Peter Roady

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San Pedro Dog

San Pedro Dog

The saltiest water on Earth

December 27, 2013 by peter in Travel
The Atacama Salt Flat

The Atacama Salt Flat

Los Ojos de Salar

Los Ojos de Salar

Los Ojos de Salar

Los Ojos de Salar

Salt and Andes

Salt and Andes

Jen floating in Laguna Cejar

Jen floating in Laguna Cejar

Atacama Picnic

Atacama Picnic

I didn't expect to find water in the Atacma Desert, reputedly the driest place on our planet, so it was a bit of a surprise to spend the bulk of December 28 riding out into the desert in search of Los Ojos de Salar (literally, the eyes of the salt pan -- or the eyes of the Atacama Desert). We stopped briefly to try to fix the clapped out drivetrain on one of our bikes and made a friend.There really wasn't a lot to see en route, other than the always magnificent mountains which surround the Atacama. The speck on the road in this photo is a dog that ran nearly 15 miles in blazing heat after its owners, who were also riding bikes. More on the large (and only) tree in a moment.After about 30 kilometers of occasionally brutal washboard, sandy roads, we arrived at Los Ojos de Salar.Leo had a brief swim to cool off, and Walter rolled in with the support van so we could refill our water and demolish some snacks while he enjoyed a contemplative moment.We rode back the way we came, admiring the views of the Andes in the distance.After another 10 kilometers, we turned off at the road to Laguna Cejar and headed for a swim in one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth; certainly the saltiest I've experienced. I swam about 25yds of freestyle before the salt burned my sinuses to the point of intense discomfort. The water is so buoyant that you can stand upright and float, or you can take an even more leisurely approach.When your skin dries after swimming, you are transformed into a human saltlick.While we were swimming, Leo and Walter headed back down the road a little ways to the giant tree to set up what may have been the best picnic in history. Turns out Walter is an awesome chef, in addition to being a great guide. He and Leo prepared an epic feast and laid it out beautifully in the shade of the arbor.Here's the ride summary.*All photos are copyright Peter Roady and may not be reproduced or reused without written permission*

December 27, 2013 /peter
Atacama Desert, Chile, Desert, Dog, Mountain Biking, Picnic, Salt, South America, Swimming
Travel
img_3388.jpg

Mountain biking on the Moon

December 27, 2013 by peter in Travel

Jen, Clark, and I woke up early on December 27 and met Leo and Walter from Rutas Andinas for a mountain bike ride through the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon). We had stopped at on overlook on the drive into San Pedro the previous day, so we had an idea what to expect.Valle de la LunaThe landscapes were even more surreal and gorgeous inside the valley._DSF1316Many tourists flock to this valley around sunset to watch rocks glow, so Leo wisely took us in the morning to avoid the dust clouds generated by cavalcades of tour buses. We were alone for most of the ride._DSF1392Empty roadThe riding was not technical, as Clark demonstrated by repeatedly riding with no hands. Those are the Andes in the background.IMG_3369The altitude (we started at about 8000ft above sea level), some soft sand, and a few hills made it a solid workout. You can see the ride details on Strava. We paused for plenty of photo stops to catch our breath.Pausing to catch breathSince we were mountain biking in style, Walter drove the support van ahead and setup an awesome snack picnic for us at the turnaround point. We devoured some local apples, bananas, and headed back to our hotel for lunch and a brief rest before our afternoon adventure.*All photos are copyright Peter Roady and may not be reproduced or reused without written permission*

December 27, 2013 /peter
Andes, Chile, Mars, Mountain Biking, San Pedro de Atacama, Swimming, Valle de la Luna
Travel

All text and images are copyright Peter Roady and may not be used without written permission.