Wednesday October 29, 2014
Another day in the books here in Argentina. The entire U.S. Team container is still stuck in customs so the mode of operation for today and tomorrow is still to spend the time walking tests.
Josh and I kind of did our thing today. We walked 12-15 miles, most of it in sand (I have the blisters on my feet to prove it), checking out all of the tests from Days 3 and 4. The same course is used for days 3 and 4, and there are four tests. The first time through, the racers will ride all four tests, then they will go out again and ride test 1 and 2 again.
There were very few people walking the tests today (other than Team USA), because most other teams are busy in the Paddock doing bike prep.
We had our first full team meeting tonight, and the good news is that the container has now on its way from Buenos Aires and should be here late tomorrow, which really means it will be Friday before anybody even gets to touch the container and get started on their bikes.
Our plan is to spend all day tomorrow walking the rest of the tests from Day 1 and 2 (we’ve been working our way backwards). There are another four tests to be walked.
The heat is still an issue, but today was slightly cooler than yesterday which was near 100 degrees. The forecast for the week is to cool off considerably, so we’re crossing fingers.
Below are some more pictures and observations from today’s tests. Theme for today (for the tests from Days 3 and 4) were sand, sand, or rocks….not a lot in between.
There are some of the most amazing vineyards all through this valley, and they are huge. The mountains in the background are very rugged. None of the tests really get into the mountains, but some are close to the foothills.
This is from the first test we walked today. It's very unique because you're driving down this beautiful tree-lined road with huge vineyards on both sides, and then it's as if a line is drawn and the trees and vineyards end, and it instantly turns to sand dunes, and the first test starts right off the highway in the dunes.
The Swedish Team was walking the test right in front of us.
More dunes from Test 1. It wouldn't take a lot of imagination to be right at home in Utah with this picture. Josh was really excited to see the sand. He knows it's just going to turn into gnarly sand whoops, but we ride lots and lots of that at home.
To my Sage Riders Mc friends, this test looks like it could be part of the infamous Sage Riders National Hare n' Hound starts in the sand dunes.
More dunes. It's a pretty setting, but will likely be the sight of a lot of carnage next week.
This test is truly, 100% sand.
Driving between tests, we snapped a few pictures of some of the typical Argentina homes that around found all throughout town and out in the fringes of town. This is a common site.
Anybody notice the irony of this picture? Josh and I didn't even notice until later, but almost everyone of these "houses" had a DirectTV dish on their roof. The Dish cost more than the roof.
It's kind of hard to see in this pic, but just beyond the sand, where the green line starts is a vineyard. They stretch for miles.
We then went to Test 2. Guess what, more sand. Test 2 doesn't really have any dunes or elevation change. It's more in a flat valley and it is exactly like a WORCS course. They've come in with a dozer or tractor and bladed a special test right through the desert. It will be very fast, very whooped out, and will reward those comfortable riding in sand.
Josh and I enjoying a little Argentine picnic after walking for miles in the sand. We found a Wal Mart in town and bought a cooler and lots of drinks. We just about polished off an entire case of Gatorade ourselves today.
Just a few more miles down the road is Test 4 of Days 3 and 4. It starts in this gnarly rock quarry. The rocks aren't really big, but they're loose.
Although the test starts in a rock quarry, about 80% of it is more of guess what......sand.
Returning through the rock quarry to finish the test. Sorry for all the pictures of Josh's back, but it was just him and I. We were about 40 miles out of town in the desert, with pretty much nobody else around.
We then went on to the final test of the day, which is Test 3 of Days 3 and 4. I forget the name of the "town", but it was very weird. There were some people milling about town, but most of things looked abandoned. If there was something such as a low budget Mexican Horror flick, it would be set here. Abandoned carnival buildings (merry go-round, picnic benches, pavilions, etc.), along with a pet cemetery with lots of shrines all over the hill. However, we later learned that about 10,000 people descend on this town once a year to honor a woman who sacrificed herself to the sun (or something like that, I'm sure I've got it wrong). I'll have to find out more. All I know is that it was out in the middle of nowhere and was a really weird place for a special test.
The test starts right from a parking lot on the edge of town and right into the adjacent hills. This test was by far, the most unique of the day as far as terrain. It's a true "Enduro" test with lots of rocks, off-camber, ledges, etc.
Looking back at the unique little "town" with the test following this rocky ridgeline.
Josh scoping alternative lines in this test.
More alternate line scoping.
Despite how crazy the first half mile of this test was, it then dropped into this wash and followed it for a long time. There had been a lot of work done on this test, and it will really be unique, but most of the craziness is in the first section right next to town....after that's it's just a fast wash.
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Mer 29 Oct - 15:37
à San Juan c’est déjà un peu l’effervescence: il faut décharger les containers et remonter les motos… Mais avant tout, il faut ouvrir les cadenas! Et comme vous pouvez le voir sur une des photos, pas si évident quand on a oublié les clé…
