IM INJURED. 3rd August. We rode from ORURO to UYUNI. My first intended route was from ORURO to POTOSI and turn to UYUNI. But Cecilia choose route 30 instead, Im not comfortable with that road as I was told by some locals that the road condition was bad, but since she insist, I obliged. Few kilometres into route 30, I encounter a very long sand track, and ask Cecilia to walk through, where I with the help of a local walk the bike. Then I ask Cecilia to hitch a ride as I ride on. 10km ahead, I fell, but without injury or damage. Cecilia request to the driver to put my luggage on his pick-up, and he agreed. Without the load, I manage much better, but the road condition getting worse, the corrugation was so dense and high till my signal light broke off. I went into a wrong track, turn back about 12km, and saw a path where I thought can save me some distance, I turn and fell into a sand pool, my toe was pin by the boxer engine, but cause only little pain, I press on. 30Km on bumpy corrugation dirt track and sand pit, my hand was numb by the vibrations. Come a sharp curve and I couldnt control the bike properly, and I fell to the right, hurting my chest (few inches below my armpit), and comes an American with a Bolivian on a truck, they help me to bring up the bike, where I relies my engine guard was broken, and also my pannier. Not feeling much pain on my injury, I move on. Another 30Km, this time the vibration and the cold totally numb my hands, and I fell at another sharp curve. This time, the acute pain from my injury comes in, and Im unable to lift up the bike. Sitting on the road with no one around, I was wondering how worried Cecilia will be, and assessing the situation, I left with two options: 1. wait for someone to help me lift up the bike and put on a truck (if possible). 2. prepared myself to camp (night temperature will drop to -6º), which mean I really really have to look for a proper place to camp as the camping gear and sleeping bag was with Cecilia, I only have my red jacket with me. After 1hour of wait in the chilly wind. Half of my first option came, the guys help me to lift up the bike, but they are going the other direction. I had no other choice but to move on, enduring the pain (make worse by the bumpy ride) to continue riding for 120KM. When I reached UYUNI, I see no sign of Cecilia around, and the pain is killing me. I went to the police station, they saw my condition and put me in the police car, and drove me to the hospital. As the anti-pain jab poke into my butt, I heard Cecilia screaming into the hospital. The doctor want to send me to POTOSI (204Km away) for X-ray, I told him let me rest for a night, and if things turn bad, Ill come back. We walk back to the hotel. Take a night rest, and my injury is getting better (still a little pain, but manageable). Went for breakfast and went to the police station to look at my baby, start the engine to warm it up. Request to the police to leave the bike there for one more night (where else can be safer then the police garage?) My plan is to take a four days UYUNI tour (no choice I cant ride my bike on the salt) to let my injury heal, and also fulfil my wish on going to the SALT HOTEL, then press on with the journey.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 16:38:32 +0000
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