Those Who Wander Magazine January 2016 | Page 50

SECOND LEG Kieran took us through a very bumpy gravel pathway (tunnel is out-of-bounds now after a gringo/ truck crash). Say goodbye to smooth roads! After that the pathway is gravel; rocks; bends and a downhill, oh and a 4,650 metre drop. Craig loved it! Before we fully committed to the downhill, we had to pay our 25 bs / £2.50 for the pleasure. THIRD LEG After lunch, we hit the real Death Road. Kieran hung back with me until I found a bit of confidence. I can?t say I ever fully found it but I did ease up towards the end, two fingers still on the brakes like! Craig flew down, hanging back to check up on me now and again. There were lots of regrouping and photo stops with instruction on how to tackle the next part. Death Road all in all took about three hours. FOURTH LEG Whilst entering the town, Yolosa (1200 asl), you are asked to be respectful of the locals and slow down slightly and say Hola. Recently there was a tour guide / local van crash and the local was arrested. The locals blocked the road until he was realised from prison so the tour companies and locals had a meeting and came to an agreement that they would not bolt through the town. This town is the end point. Collect your beer, you did it! You now decide whether to pay 200 bs for the zip slide (do it!) or head to the animal sanctuary (which you are bused to). ZIPSLIDE Craig and I opted for the zip slide. We were hooked up and bundled into an open back truck. It took a while to register that we were driving up The Death Road! For the next half an hour we supermaned down three different zip slides at speeds of up to 85 km/ hr. Now this is my kind of fun! We then joined the rest of the group for lunch at the animal reserve (which you can actually stay over night at). You can also shower here (soap and towel provided). Craig showered with a monkey staring at