26-Nov-2019 -- This report is the 5th out of nine reports reaching or attempting confluence points during my 2-week bicycle trip around Cuba. The story starts at 21°N 76°W and continues from 21°N 77°W.
This confluence has not been visited although it is not mountainous and remote. However, it is not along the central highway, such that I had to travel on minor roads with differing conditions until I found myself 6 km from the confluence. An earth track southwards brought me up to a distance of 880 m, where I hid my bicycle in the bushes and continued on food.
Half way, I reached a farm. Since I figured that the confluence point might be on their ground, I entered the farm and met a nice family there. First they treated me with cold water and juice (it was very hot). Then they showed me their old Toyota-Jeep. They were very enthusiastic about it and wouldn’t stop explaining me details. I thought to myself how hopeless their situation is, but whished them all success.
I continued alone along various footpaths (outside their farm) and found the confluence point in a sugar cane field. It was so densely and highly grown that it was not even possible to get a single meter into the field. So I documented the confluence at the footpath in 23 m distance.
On the way back, I enjoyed more cold drinks at the farm. It seemed that they were happy about my success although I doubt that they had a clue what I was actually doing. I ended the day cycling to the little town Vertiendes (or also called Panama) another 60 km further north-west.
CP Visit Details:
- Distance to a road: 880 m
- Distance to a track: 700 m
- Distance to a footpath: 23 m
- Distance of bicycle parking: 800 m
- Time to reach the confluence from the main road: 60 min
- Time at the confluence: 12:35 PM
- Measured height: 66 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 23 m
- Position accuracy: 3 m
- Topography: flat
- Vegetation: high standing sugar cane field
- Weather: sunny, 31° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The Hopeless Toyota Confluence
The story continues at 22°N 79°W.
More pictures of the trip can be found here.