Part V: Salto K, journey back ... Mega Travel Year 2010 and early 2011. Part V: Salto K, journey back ...
Wednesday 05/01/2011. Day Break K
A new dawn in La Gran Sabana, but like all previous site provided a new, different and heavenly, the morning of Wednesday January 5 was the turn of a sunrise in Salto K. ..
I left the tent rested and ready to enjoy the place that made me spend so much effort to get there. The first was a morning swim in a pool that is made at the top of Salto delicious, then gave him step-boo and I clear this "one of the best breakfast we prepared the whole trip: Some Tacos!, If jejeje breakfast tacos, as it was past mid-morning, there was little hurry up, was a day of chilling in K. Falls  |
| pool on top of Salto K | |
The tour and visit all around the Salto K again was filled with many feelings, many thoughts scrambled but definitely a thrill and joy beyond compare. A photo session ended a visit to preserve the vivid memories that I have in my mind as well as puri-puri friends are really a threat in the area.  |
ending | River Falls K |
The rest of the day was joking with buddies throwing in camp. We played dominoes, Uno and other group activities. The day was cloudy with intermittent drizzle and rain that lasted for a while, again the weather was too lenient with us because when we walk the trails never rained and rained just when we were in camp: D
Around 3:00 pm we were looking to do and came up with the brilliant idea of \u200b\u200bsetting up a rubber ball game! hehehe, so we invited neighbors to attend camp and heading groups was us against the neighbors.) We spent a nice and pleasant with a bit of exercise is nothing more and nothing less than around the river that supplies water to K.
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The Great Leap | K |
Rato after dark and after it clears decided to make dinner, which consisted of a wood-burning grill mega food that everyone contributed. This activity lasted for several hours as he got to the firing point, they made the sausages, meat, etc. And when everyone was bursting with food, we started to talk to digestion ending with a rumba with varied music and games of dominoes ...
That night was particularly cold, and among many things I could not reconcile a good sleep, very rare thing in me, but late at night the warm embrace of my boo comforted me to rest and be prepared for the return ...  |
| below Salto K Laguna |
Thursday 06/01/2011. De Salto K for Santa Elena de Uairén??
did not want to go back: (it was too soon, but there was no other ... well this return was the most melancholy because it was also the return to Caracas and also to these great vacation.
The morning swim to dismiss K proceeded until they all left the river and could not stay any longer. Once all the equipment was insured in the ass, it was time to start, clear to an extremely slow pace to trick the body and mind.
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| Before returning to Santa Elena ( |
is a good time to mention how proud I felt to be there for many reasons, but one of them I would mention it now. I was the ONLY Montero among all the caravans were on site walking the route (more than 40 Toyotas), in fact for K we can count the Hunters that have come with the fingers of one hand and I was one of them, "last year When I returned two buddies were with me Montero managed the fearful journey, congratulations! "Toyoteros all stared at me, I imagine there were many thoughts to me since it does Montero that here, as well as look at the Montero put and get to the K, in the end the issue of the fight between the marks is not something I lose sleep, unfortunately if you live in Venezuela many to mock, and to discredit me other brands other than Toyota, but I've come with my Montero and continue getting to where I please because 80% of the route the pilot does not the car;) and when the route is complicated no carriage worth and where to use and how to use toys ...  |
| Extreme Perspective tilt increases, when you're shooting only see the sky ... |
As an additional comment, I am pleased to recall that in the way there, I left at least three caravans of toyotas rugged back where broken front and rear transmissions, shaft ends, turned and an endless variety of complications in all Toyota models: Autana Machitos, merus, FJ Cruiser, and even toys of all kinds as blocking differential, lift more than 6 "tires 35" and for you to have, and I get no break or a screw Oliva ...
In less than a mile and the Salto K behind us and played off the car, analyze the way and overcome the difficult first step of return, The first climb was steeper than the threshold of a second of greater magnitude and complexity. And had a caravan of 4 cars (two macho, a meru and the old hilux) were the residents of Camp rubber ball game, making recovery maneuvers to pass.
