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 Mad Dash to Santiago!Back to Drag Race!By Daniel Lins - 2009-06-14
The mad race to Santiago! The guys left Temuco on Thursday afternoon, eager to get on the road. I stayed, and kept talking with Lorena about missions and life. Time wore on, and I ended up staying until Sunday. After walking with Lorena to her morning class and saying our last goodbyes, I hopped on the bike and headed out of Temuco. My brain changed into Terminator mode, set on one mission: catching up with the guys. With a two day headstart, I knew it would be difficult to reach them before they arrived in Santiago. But we had a commitment to video chat with some students in NYC, so we all had to be there together. The formula was easy: ride faster and for more hours. The application would be another story.
I rode like I have never ridden before. Months of practice paying off, as my thighs pumped past exhaustion. Each time my body wanted to take a break, I remembered how far ahead the guys were. I couldn’t let up. During each moment: whether enjoying the morning cool, sweating under the oppressive sun, or exalting in the afternoon tailwinds, I was aware of the physical need to ride faster. Like a drive to eat, or drink, or procreate, I yearned to pedal harder.
I rode all day, from before dawn to after dusk, stopping only when my brain got sleepy, and I knew I was about to bonk (run out of fuel). To save time, I stopped at rode-side stands to buy blocks of semi-solid homemade honey, delicious hard-boiled eggs, fresh rounds of farm-cheese, kilos of avocados, and massive loaves of bread baked in earthen ovens. A simple equation: Fuel in, motion out. My green shirt turned white from four days of dried sweat salt. It went odorless – the high concentration of salt making a toxic environment for any bacteria.
The bike wore my body out. My joints ached to move, tired from the repetition. My neck and back muscles went numb, cramped for too long in the same position. My hands formed permanent grips on the handlebars. My feet were tender to walk on. And even my lips were tired from breathing: quick breathes of hot air to replace depleted oxygen.
But it paid off. The bicycle ate up the miles like candy. Each day longer than the day before, until I reached Santiago. Sometime on the third day, I passed Chris and Mike – we think in the pre-dawn, before they had emerged from their hidden campsite. On the fourth day I encountered a tunnel: bicycles prohibited. After trying to hitch a ride for 5 minutes, I decided to risk it alone on the bike. Hasty. Stupid. I waited for a break in the cars and headed into the darkness, keeping my eyes on the tiny light at the end of the tunnel. I pedaled as fast as I could go, to try to reach daylight before any cars caught me. Half way through, at full speed in the pitch darkness, I lost control and flipped over the handlebars, with the bike tumbling beneath me. Somersaulting in mid-air, I had a lot of time to think. "How did this happen? I wonder if my skin will be ground down to bones as I slide on the asphalt. What is happening to my bike right now, as it tumbles beneath me? What will happen to the cars when they hit my body?"
My ponderings came to an abrupt halt as I landed in motion and continued rolling. In mid-roll, I saw headlights closing in. Without losing momentum, I bounced toward the side of the tunnel, jumped up, and hugged it like a long lost brother. The cars whizzed past, and in the next instant, I grabbed my bike and pulled its mangled form to the wall, too. Carefully, I limped the long way toward daylight, dragging my bike behind me. On the outside, I assessed my wounds and fixed the bike as best I could. Even then, I was aware of the pressing need to get to the city. I was bleeding from 8 different parts of my body, and my right knee wasn’t functioning properly. But the adrenaline was still flowing, so I didn’t feel a thing. I limped back onto the bike and made it the rest of the way to Santiago as best I could. 
Peanut GalleryThe light at the end of the tunnelanne.larrivee 2009-06-15 01:23:56 UTC
Wow Daniel, That was a close call- I’m glad you’re okay. Hope you have a quick recovery and have learned your lesson about tunnel traveling….I probably would have done the same thing, but this story reminds me that warnings are usually there for a reason. -Anne (No Subject)pjamiller 2009-06-15 02:09:24 UTC
I still envy you the adventure but I must say that I would probably prefer a ride on the back seat of a bicycle built for two on that last leg. That is what gray hair will do for you. Light at the end of the tunnelhimmelstein-127 2009-06-15 03:24:02 UTC
Daniel, My heart skipped a beat when I read your entry. Sure glad you are okay. Do you guys have lights? They would add weight but could be a life saver. Look forward to hearing more about this and your recovery. Did the others encounter the same tunnel? How is the bike? long-lost terminator brotherarsnic12 2009-06-15 12:39:08 UTC
My long-lost terminator brother, you’re being prayed over (body, mind, spirit, bike, & team). By the by, your story is well written … I can imagine, see, smell, taste, and feel every word and wound. good work brobrentnorman21 2009-06-15 15:24:07 UTC
I’m glad you made it safely. Sounds like you are having a once in a lifetime experience. Hard to believe you guys have time to make this excellent website in addition to your adventures. !!!Feelgreen 2009-06-15 15:46:17 UTC
My dear crazy friend Daniel…..I’m so happy you’re alive and still pedaling! I pray for your continued safety my friend! Miss you buddy! (No Subject)annerodgershere 2009-06-16 13:33:56 UTC
Daniel; Do you know who Jimmy Olsen, cub reporter, is? Superman was always having to save him from the stupid things he got himself into. Jesus is not like superman. He would rather lead you through wisdom. Get wisdom :-) Anne (No Subject)annerodgershere 2009-06-16 13:34:01 UTC
Daniel; Do you know who Jimmy Olsen, cub reporter, is? Superman was always having to save him from the stupid things he got himself into. Jesus is not like superman. He would rather lead you through wisdom. Get wisdom :-) Anne wowjuliane.hanke 2009-06-16 19:59:13 UTC
hey daniel, haha you rememeber me? its julie:D i just found the card you gave me when i finally unpacked my bagback after 6 weeks:D i hope youre doing better, your journey to santiago sounds awful but i mean..you made it:D this homepage is amazing, i am so impressed about what you guys do, just crazy! well i am jealous cause i have my old boring life back here in germany…it sucks cause i need to find an appartment and i just cant find one!! wish i could go back to santiago as receptionist and just keep smiling every day because thats what i can do best:D it was great to see you on my last day..i enjoyed the bbq a lot! i wish you good luck on everything…say hi to your sweet sisters! hug, julie (No Subject)Anonymous 2009-06-18 15:49:18 UTC
D, sure was there with you but without the bleeding parts.!!! :) Oh!!! I remember when I fell in front of our house, was bleeding from varius spots and was afraid of the early morning newspaper carrier. I realized that a person could get hurt going out their front door!!! We are praying for you and the other guys. Love Your Momm. All the blogs are so breath taking. penguins & invitemjczar 2009-06-19 11:59:00 UTC
Hello Dan & the rest of the group! Your penguin presentation video was excellent~ 5 STARS*! In a week I will be headed for a month long Safari to Southern Africa, by your standards of "getting away" it is like a weekend. When you guys finally make it back, you all have an invitation to my house, join me in my pub.. and hopefully fit in a talk to my current world issuses class sometime this fall.. Keep up the positiveness that is happening with yoru trip. all the best! Maury ps it was good to see my penguins friends I last saw when in Antarctica in 2002-03.. I will be seeing their South African cousins next month Mind over Mattergardengalm 2009-06-20 13:30:26 UTC
Wow Dan, I’m soooo glad you’re ok. I admire you and all the guys on this adventure. You definitely proved you can do anything you put your mind to. Thanks for sharing! ~Meredith |
