Tuesday, March 11, 2014

On the Road from Holquin, Cuba 10 March 2014

Dear Friends,

A quick update to let you know I´m alive and well taken good care of by Friends in the Iglesia Evangelica de Los Amigos here. 

After Guantanamo City I realized my purpose in going that far was completed and decided to return to the Provinciaal Capitol to rest and visit more Friends or Quakeros.

When I finish this will ride to Puerto Padre northwest with a light load and spend a few days with other Amigos.  They are without a pastor at present.

My route of travel and a few highlights from Baracoa and back are in order.

After climbing the first hill enroute to Boca del Tumeri further east and seeing only more ahead I bagged it to save my energy for the Viaducto de la Farola, a serpentine dangerous stretch of road over the mountains to the south coast. 

Spent a night camped in a bamboo thicket and next day made it over to the drier south side.  Camped by the Rio JoJo, turned out behind the local cemetary.  But a welcome bath in the AM.

Hit the coast near Cajobabo where met a Norwegian couple, he married to a Cuban.  Rested at their new home and had a wonderful visit.  They met when she went to Norway to visit an aunt and later married. They had returned for a brief vacation with her family.

Stayed at first Campismo a Yacobabo del Sur.  Loud music and vibration kept me awake until into early AM.  A long days ride to Guantanamo from there.

From Guantanamo connected with the autopista to Santiago, turned off to go through Boniato then on to El Cobre, a beautiful Catholic Church in the hills with a long history although rebuilt to present state in 1927.

Next day on north through Palma Soriano as far as Pinalato.  At this point headed back to Mayari to again visit friends who had helped me earlier.  Went through Mella to get there.

Befriended again by a local couple and camped in their back yard.  Ate roast pig that night.

A long uphill grade over the mountains to Mayari the next day over a sometimes very rough forest road.  Some grades more than 8 percent.  Walked several of the steepest stretches early on that fortunately were paved and gave some traction.

Arrived friends place outside Mayari just at dark soaked after a passing rain shower and really beat!

Stayed several days to rest and recuperate before returning to Holquin about 50 miles to the northwest.  Fewer high hills and a lighter load by this time and made it before dark.  Now staying a a room in the church.

In and out of here until near leaving 29 March for Miami.

Peace Rider

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