today will be the last day before we will start our tour. So time to check the bike one more time and do some cycling in Quito.

I got up pretty early, couldn´t sleep very well. Every morning I wake up with pain in the lower back, probably because the bed is to soft. A hot shower will help quite well, and the shower we have in our room is very good. Lots and lots of hot water, and enough pressure to sandblast the teint of your back.

Anyway, after the shower, got some breakfast and together with Dirk, my Belgium roommate, we took off to explore Quito by bike. first we went to the Jardin Botanico, this is situated in a parc, called Parque La Carolina. After cycling this parc twice we headed for Parque Metropolitano. After some searching, and asking the direction, we found it. It started with a pretty long and steep climb. At this moment I realised that we were at a high altitude. Breathying was difficult, and it took a while before I was at the top. Dirk was much faster and didn´t seem to have problems. After getting my breath back, I was doing better, till the next climb ... It is unbelievable how fast you ran out of breath, and it is completely different then at sealevel or in the Ardennes. Anyway, I have to get used to it, many climbs will follow the next months, just a matter of training...

After some cycling in the parc, we cycled back to the hotel, and around noon we were back, quick shower and out again, explore Quito now by feet. Went to a big shopping Mall, whick could be located in the USA also, a lot of expensive shops, so after a quick look, I decided to go out again and walk back to La Carolina Parc. It is a bit like Central Parc in New York, in the middle of the city, people are jogging, cycling playing soccer and so on, a nice place to relax en get away from ther hectic life on the streets.

Walking back to hotel took longer then expected, and I had to back at 4, for the first meeting the the Bike-Dreams Staff, so jumped in a Taxi, and went back to hotel. Taxi is cheap here, and the only problem is that I don´t speak Spanish, so good conversations with the driver are not possible. (also in NY sometimes it wasn´t possible, the taxi that Peggy an I took, the driver didn´t say anything, also not when we asked him something ...

After arriving at the hotel, I went to the meeting. Wilbert, from Bike-Dreams introduced himself and the Crew. Also there was some explanation about the trip, the ¨rules and regulations¨, and some practical info. We got our Andes Trail shirt, mine was a bit to small, no not at the belly, but at the sholders ...

After the meeting, riders checked there bikes, I had checked mine this morning, so I knew that the bike was ok.

That is for now, tomorrow at 9 o´clock we will start with the first stage, Quito to Mittad del Mundo, and back. not that far, about 600 meter climb in there, so a good start of the Andes Trail. We received also a book with an overview of the trip, and ... pffffff.... there will be some serious climbing in there.

We will see !!!

Michiel