Cycle Cuba Day 1

We had a nice and relaxing cycling on day 1. It was a very easy ride and it was pleasant this way, as we had the opportunities to chat with each other and get to know everybody in the group. It took us about an hour to leave Havana.


Then came the first hills, which were quite gentle but steep enough by some 30-35 degrees in the burning Cuban sunshine!


We reached the National Park of Las Terrazas, recognised as a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1985.

This is a place where the number of vehicle entering the reserve is kept under control. For instance, our support vehicle could not stay on the campsite car park overnight. The arrival to the campsite location was grandiose, with the last stretch being surrounded by a lake and somptuous landscapes.


We eventually arrived at the campsite car park, where we dropped the bikes are started our stretching excercises, which would become a ritual in the next few days, to the amusement of the locals. (not everyday they see ladies wearing Lycras I guess...)


We took our luggage from the bus and carried them along a narrow path, down some slippery steps, then over a narrow wooden bridge, through a woodland along the river and passed the bar, we finally got to a glade where we were to pitch our tents. There were also a few huts and shower and toilet cubicles. All of the buildings were made of woods, with palmtree thatched roofs. A local told me that you can make these from one type of palmtree only (I forgot which type exactly) and a well-designed and well-built roof can last up to 20 years!



The structure below is one of the bins that you find at the campsite. No ugly plastic containers but these lovely hammoc-type bins, located at height to prevent animals from nuzzling and looking for food.


We pitched our tent and went straight for a shower as we did not know if the next campsite would have those facilities. The next thing we did was walking to the bar where a few of our fellow fundraisers were and ordered "Dos mojitos, por favor". Trave had a quick swim in the "piscina naturaleza" (read a stream/lake).


After which, it was time for dinner already and we all sat around the big table, enjoying our rice & beans, or "pollo con arroz" for the meat eaters. It was a really pleasant evening. There was a band playing for us, they were really good. Unfortunately, I had made the mistake of on a light bathing suit/T-shirt and a short bathing skirt, and was vigoursly encouraged by the band to get up and dance with one of them! Put it this way, I am not a good dancer and have absolutely no idea how to dance along these gorgeous salsa beats! So, I embarrassed myself but it was great fun too!

A lot more happened on that day but I am not going to detail C's magnificent fall on the side of the road and her subsequent league 1 bruises... Ooops, I said too much already! Sorry C!

Thank you to all of our fellow cyclists for the great time we spent together.