Leaving Quito Monday

My new buddy Baptiste, a.k.a. ’French Guy’,  caught up with me on Saturday after a group mountain bike ride with my ”casa ciclista” host,  Santiago.  We toured the old town today and  then I will head off on my own.  I will be leaving the Pan Am to loop around two different volcanoes before heading through Vilcabamba and sticking to the Andes into Peru (two-ish weeks from now).  I will miss hanging out with Baptiste, but look forward to seeing my old cycling buddy, Matt.  Here are some of Amigo Francais’ photos of our times together.
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Casa Ciclistas San Augustine

thank you again Igel & Paola

pictures are up from the Casa Ciclistas San Agustine here

http://grenzenlos.ath.cx/gallery/Ciclistas_2010/k_P1250091
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Tumbaco Ecuador

drop-offs are what makes Mocoa-Pasto the most dangerous road in Colombia

So much has happened in the past week that I will just do a quick Photo/blog to catch up.  I had a fantastic time with Igel and Paola at the “casa ciclista” in San Agustin.  Chatting with the 5 other Cyclo-tourists and generally geeking out over maps was also exciting.  From there I rode south to Mocoa, where I camped out at the restaurant at km4.  The women there helped me to make my own banana-leaf-wrapped tomales.  Next door was a night club/brothel, and  the ladies were excited when they saw me.  My host sent me inside and chased off the hookers… though I did get one kiss “on the house”!

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Ipiales Colombia, 6km north of Ecuador, 1 deg north of the Equator

After a lot of “lateral” movement along the Mocoa-Pasto road, I am 6 kilometers north of the Ecuador border.  The Mocoa – Pasto is considered the most dangerous road in Colombia.  Not only does it have massive drop-offs but it is also mostly single lane and quite rocky.  The view, needless to say, was spectacular. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNOcSEBGlJc I rode with http://frenchguyonabike.blogspot.com/ and http://hannamijakobson.com (great photos).

Photos: Bogota – San Agustin

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Tierradentro to San Agustin, Colombia

I was picking fruit from some trees in Tierradentro (for making juice) and got talking to Carlos, the resident archaeology student.  I had been planning on hiking up to the mountaintop tombs next day at daybreak, but he convinced me to start an hour earlier.  So it was that sunrise found us on the sacred grounds of an extinct culture with the tallest peaks in Colombia towering behind us.

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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…

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Bogota, Cyclovia not at all what I thought

I am really impressed with Bogota.  Not only does the city have 300km of bicycle paths, but on Sundays and holidays they close down an additional 120 or so km of roads for cycling use only.  Cyclovia!  Tomorrow is a holiday so I will be able to ride around with throngs of other cyclists again.  There is of course a bike route going to and from the airport to make things easy.  How civilized.  AND IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 35 YEARS!!
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