Cycling in support of Limbs For Life

Cycling in support of Limbs For Life
Cycling in support of Limbs For Life

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Yep

Like blobs of melting lard we oozed across the frying pan also know as the Magdalena river valley. It was extremely hot but the cycling was good. We used the river as our guide and followed the multitude of dirt tracks along its banks. Traffic was regulated to the occasional motorbike and men on donkeys. In the beautiful Colonial town of Mopox, we had a great stay at the Casa de Armarilla where we cooled our boiling brains.
  Where the region of Magdalena bumps into the North Santander we climbed happily into the foothills of the Cordillera Oriental. For 2.5 days we mashed it down the main highway through Aguachica (Where I got this used camera. Yep, this very one that is badly in need of a lens cleaning). Instead of dealing with the big city of Bucaramanga we took the highway toward Barrancabermeja then turned off toward San Vicente. The policia tried to turn us back saying it could be dangerous, but we persisted and were soon rewarded with a fantastic dirt climb into our first real taste of Colombian altitude. Like scenery drunk gringo monkeys we pedaled blithely and bobble-headed through gorgeous surroundings. Climbing and descending, dodging and weaving, listening to donkeys bray and birds sing. Soon stopping to sip coffee and devour bakery treats in the historic and crumbly villages of Zapatoca, Galan and Barichara.


In San Gill, A tourist destination and proclaimed outdoor capitol of Colombia. We hung out with other travelers, I got some much needed bike maintenance done and Chris got drunk and made out with some dudes girlfriend. From there we rode a rocky and rugged back route to Duitama. This is where Chris's $150 Craigslist Gary Fisher started to feel and show the strain and battering of the mountains. I would ride ahead on the ascents and descents and wait for him at the top or bottom. Almost each time he would ride up with a new problem. It became pretty comical. First words out of his mouth were things like. "I can't shift" "My tire is rubbing the frame" "my rack broke" and my personal favorite: "My freewheel broke off". He became a master of lashing and splinting and I helped him with all the bike mechanic related problems.  Amazingly nothing was catastrophic (freewheel exploded only a mile outside Garagoa where he got another one) and he never had to wait for any of the couple trucks a day that would pass.
He wouldn't smile for the picture but eventually we got him to lighten up as rode with us for a Km or two.
Fantastic coffee in Garagoa

The hospitality, friendliness and just down right nice people is amazing in Colombia 
Duitama was a interesting small city. At times looking like it would be more at home in Russia. After a much needed new rear wheel for Chris´s bike we moved onto Sogomoso. Where we sipped beers in the street and watched a Independence week parade (yep, they celebrate for a whole week).The next morning we climbed up to the 3010 meter high Lago de Tota. Where we're greeted and surrounded by many other cyclist who had also made the climb.
A plaza of curious and friendly folks

waiting patiently for the next delivery
Dropping off the back of the Lake was prolly some of the most marvelous riding we had yet plopped our muddy tires and gaping peepers onto. Misty crags, lush greenery and a rodeo of turbulent rocks and mud squirming and jumping in front of us. Cycle touring at one of its absolute best! The look on peoples faces in Miraflores when we told them where we had come from was worth a pannier full of clean socks and pan y chocolate.  

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Cafe tinto por favor

Duitama

A fairly typical Chris Trestick yard sale

Our riding buddys for the afternoon around lago de Tota

Largo de Tota 10,500 ft.

getting misty

a little more misty

pea soup

 Rock out with...

Downtown San Juan

Sometimes ya sleep in a ditch and sometimes ya don't...

Loving it

we also love our long coffee mornings

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Bumps that take all day to summit and things that go Maaa in the night.

 Charala steet posse

KOM

His rig could use a new fork and seat post but thats not slowing him down

They tell us the route is very difficult, then we find these extremely handy bridges. 

seriously no other rig I'd rather be on.

Everywhere we go, my bike, Davie Hogan gets all the attention. So its nice to see Chris's Gary Fisher (A.K.A. Larry Fixandrepair) getting a litte affection

Still warm, straight from the utter.




mmm

You know you have done a little climbing when you bump into this crowd


Monday, July 15, 2013

Rodamientos de bolas de la tierra

toll goat

Chris and ChiChi, the ambasador of Colombia. Prolly the nices most generous dude, this side of  Cartegena


He wanted to come with us so bad. We said sure, his ma said no.

Witnesses to make sure I don't void my warranty


caught in the act of making the world a better place for my brain.



Zapatoca

He had to ride it to believe me that there is no motor


Sunday, July 14, 2013

Commence Visuals.





my tour guide

As you can see I'm still getting the hang of this new snapper. The pics might be a little off a for a bit till I can learn to read the camera's spanish settings. 


descanso

Finally into some hill country

Welcome to colombia, legs. There is lots more of this for you! 

A small group for moral support