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| One of the many Mega Upload Sloped only watching the sky ... |
After spending the neighbors, first gave Javier, I Gino second and third. Achieved the first ascent of all vehicles in our caravan, more than the second if it was necessary to use cinch. Then came the stretch of ups and downs with many short breaks in which we delay you need for easy, from this point was always in line of sight to the caravan of neighbors in front of us, but we were not scrambled.
Being in the K and talking with others about their experiences panas threshing, because I knew that was the alternate route to go, who allegedly was much shorter and easier. However, among those decisions had found about it, that is why for sure we did not have a final decision on which route to take to return. In any case the decision had to take it up in the indigenous community which is where the fork, left the route we came full of extremely steep ups and downs, having to go through the devil, the files, including , or the right path "new" that is supposedly full short and easy spending a couple of pipes only.
That peculiarity that every time you come back from a site, the route is shorter and quicker for me to pass the videos, hills and savannah to the indigenous community was in an open and flash. When you get there so the neighbors as we We parked and got out of the cars, the idea was to ask the Indian had taken us to go round as it really is the issue of the routes.
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| All Toyos and Olive!, Neighbors and Us Back ... |
For the normal route, they were at that moment up trucks, one of them I think he turned and was about to ... step and the increase were in very poor conditions and moist soil, the Indian recommended we go with the new path they did, they gave us a very vague indications and also offered his services to guide us and do not miss, one of the signs was that they should turn right at a fork after crossing a small mountain where virtually the threshing not see well because people spend time without S-for the modest sum of Bs 200, while discussing the matter, we realize that the beginning of the new road just meters from where we were already three cars over the first pipe that had to be crossed, but it was not easy, many attempts and nothing that made it through the angle output was brutal and the dump super slippery.
Ultimately we decided to return for the new route, according to Indian complication were 3 pipes like the one we had before our eyes, to rest all the way was savannah, and the other side and had a caravan with problems ... so we ended up helping the 3 front and neighbors began work to pass the first pipe, then passed us, but not so fast eye, this was a task of at least a couple of hours to pass all the cars.
Prime Pipe Route New : indigenous community in the middle flanked on his right hand to begin to decline with a right hand bend below the half, then fording a river about two cars long and about five feet depth, then climbing out of the pipe on a very slippery, sloping rise of about two or three cars along with a ravine on the right, that the end had a flat for a couple of car park, there to make the break cross 90 degrees to the left and climb another long climb of about 30 to 40 meters whose width was less than a car with Voladero the left, at the end and the journey became flat savannah.
Well at the moment and neighbors and we implicitly decided to join forces to help and to achieve the safe return. All the cars went down smoothly, crossed the river and several attempts some more than others-I did it the second or third attempt, we went to the break, but there began the good, the final climb was long, steep and the width of less than a car, yeah! correct the driver's side wheels were half of the rubber in the air, so no car could climb on its own, it was necessary to winch it hit the car go up slowly as the driver accelerated and used only the steering wheel turn the car as far to the right (mountain) as possible and avoid a rollover to the left downhill.
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| Entering a Return of Forests, Skims olive trees ... |
After work with the last car, I passed as fourth in the group now was 7 cars, the four neighbors and the 3 of us proceeded to the unknown journey all 3 cars that have gone before us, a Autana, a macho and a long van-were much later and they continued to spend just ended without offering assistance.
