San Jacinto to Sincelejo
D87, T5hr, Av 17.31, Total 9616
My alarm alarmed me at 0530, the sound of rain on a tin roof was heard, very reminiscent of Australia, the prolific Australian song writer Paul Kelly was even moved to write a song about rain and tin roofs.
Franklin knocked on my door knowing of my early start, the rain kept me in the nest a little longer.
About 0630 departure finally arrived, it was a cool day, yes!!! And the rain had almost stopped.
At El Cármen de Boliva, the best hot chocalate and bread was enjoyed from a mobile coffee vendor. The Colombians love their sugar, both the bread and the drink were loaded with it, fine at this time for me.
We had a good laugh when I told them that I was yet to find coffee without sugar and how much they love it. ( the street guys have it already mixed in thermos flasks always with sugar)
It was a pleasure riding, the country was undulating but not step with small towns every 20k or so. Many of these towns were not on my map, which was originally thought of as a detailed map.
Each had shops and bars, importantly they all sold drinks.
As the altitude has changed so has the roadside produce, avocados are now for sale everywhere. The lady on the header kindly gave me a huge specimen and posed for the photo.
With the temperature in the mid twenties, riding was a sheer pleasure, good vistas were enjoyed as was a reasonable shoulder in most places.
Motorbikes seem to be the preferred form of transport in all these small towns. Most are manufactured in China. $1500 will buy a good 100cc bike capable of carrying a family of four.
All these towns have speed humps heading into them to keep trucks at a sensible speed. At one such obstacle a guy was selling watermelon, chilled and cut up.
Stopping, three huge chunks were bought and consumed right there on the speed hump.
Melon is such an excellent refill when it comes to sugar and water, whenever the opportunity to buy one arises it is grabbed
Sure enough with the hot cold fluctuations in my body coupled with the air con last night, a little niggle has arrived in my throat.
Everso pleased to arrive at Sincelejo, a motel was found with much enquiry. Traffic here was a case of dodging wasps (motos), they were bloody everywhere believe me.
Everso hungry a totally unhealthy meal of half a fried chicken was enjoyed with potato and maize dough. It was luxury uptake with no consideration for dietry matters.
The room was very small, all it had to do was fit me and my gear, it had a fan which is great for drying clothes.
Each night now as a shower is taken my riding gear is washed and strung up. The fan dries it perfectly whilst a bit of moisture is added to the air during the drying process.
All showers in these motels are cold only, when I say cold,warm cold water would better describe things.
The nest was a welcome place believe me.
If in Sincelejo, the Sheratone Hotel would be a good spot to bed down, the host was a good guy providing coffee on my arrival. Hang a right at the big gas station at the top of the hill through town.
.
D87, T5hr, Av 17.31, Total 9616
My alarm alarmed me at 0530, the sound of rain on a tin roof was heard, very reminiscent of Australia, the prolific Australian song writer Paul Kelly was even moved to write a song about rain and tin roofs.
Franklin knocked on my door knowing of my early start, the rain kept me in the nest a little longer.
About 0630 departure finally arrived, it was a cool day, yes!!! And the rain had almost stopped.
At El Cármen de Boliva, the best hot chocalate and bread was enjoyed from a mobile coffee vendor. The Colombians love their sugar, both the bread and the drink were loaded with it, fine at this time for me.
We had a good laugh when I told them that I was yet to find coffee without sugar and how much they love it. ( the street guys have it already mixed in thermos flasks always with sugar)
It was a pleasure riding, the country was undulating but not step with small towns every 20k or so. Many of these towns were not on my map, which was originally thought of as a detailed map.
Each had shops and bars, importantly they all sold drinks.
As the altitude has changed so has the roadside produce, avocados are now for sale everywhere. The lady on the header kindly gave me a huge specimen and posed for the photo.
With the temperature in the mid twenties, riding was a sheer pleasure, good vistas were enjoyed as was a reasonable shoulder in most places.
Motorbikes seem to be the preferred form of transport in all these small towns. Most are manufactured in China. $1500 will buy a good 100cc bike capable of carrying a family of four.
All these towns have speed humps heading into them to keep trucks at a sensible speed. At one such obstacle a guy was selling watermelon, chilled and cut up.
Stopping, three huge chunks were bought and consumed right there on the speed hump.
Melon is such an excellent refill when it comes to sugar and water, whenever the opportunity to buy one arises it is grabbed
Sure enough with the hot cold fluctuations in my body coupled with the air con last night, a little niggle has arrived in my throat.
Everso pleased to arrive at Sincelejo, a motel was found with much enquiry. Traffic here was a case of dodging wasps (motos), they were bloody everywhere believe me.
Everso hungry a totally unhealthy meal of half a fried chicken was enjoyed with potato and maize dough. It was luxury uptake with no consideration for dietry matters.
The room was very small, all it had to do was fit me and my gear, it had a fan which is great for drying clothes.
Each night now as a shower is taken my riding gear is washed and strung up. The fan dries it perfectly whilst a bit of moisture is added to the air during the drying process.
All showers in these motels are cold only, when I say cold,warm cold water would better describe things.
The nest was a welcome place believe me.
If in Sincelejo, the Sheratone Hotel would be a good spot to bed down, the host was a good guy providing coffee on my arrival. Hang a right at the big gas station at the top of the hill through town.
.
Never short of a fence post, Those removed will grow in the fence line, a totally sustainable fencing system
Shades of green
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Approaches to Sincelejo
Hamaca Grande, Franklins motel has been the best to date in all ways , he also had tank water, the milk of the mother!!
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