World Run II / Reports

The map shows the position of which the pictures for the day are taken (if any). The start and finish markers are placed at the first and last valid registered position. This is not nessesary the actual start and finish position, if GSM or GPS signals was not available.

Goto: 2011-10-30 2011-11-01 Equador

2011-10-31:

18
Distance today: 30.0 km (Accumulated: 29720.0 km)
Elapsed time: 02:43:38
Country: Equador

Start 09:10am., 23c, cloudy & light wind, at km-stone "073" on hwy. E35 to Quito. Finish 13:27pm., 26c & same, at km-stone "43" on hwy. E35 to Quito.

Camping at Volcan Cotopaxi !

A 30km stage where Reino did well - and impressed especially in how he, without speaking any other language than whats spoken in locally in Finland - maneaged to as always become good friends with the supportdriver and to reach an understanding & respect which I work months to achieve :-) (In itself its an intesting study in how to motivate and exite others each time Reino visits; its evident where some of his success as a business leader comes from. But most of all it impress me how he instantly seems to gain the respect of others no matter what culture they are from).

After the stage we headed for Mt. Cotopaxi National Park, and changed veichle to a more robust car which could transport us and our tents & food to the foothills of the volcano, at approx. 4000m. altitude. No ordinary campsite, but one with a Spectacular view of the top which is further 2km higher up in the thin air near equator.

Reino and Wilmer (my support-driver from Peru) got the national park driver to take them up to the volcano itself to reach the snow and ice of the permanent glacier at 5000m. alt. Wilmer who has never seen snow or ice before in his 42years where of many of them as a taxi-driver in Lima - was exited to put it lightly !

I for my part choose to stay and pitch my tent at 'base camp' and get some early rest. Unusual perhaps, when considering that one has to have a bit of adventurers blood' in order to run 1½ times around the world ;-) Yet. At the same time one of the main requirements to make is possible to complete these runs across the globe - is to know ones body and respect its limits. Today the main thing for my part was to make sure I recovered and made benefit from the 4000m. to produce more red bloodcells to help me on the daily stages here at 3000m. alt. on the Panamerican Highway in the Andes Mountains.

... The peak of the volcano was tempting as it sat there, apparently one a tiny bit of distance away. But to do my best in order to try to complete yet another run around the world - was much more tempting !

And while the mountains definately has a draw' and inspires intensely to go and discover' then I accept happily that the world is my mountain. A bit flatter perhaps - but also a bit of a challenge to overcome :-)