I ducked the first pipe, and two more were ready as directed. So we continue with our journey, but: Surprise! do not move or 200 meters when again there was another pipe to go through, as far as parking cars, get off and adjust the track, of course the three cars that were later were in the middle of the work for cross ... Second New Route Pipe : savanna 200 meters after the first pipe begins a long, narrow mud slide down type with a left hand Voladero all the way, the which terminates in a moderate inclination to go into a river of medium depth and then combine leisure most of all, leave the pipe at an angle of inclination of at least 60 degrees continuously in a slippery climb about 3 cars long, the Incidentally impossible to overcome by any vehicle without the aid of a winch. After a break you can see a rise of about 50 meters to reach the plane porfin savanna.  |
| Hoping to fix the route to go ... |
Good work ... so the drop slide peck around with the blades in order to get traction on the tires. In my case I could download without problems, cross the river and climb a few meters after the pipe to attach the winch and come to rest, the next rise was a trip to Olive. Clear that the maneuvers and tasks to cross all Trucks took us over an hour. Since that time I ride in the stirrups of the Indian Olive to guide us on the road, and a few miles of savanna the Indian tells me he will give you walking down a shortcut to meet us later, and coming a step of rocks and mountains that was hard to be icing on the stirrup-all chassis vehicles with no back seat we were short and filled with the implements of travel and long chassis came to full-crew capacity, so we continue the tour route blindly, simply by following a small thresh the mountains.
After a while savanna and without returning to meet with the Indian I find myself faced with the caravan of three cars in front of us. They came back because he had just found the way and there was the thing, luckily right where we are (on a hill) on the left we saw a road that was entering a rain forest, where there is no water, and insurance would have to cross a river, possibly it was the third pipe ", at that time the Indian appeared icing on one of the cars back and confirmed that there was the route, but also a little further back was another jungle another step, but the best was where we were.
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| Many steps had to put railings made of logs to avoid bumping into trees ... |
Nothing
three other trailer trucks gave first and we get up before entering the jungle. There we got out to assess the pace and surprise! a lowering of the slide to reach the river, and then wade, the water reached almost to the hood, the exit angle was about 50 to 60 degrees-impossible without winch-for less than one car length between trees across 90 degrees right hand and finish up out of the jungle. What fun! : S
The pass was not all easy, it was almost 4:00 pm and nothing good to work hard there was another, I wanted to discuss another said the Indian jungle, but according to buddies front of the caravan also reviewed and this was better: (so you can imagine ... in the end the three forward cars were slow to spend more than an hour and it was almost dusk, so if we were starting the work to cross safely we would do at night, and spend the night this jungle would increase considerably the degree of difficulty, so the wisest decision was to put together right there to start camp work very early the next day.
Arm camp again, and I thought we were going to come back in one day, but no ... K did not want to let go lol or at least not so easy. There after dinner, thank goodness I'm very cautious and had other food and drinks, and ice was still enough thanks to the caves and marine panel, others could not say the same inputs were nearly empty, as we talked about whether would have been better return by the original road that was already known to us and that even with its complications in a day traveled, etc.. but the best is good passing and we were there and back or to grab momentum.
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| Down by the River in the jungles of | Back
The weather that day was not sunny we say, rather it was cloudy and when we were in indigenous community it rained a bit, again the clouds were from theirs in at night, so to bed early to begin the task with all possible energy the next day.
Friday 01/07/2011. from somewhere in New Leaping Trilla K for Santa Elena de Uairén and then The Playita
The first thought when I got up was, after all-night rain, as you have woken up the river we to cross, "but before worrying about it for breakfast and arm Oliva ... although now be enough cars and people, all made a great effort to be ready very early (before 8:00 am) and there was no time to waste, and it remained out of the threshing on which we had no idea in store for us later.
One of the neighbors under to see the river and then the return was bad news, was swollen and it was impossible to cross with the donkeys, and sit back and wait to come down the runway was not very good alternative, so we decided to return immediately to the most famous jungle back to try that route.
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| Morichal Crossing, no car move without help ... |
Minutes before starting another caravan appears to see us ask-me radio 11 meters and they were on the hill-where was the path, I summarized them and then once back before us try. It should be noted that when we were finishing the first pipe to pass over a caravan was starting this journey, and a tough guy to try to overcome the rise after the river that gave him so much leg went straight and went by the right Voladero turning the vehicle, shock, thank God nothing happened to the passengers. We continued on our way because they were a caravan of several cars and did not come with us, and we offered help but had enough people and cars to perform the recovery, as well as our cars had passed the stage. This was the camper who got up early and caught us at that point, and macho that turned the already incredibly rolling again with virtually no injury from the incident.
