Alexis

Aujourd’hui c’est ‘valle de la luna’ à bicyclette. Comme son nom l’indique, on a l’impression d’être sur la lune (Je me re mate le Melies en rentrant pour comparer), l’apesanteur en plus, et sûrement aussi la poussière que les voitures et cars nous font manger toute l’après-midi sans vergogne. Bon, ok on est pas tout seul (une autre difference avec la lune), mais diable que c’est beau, toutes ces strates géologiques, cette profondeur de champs qui part de dunes façon bord de mer pour se terminer plusieurs dizaines de kilomètres plus loin avec une chaîne de volcans. On est peut-être pas sur la lune, mais on en redemande.

Les dunes, les strates et tout et tout dont je vous parlais.

Là c’est une sorte de chemin sinueux dans lequel on se faufile, à la fois mini canyon et grotte.

Par contre on a eu une petite galère avec le bicloune de Sasha, j’ai donc fini avec lui dans un pickup pour rentrer…

… Et ça la fait rire.

Sasha

Longue promenade à velo! Très fatiguante… On m’avait dit que ca allait être plat mais bon pas trop trop. Des montées sableuses. Ohlalala trop dur pour moi. A part ces pistes rocheuses, une vue extraordinaire.. Le coucher de soleil magnifique! Un peu de sport c’est bien après avoir pris 1000 kilos. 😂 Mais quand ont est rentré tous les trois (sam, maman et moi meme)  c’était magique. Une balade sous les étoiles que peut on demander de plus!

Sam

After lunch, we had a long bike ride through the Moon Valley. Throughout the ride, we saw mountains surrounding us from afar. After having bought our tickets into the park, we made our way through the bumpy and sandy road to the cavern. The whole cavern was made out of salt! After having inched through the dark tunnels, the very low ceiling and climbed up and down the hill,  we mounted back onto our bikes. After that started the hardest bike ride of my life. We had to climb all the way up the hill whilst the ground was covered in sand. Not that dusty sand you can find on dirt roads but real beach sand. This meant that every time we pedaled, the wheel would turn without us moving forward. This was near impossible going up. I had to wait at the top because Sasha was whining. After some more biking, we walked up the dunes from which we had an amazing view. The big dune looked just like the ocean. After going back down, we took our bikes to the next part where we never arrived because Sasha’s bike broke down. We the hurried back up the previous dunes to catch the sunset which we missed part of. (see my time-lapse in 1min video). It quickly started to get dark so we left, wearing our headlamps to guide us through the night. Papa had the broken bike so once at the information booth, he waited for a car to pick him up. Whilst he did that, we rid off into the night. He ended up biking, ultimately being picked up by some nice people. During our ride under the stars, Sasha and I were very tired after the long day but pushed on. Once almost at the town of San Pedro de Atacama, we passed a bridge where we almost died! I am exaggerating of course but in the darkness, I hadn’t seen the concrete step which I just barely grazed. I was more afraid for Sasha who didn’t have a lamp but she just followed me, not seeing the step all together. After that, I was just thinking that it had been a close call when suddenly, I felt a strong jolt downward. I had just gone through a hole. I was not expecting that after the bridge but it was more fear than harm. Overall it was an amazing experience which I absolutely adored.