The world’s most dangerous road

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-4740297003165871882

If the truth be told I don’t think there’s a huge amount to do in La Paz, but that is just my opinion as I was, for the first time since travelling chronically ill, so just wanted to leave the city behind & move on. I did however sign up & ride down the so called world’s most dangerous road. A term of reference that is now somewhat historical given that the Bolivian government opened a new road up from the jungle last year. The significance of this new road is that it allows all the haulage & heavy traffic to bypass the sheer drop & allow you to ride down hill with confidence that there is LITTLE on coming traffic to avoid!! None the less, the plunging 400m, unprotected road side drops are not to be sniffed at & the instructors/guides at Gravity tours took great pride in informing us of all the cyclist deaths they have either had, heard of or actually witnessed; I guess to both keep the mystic of the road but also to curb gun-oh & testosterone filled bikers’ speed a little.



The road drops form 5000m, down 70kms of sealed, then unsealed road, down to the Bolivian jungle at a steamier 1200m; where a fresh towel, hot water & animal rescue sanctuary welcome you to spend some time & cash before being bused back to La Paz for 9pm.
It was a great day of riding & despite the cloudy mid section, where the plummeting drops exist, and the run down was great fun & a good motivational recovery from a previous, sleepless night, spent mostly in the hotel bathroom!!