At the other forest, because the same technique, I was first, so I was the first to walk the walk.
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| One of Toboggan Runs | many
The Third Pipe Route New : a drop slide to enter the forest, then a few meters down right in front there was a tree and had to turn a bit left, "the problem is that since there is a slide drive to stop completely and make the maneuver, so clearly you could see the scratches and paint on tree trunks of cars crashing into him on the floor also had a side window glass of macho that is sure to impact broke: S, passing the tree continued to slide down the trees a few meters to a slight curve to the right so narrow that cars hit the trees, there appeared the river, which had to go by its own channel about 100 meters between boulders, luckily the river was very little water, just enough to cover half or less of the rubber-to the final exit forest by a rise in two phases, the first part very simple and uncomplicated that culminated in a 90 degree curve to the right to overcome a rise angle and the length of a slippery car to approach it was necessary to take the vehicle as straight as possible before the rise, making overtaking maneuvers and back to fit the car well since this is appreciated beyond the bush again.
Who was the brave who went from first? before releasing it to a car, had to work a little ground, thereby strengthening a railing to try to stop and remove the cars initial tree trunks are also accommodated in the floor and on the edge of the bottom of the hill where you had to turn right to separate the cars of the impact with the trees, then I was the first brave brand threshing, I was confident that Oliva to be lightweight, small and also with his new shoes would overcome these obstacles without complication and so, take a gentle, then the curve to the right into the river with calm and patience just touch the tree, I passed the stones from the river and got on two runs to leave the jungle: D, so in the savanna and to refund to help the rest of the group to pass all the cars.
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| Thanks to MT KM2 BF Traction is sometimes ... |
While it was also opportune moment to eat some cold pasta with tuna and throw us some water in the river lol. After a while we finish the job and all the cars safely cross the second pipe ...
Three pipes ready and supposedly there were no more ... what we expected as rumors of the route. So the stretch of savannah, as always full of colors and scenery, we walked in me particularly was full of anticipation to see which was the next jungle ... and effectively was immediate, a few miles I ran.
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| Use both the winch that it was easier to let it cool outside ... |
Step Four New Route : cheated because if we had more steps, this time beginning with the crossing of a river very short and of moderate depth with large rocks on the bottom, there gave way to a line that was a mega neighborhood that became more and more dense the mud to a point where cars could not even spend a few roots that were on the floor at the end a mega mud pump over two or three cars came a curve to the right uphill-sloping well-filled with mud over two cars that were impossible to overcome with the vehicles, without assistance of a winch, at the end of increase had a break. The trail was still muddy very narrow with trees on both sides and obstacles on the road that were extremely difficult to circumvent the loss of traction to the neighborhood, this stretch was too long as 150 to 200 meters in approximately half of this journey was new national rise in complicated curve, and finally finish the neighborhood discovered in the light savannah ...
really
no words to describe how difficult it was this way of jungle, every meter of the course was very technical. We had to work long hours every section of the threshing, putting rails logs, mud pumps filling trunks for traction, and helping to push cars from several to not hit into the trees on both sides and trying to often spend so much by the mud pumps as by rising curve, there were more than two hours doing the work of recovery.
