16/2/2013 Ipiales to Bolivar
D54, Max76, had problems with my odometer. Total11327, 1127
Overcast, light showers and cold, 15° with wind chill, less
Getting up after a good nights sleep and feeling very well. A little reluctant to leave all this comfort, I was on the road at 0700.
I was well aware that taking easy was paramount.
As it turned out the border of Ecuador was only a few km away. Doing the necessary paper work for both countries and getting rid of all my Colombian money, though not much, my wallet was now home to some American dollars.
They use the $US in Ecuador.
There was a hill climb up then a few more km I arrived in Tulcan. Things here are a lot slower than in Colombia. The people looked a little more indigenous.
Stopping in Tulcan for breakfast the coffee was instant, so different from Colombia.
My time in Colombia was something special, the fruit, the juices, the scenery, the lovely friendly easy going, kind people and yes those hill climbs, I will never forget some of those days as long as I’m alive.
Some 8km out of Tulcan, my rear tyre succumbed to more fine threads of steel from tyres. Stopping at a pull off area up a hill it was repaired.
Looking down the road, was coming another cyclist, he pulled in to say gidday.
Devon had come down from Alaska, some time ago. He was from San Diego and could speak good Spanish, he disagreed however.
Once my gear was in order we headed off together. The roads were fantastic, rolling hills and super smooth. This was good cycling after the endless Colombian climbs.
We had a ball cruising down the hills, both cracking PB’s for top speeds at 76km/hr.
It was hot climbing the hills and then coming down it would be cold, so one had to watch not catching a chill by being under dressed.
We stopped at San Gabriel for lunch and again copped instant coffee. Now I was wishing I had bought some coffee in Colombia.
It was a great days ride in good company. Arriving at Bolivar we could not find a hotel so riding on we found a brilliant place to camp above the highway with 360° of the surrounding countryside and could see the aura of Ibarra in the distance.
Pulling in I felt in perfect condition, this had been the easiest day since leaving Cali. The few days rest in Ipiales had been great also.
We cooked under my fly, Devon played guitar, we practiced a bit of Spanish. Swapped a few tales and both agreed it does not get much better than this. Just maybe!!!
Myself getting a little reminder that this night would be spend under the stars in Ecuador, what a perfect introduction to this country.
One never knows what the next day will hold, it’s so nice this way!!
D54, Max76, had problems with my odometer. Total11327, 1127
Overcast, light showers and cold, 15° with wind chill, less
Getting up after a good nights sleep and feeling very well. A little reluctant to leave all this comfort, I was on the road at 0700.
I was well aware that taking easy was paramount.
As it turned out the border of Ecuador was only a few km away. Doing the necessary paper work for both countries and getting rid of all my Colombian money, though not much, my wallet was now home to some American dollars.
They use the $US in Ecuador.
There was a hill climb up then a few more km I arrived in Tulcan. Things here are a lot slower than in Colombia. The people looked a little more indigenous.
Stopping in Tulcan for breakfast the coffee was instant, so different from Colombia.
My time in Colombia was something special, the fruit, the juices, the scenery, the lovely friendly easy going, kind people and yes those hill climbs, I will never forget some of those days as long as I’m alive.
Some 8km out of Tulcan, my rear tyre succumbed to more fine threads of steel from tyres. Stopping at a pull off area up a hill it was repaired.
Looking down the road, was coming another cyclist, he pulled in to say gidday.
Devon had come down from Alaska, some time ago. He was from San Diego and could speak good Spanish, he disagreed however.
Once my gear was in order we headed off together. The roads were fantastic, rolling hills and super smooth. This was good cycling after the endless Colombian climbs.
We had a ball cruising down the hills, both cracking PB’s for top speeds at 76km/hr.
It was hot climbing the hills and then coming down it would be cold, so one had to watch not catching a chill by being under dressed.
We stopped at San Gabriel for lunch and again copped instant coffee. Now I was wishing I had bought some coffee in Colombia.
It was a great days ride in good company. Arriving at Bolivar we could not find a hotel so riding on we found a brilliant place to camp above the highway with 360° of the surrounding countryside and could see the aura of Ibarra in the distance.
Pulling in I felt in perfect condition, this had been the easiest day since leaving Cali. The few days rest in Ipiales had been great also.
We cooked under my fly, Devon played guitar, we practiced a bit of Spanish. Swapped a few tales and both agreed it does not get much better than this. Just maybe!!!
Myself getting a little reminder that this night would be spend under the stars in Ecuador, what a perfect introduction to this country.
One never knows what the next day will hold, it’s so nice this way!!
Tablun, mural at large army barracks just out of town
Interestingly, an evolution mural at the entrance to the pueblo of Bolivar
Misterchef!!!
A new world awaits
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Devon, from San Diego has been on the road from Anchorage, a great riding companion, thanks to my flat tyre, we rendezvoused
ready to relax and have dinner south of Bolivar
Great views from the campsite by a tamarillo plantation
Looking north towards Bolivar
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