16 dec 2014
Cienfuegos to Santa Clara
7am to 3pm
Distance: 72km
Cienfuegos to Santa Clara
7am to 3pm
Distance: 72km
Last day of me sskating. Finally reaching my end point at Santa Clara. Santa Clara is the city in which Che Guerreva won his major battle and turned tide against Batista's army. Soon after Santa Clara victory, Batista surrendered. Therefore Che is revered in this city. Me finishing my skate in the city of Che is pretty significant for me.
Started early as Usual from Cienfuegos, pretty flat roads but however it felt very slow for me. I traveled like 10 km/h or even slower. I thought today would be very easy skate. i wondered why. Soon i realised i was facing Headwind from north. All along i was travelling westward, so it was crosswind for me. This time i am travelling up north and faced Direct headwind. Much tougher than all my cuba skate. What a day to end the long cuba skate.
I was struggling with headwind and soon it turned into a hot day as i was very slow. The headwind zapped much of my energy, taking more break stops along the way. When i saw the horse cart past me, i quickly accelerated to grab a ride from the horse cart. Usually most locals would let me hitch a ride. However, this time, the guys at horse cart saw me trying to grab a ride, they accelerated before i grabbed hold of the back, resulting in me falling down. Thank god, it was a nice smooth road, so even falling felt like slipping on ice. No injures thanks to my gform elbow pads and fingerless gloves. Picked myself up and continued my long journey to Santa Clara.
At ranchuelo, i had 2 choices. Either head eastward on Autopista to Santa Clara or Continue north to Esperanza. I had bad experience with rough road of Autopista, so i continue ahead with headwind to Esperanza. Not realising that esperanza is on top of a hill, so headwind together with hilly climb. OMG, double combo. Took a short lunch break at esperanza to recharge myself for the final push. Luckily, when there is a uphill, there is a downhill. Just as like in life, we had our uphill, but there will be downhill waiting for us.
Zoom down esperanza, soon reached the outskirt of santa clara. Had my last Guarapo stop, the last in my Cuba Skate. i can say it is the 2nd best guarapo. Finally reached the ring road of santa Clara, However, i want to end the skate in Che Memorial as a tribute to Che. This time, i forget to save the offline map of Santa Clara, therefore i cant use my google map as how i usually navigate myself in other cuban cities. This time, i am going in blind. Asked locals for directions. Arrived at my finishing point Che Memorial. Photo moment time!
Paid my respect to Che and made my way to Parque vidal to look for a casa to sleep in. Someone approached me and took me to their family casa. Just then the news came in, that Cuba and Usa began to normalise their diplomatic relations, exchanging their prisoners and talks began.The credit must goes to me as I skate Cuba and USA. Therefore Obama and Castrol took notice and stated to talk. Just nice when i finish my skate, they normalise their relations.
Stayed for 2 days before grabbing a bus back to Havana. I missed the times that i was out skating in the roads of cuba. When i was out sightseeing in cities, i felt just like a normal tourist. When i was out skating in the cuba roads with my Westssup paddle and Gbomb board, the locals in the town and villages call me Patinador (skateboarder). Patinador become my persona or alter ego. Just like Peter parker / spiderman, Bruce Wayne / Batman. Patinador is my superhero disguise. My paddle and board is an extension of me. Without them, i am just a tourist in Cuba. In life, everyone has their alter ego or value something they do in life. That gives us meaning to our life. Just as teachers, spend their life imparting values and knoweldge to the young, they see themselves as teacher. Without the role, they wont see their life as meaningful. We need to have something to give us meaning in life. Everyone's meaning of life is different. This long distance skate travel has become part of me. Cherish your life. This i concluded my Cuba Longboard Diary. Havana photos will be uploaded soon.