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| Air Holding to raise the Caño |
To my experience through this forest was next, and I was one of the relatively easy passage, the crossing of the river watching the rocks where it wanted to put the tires and slowly made without complication by giving a little throttle to final out of the spout, then the first stretch of mud presented no problems and get the second piece as a little throttle was needed to cross the mud pump, until a slight curve to the left where you had to jump over Oliva roots lost traction, it took about three or four tries to jump the roots and then throttle back on the second pump mud to reach the beginning of the rise-curve right, here Oliva came to less than half of the rise where the rest was overcome with the help of a winch. And again at halftime of the threshing of mud with their bombs and trees on both sides, to reach the second rise in a curve to the right, the only way up was really giving "leg" and the practice of truth not my preference and none in the caravan, but it was really the only way. When you're on the edge of the rise since first gear, mocha and bottom leg: S up to Oliva in the first attempt! that cool, came to 6,500 revolutions-the first time in life, "all toyos limited in that rise ... then the narrow path of mud and trees on both sides was slow, careful but bindings to greet the beautiful Savannah and the blue sky.
could not believe it was out of the third forest! Now the prayers were for the Indians really had not deceived us much more and the rest of the way was easy to pure savannah.
few minutes when I was rolling on the savannah, I could identify on the GPS that we were just a few meters and connects with the original road where we had gone for K, and it was within a few miles to the exit in fact already the landscape was familiar: D
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| look easy ... |
was still early, around 3:00 pm so we were a good time, and take this sheet to advance as possible, brought back many memories passing the knoll where we spent the first night when the FJ broke and also a great joy to know that the output was very close, there was only one step, very complicated, but well known to all.
new threshing fact is much shorter, it has ups and downs, but if you have three forests that are extremely difficult and complicated to cross, perhaps in another era was simple this route ...
When the last step out the last stretch of savannah and get to the gate and the road then black, then to get off the car to see that this is the road. I said in the beginning of the journey the features of this step, but if memory refresh sense output.
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| But it is not ... muddy, zero traction, very steep. |
The Last Step Out of the path K Jump: via black road the last step consists of a straight drop to slide down the shallow river and go through a very steep climb (30 degrees or more) the length of two cars of slippery mud to a break. There is a slight increase in mud slide where there is almost no traction to get into a pool of mud over two or three cars at the end of the pool is a mega step of 90 degrees and starts the final climb of the slide of about 50 meters slight curve to the right.
This section is impossible to traverse without a winch, in fact all vehicles use the winch three times in the three climbs after crossing River.
I was second, after Javier ... the descent through the rubber was soft and traction, easy river crossing and the first ascent reaches the end but it was necessary to finish the winch to get the rest. Winch then again to overcome the slight rise of the slide, then swim in the mud pool and the good of the winch out to connect to the strap hugs the tree and placed in order to take as little as possible sunk in the mud, once connected the good of the winch could overcome the step and the last climb of the slide ... that quest to go, but happy because it was the last leg of the threshing work: D  |
| A tip winch ... |
Oliva dirtiest impossible, it takes a couple of pictures for memories and then after passing through the miles of savanna remaining to reach the gate and again in those precious moments black road. The road was left savanna different, it was noted that many cars had passed by, and there were several trails that annoyed with people who are breaking new ground ... some of the steps were a bit complicated by the passage of cars, but nothing that I could hinder my departure. Within half an hour I was in the black road peaceful enjoying the comfort of the suspension under these conditions. I could not get off the glass in the amount of mud that had the glasses, so to get to Santa Elena at first was finding a place to throw a little water to the donkey: D, gasoline pumps were already closed: (, thankfully take three cans and one still had full what would allow me to continue the tour, otherwise would have had to spend the night in Santa Elena.  |
| More |
winch ...
I joined the group in a liquor store where we celebrate our victory Falls K with the respective cold while taking advantage of routine shopping, ice, drinks, etc.
