Neiva, Colombia

Sadly I had to leave Sabastian and his family.  Though I was getting quite used to hot chocolate and fresh rolls in bed as a way to start my day, my feet were also getting itchy after 3 days of not moving on.

I did get out riding with Sebastian 2 days, and on our mountain climb, he dropped me wearing sneakers for bike shoes and riding a mountain bike. Strong guy.  I was also amazed by how active Bogotans were.  There were continuous throngs of people out riding on all types of bikes including 60-year-old men fully kitted up riding a BMX with a long seat post alongside of young guys on the latest carbon fiber frames…

I had a great ride yesterday … I headed to the Tatacoa Desert. I was asking locals how to get there and was pointed down a small road, which turned to dirt and ended at a large river.  There was a man with a motorized metal canoe, so I popped my bike in and for 75 cents rolled out on the other side near the town of La Victoria.  Twenty-one kilometres of hot dirt roads later and I arrived at the Observatory.  This was also my first time in 11 days that I had conversations in English!  Some motorbike tourists told me of natural pools farther up the road so I washed there, and came back to have dinner and camp with them.

It rained in the night and again this morning, with the hard, dry ground the rivers were instantly rocking.

Today I left via a paved road, but the river crossing was washed out.  There was a temporary bridge, but some trucks were stuck on that closing it to all but motor bikes and one Canadian Cyclo-tourist.  So for next the 12km I only saw 2 motor bikes.  Of course there was another river crossing with knee deep water as well.  I am headed into the interior rain forest now to check out some ruins at Tierra Adentro.

Here is a blurb on those place http://www.mantarayatravel.com/destinations/san-augustin-tierra-adentro

One Comment

Leave a Comment

Username (required) :
Email (required) :
Web Site :
Comment :