Trans Ecuador stage 1 – Tulcan to Otavalo
The Trans Ecuador Mountain Bike Route weaves together a series of backcountry, low traffic dirt roads through Ecuador’s volcanic corridor by which to cross the entire country…
Volcano Azufral – Last Few Days in Colombia – Pasto to Ipiales and Tulcan
INTO ECUADOR!! Yes I’ve finally left Colombia. During my final three days of my 180 day Colombian visa I managed to climb the awesome Volcano Azufral (4070metres) … Under a bit of time pressure and after a couple of weeks of late night dancing in Cali it felt quite hard!
Trampolin de la Muerte – Mocoa to Pasto
In this episode:
– Destruction of Colombia’s incredibly diverse and beautiful environment for the sake of money that I’m told only a handful of people seem to benefit from;
– Epic scenic winding mountain route with steep drop-offs famous amongst Colombian touring cyclists and the people of the south;
– A poor night’s sleep in an abandoned room with a strong odour of urine and loud trucks passing by all night within 15 feet of my head;
Huila – The Kindest People in Colombia – Gigante to San Agustín
Huila – The Kindest People in Colombia … and that’s a bold statement in a country that seems for the most part, to be full of love and friendliness. Until I reached San Agustín 10 days later I was offered a bed in someone’s house virtually every night. Sometimes before they’d even spoken to me….
Into the guts of Colombia part II – Lozania to Gigante (Huila)
The adventures with Javier continued in full force after the first stretch from Bogota through mountains, lakes and deserts. (Rowing into the night in a canoe on the rather large Lake Prado searching for a camp spot on the jagged and rocky shoreline (unsuccessfully), the insects were of biblical proportions.) This is part II…
Into the guts of Colombia part I – Bogota to Lozania (Huila)
Our adventure took us down various twists and turns as we followed the back roads into the hot foothills of the Cordillera Oriental…. With the rise in FARC guerilla activity in Colombia (such as the recent and bewildering environmental damage caused by the oil pipeline attacks in Putumayo, near the border of Ecuador), there was initial concern as to whether taking to the back roads was a good idea…
Procrastinating on Bogota – Villa de Leyva to Guatavita
I had been somewhat procrastinating on my approach to Bogota. If I could have chosen a route that would easily bypass it I probably would have taken it. Virtually every person I met before my arrival decided to enlighten me about how dangerous the city is…
The Prohibited Mountain Pass – Los Nevados
Bus rides across Colombia are undoubtedly long and tedious… However, it was a necessary evil if I was going to be able cycle traverse a high altitude volcano on a prohibited mountain pass with Cass Gilbert…
The Road to Villa de Leyva
It seems that I’m forever surprised by the hills in Colombia. My optimism in the topography is often misled, and night is often reached before my target…
Riding a bicycle with a brain – Duitama to Palermo
Riding a horse felt a bit like riding a bicycle with a brain. Let me explain. Whilst riding my bike over rocky terrain, I have had to constantly pick and choose my way through uneven surfaces. On the horse I felt I could just urge her in the general direction and trust her to pick the way (although…