And now to do? he had to stay overnight for the next day on the way back to Caracas ... the idea was to spend the night in a skip on the road to advance a few kilometers ... but first things first! we were hungry! and many days, eating in camping, so I suggested the group go to the pizzeria! if it was near my second home, the inn albergo me during my stay in Santa Elena-
That such delicious pizzas on Especially after everything we went to make the crossing of K! there regained courage and strength to keep driving a few miles. We decided to get to the beach for the night ...  |
| Mud Pit and Then the Last Exit Togobo for the Last Rainforest |
The trip to the beach was in automatic mode jejeje, pleading with the GPS to pass the miles as quickly as possible. Upon arrival we discovered it was full of people and maladaptive and acabatrapos addition to the music on full blast, full trash everywhere that outrage so great. There was only space for camping, it was very clean but at that time had no strength for anything else. Boo had fallen asleep on the way, he dropped out lol, so I undertook to set up camp in record time and went to bed at my boo, then I took a bath and rest for a few minutes before going to sleep.  |
| Uff I can not believe, It Up, I left all Forests and unharmed! |
The night passed in an environment of rumba, like a nightclub in Caracas, I think that never stopped ringing some music, Fortunately between fatigue and my positivism could sleep and not paying much attention to the fuss.
Saturday 08/01/2011. De La Playita to Puerto La Cruz
day came, and still had music in the air, that stunning lack of respect for others and for nature that have acabatrapos ... for it to stay in their homes or in La Guaira making their rumba. I really do not understand the sense of going so far to a magical place to do what they do at home and in the process destroy everything in order not is a post to discuss the environmental issue and no awareness of these people ...  |
Some | Barro ... |
With one of the worst Flojeras the world I got up to start the day on. We decided to relax, enjoy the site for a while and go quietly ... so breakfast and boo and I took a bath and swim in the river a bit. After picking up the pots and assemble the donkey.
At about 10:00 am I was ready first, so I went once, and we had to do compulsory stop for events Kamoirán gasoline, and since season was likely to tail. On reaching the tail was about 20 or 30 cars, not so much that we say. Linger there half an hour to continue with our return.  |
| A few meters from the gate to get to the Black Road ... |
What was the destination? because my original idea was as always get to Puerto Ordaz, but the neighbors were going to get to Puerto La Cruz, Gino lives in Cumana and would give him direct my friend wanted to give Javier spent Caracas run. I had not yet made any decision, the road and fatigue will tell.
find some traffic on the road for the return of vacationers, but it was something from another world. Just stop in to fill fuel Guasipati few hours later we were in Puerto Ordaz, it was night. We threw gasoline again and decided to continue as they had wanted to Puerto La Cruz and decide there again. Here and Gino, Javier and I had left the neighbors back ...  |
| Back in Santa Elena de Uairén Leaping Back | K
the three brave pilots continue our night tour the dark asphalt to Puerto La Cruz, where we took leave of corduroy Gino would continue to Cumana. Javier told him there was really exhausted and wanted to continue, boo also had a fever and felt bad for the first time in all the way back and I thank God, and in fact was very tired, so decided to spend the night with the agreement to leave early, I did it was very late at night, if I remember around midnight ... The idea was to rest a while and then continue.  |
| in Santa Elena de Uairén Replenishing .... |
had
to improvise a place to pecnoctar, so a nearby slaughterhouse was the site selected to have three hours of sleep ... the alarm clock rang and my body just felt that just arrived: S, but had to get up. A cowboy bathroom and back to ginger up the road. Upon arriving at the gas pump out of Puerto La Cruz and Javier was supplying fuel.
Sunday 09/01/2011. In Puerto La Cruz Caracas
still night Leaving Puerto La Cruz and just two cars. Well the return was phenomenal, very fast, quiet and smooth. We devoured those miles in a trice, the only stop was the handsome so I put the gas can was still full and breakfast ... We were so focused on advancing until that point had not eaten anything lol.  |
| Part of the excellent team we managed to emerge unscathed from K. .. |
I got home early, mid-morning, excellent! because I turn at once to disarm Oliva, remove all the equipment for the visit and after washing, as well as give a bath to Oliva, the first of several to make their respective maintenance.
After the task was really exhausted, I could not move, but at least everything was already organized: D I went to sleep without being able to get out of my mind how amazing all the experiences I had lived, and those wonderful days in contact with nature. I know that I can live in it and every time I visit I find it harder to return to the concrete ...  |
| I Met Boo! Holiday Voyage Home End 2010 and 2011 Completed Successfully |
Sunday 23/01/2011
