Epic Ride to Roraima, Venezuela

In the morning I take a walk in the old town. I'm taking in the beauty of Plaza Bolivar and snap some pictures. A guy walks by and warns me to put away my camera. He tells me there are people on bikes robbing people at gun point. I look at all the police around me but decide to put the camera away. It makes me so sad to feel the fear that these people live with every day. I saw no reason to stay and weighed my options.

Plaza Bolivar

Fresh Juice on the side of the road
I gathered some information on Salto Angel, the highest waterfall in the world, in Canaima National park. Although I would love to see it I concluded it was too much of a tourist trap for me and would cost too much money. Also I would have to leave the bike and I would rather be on the road and use my time to ride down some dirt tracks near Mount Roraima... at 2800 meters the highest and oldest table mountain in the world. This is where they got the inspiration for the "floating mountains" in the movie Avatar.
After a few hundred kilometers of agricultural land the road started to climb and thick rain forest took over. The temperature went down and waterfalls decorated the side of the road. There was hardly any traffic. Many curves later, vegetation disappeared all of a sudden. The road straitened out and the horizon rose up before me. It seemed like the road was going up into the skies.

On top of the hill I slammed my on my breaks and stared into the great, wide open space that is called La Gran Sabana. This was the second time in a week that I was absolutely flabbergasted by what I saw. Green hills rolling all the way to the horizon with impressive table mountains breaking up the landscape. Words can't describe it and neither can a picture do it justice. WOW! The 1600Km and 3 days that it had taken me to get here were already worth it. Just this one view!

Typical example of "words can't describe" what you're feeling and pictures won't do justice to the views.

I know enough Spanish to understand these wise words. For those who don't. "The world is a dangerous place. Not because of those who do bad but because of those who don't do anything to avoid bad things from happening.


I could not resist these tracks. They ended up here...

And looked down on...

Time for a bath!
Riding back over the same track. Hard to keep your eyes on the road...

Colorful shops with local art and another army check point awaiting.
Riding down the hill into paradise was a blessing. The horizon got more and more dramatic and waterfalls seem to appear out of nowhere. The only natural magic that I have ever seen that gets close to this is the middle of Iceland. The tarmac turns to red clay again as I turn in the direction of Mount Roraima. I'm skidding left and right as I am trying to get up a steep muddy road. It goes through my mind that if it would rain right now it would be impossible to get up here.
My shadow rode along for a while over the red clay. It stood out so nice from the greenery and the dark skies.

Junyah - (and everyone else on a dual sport bike) This one should be on your bucket list!
As I am riding back down the hill I worry if I will still get up there tomorrow if it rains overnight.
As I am checking my action camera in the mirror I see a beautiful green hill behind me. A car track leads part way up to the top. From there I would have a stunning view over the valley. Azure would have turned around immediately and claimed it for the night. I always keep pushing till the last rays of sun disappear behind the horizon. I decide to listen to that little voice and turn around. Down the muddy track again and up the trail. The track disappears and I find myself riding through high green grass. On top of the hill awaits the perfect 1000 star hotel with million dollar 360 degree views. If only Azure could be here now.
Do not follow the path. Instead, go where there is no path and leave a trail... Well not this time! Although the trail stopped while riding up the hill in the top left corner of the picture.



In front of me a valley with smaller table mountains stretches out. Behind me is Roraima. To my left and right there are some forests where the birds are telling each other good night. I quickly pitch my tent make a meal. Roraima is covered in clouds but just as the setting sun paints the sky pink the blanket opens up and shows the mountain.

Mount Roraima showing itself for a minute

Thunder clouds are gathering in the distance but the sky above me is clear and the first stars are showing. I feel so fortunate to be here and just when I think it couldn't get better, thousands of fireflies started lighting up my surroundings...
Sunset and walls of rain make for amazing scenery.
Fireflies lighting up my surroundings... Breathtaking! What an end to one of the best days of riding ever!