We head off, our next destination is Popayan, a larger town with a different style of architecture, large white colonial facades. It's nickname is "La Ciudad Blanca" or the "White City". This was the capital of southern Colombia until Cali took over. We stayed in "Hosteltrail" which was an excellent hostel facility, beautifully clean rooms and everything you needed. Being well set up for many adrenaline sports we decided to take to the mountain bikes and complete a 30 km trail, mainly downhill, which sounded a good day out. I haven't been on a bike for approx 30 years so this was going to be interesting. Six of us, Pete and Kitsten, Geoff, Heather, Antony and I got into two trucks loaded with our mountain bikes up to Agua Hirviendos sulphur springs at 2400 metres. The journey took approx one hour, climbing steadily up twisting mountain roads. The slight snag being a couple of downhills for about three km which meant uphill coming back. Upon arrival at our start point Pete, Kirsten and Geoff stated they were calling it off because of the uphill sections and the fact apart from Antony and Heather no one had been on a bike for years. In for a penny, I stated, along with Heather and Antony we would continue to do it. The others decided to drive back to where it was downhill all the way. After a little practice in the car park I was ready to tackle the route but not before a good soak in the sulphur springs, stinky or what. After 45 minutes of varying strengths of stink,we were ready and set off down a rough track. We'd gotten about 1/2 a km when we had our first stop, fresh strawberries and fresh homemade double cream from their own cow, unbelievably delicious. I bought some homemade cookies as well. Back on the road another km or so we stopped in the town for lunch, some deep fried goodness from a lovely old lady. Within fifteen minutes we'd stopped twice and stuffed our faces with all bad but delicious delicacies. Thinking we'd better take this seriously we set off again, Antony tearing off and leaving Heather and I to our own pace. It was a brilliant ride back through stunning scenery, tearing down long sweeping bends at breakneck speed, fabulous. The only slight downside was the up hill sections. We managed to select the correct gear and continue at a steady pace whilst I personally had my strawberries, cream and deep fried goodness several times over :))). Unfortunately Pete, Kirsten and Geoff had left us a shot of rum at another stop nearer the end, but flying past at a rate of knots we were too tired to cycle back. It was a great day out. My backside had gone numb and my legs and calfs were not functioning properly for a few days, I couldn't let on, I want an Odyssey Extreme Sports T shirt ha ha. I figured the fact we were going to a salsa club to practice a few moves would work the stiffness out of the muscles...it didn't work !!! I was walking like John Wayne. Nevertheless it was good practice for more mountain biking later on in the trip.
We continued our journey down the PanAmerican highway to the border town of Ipiales, a dead end town which the guide books describe as not worth visiting other than staying the night before crossing the border, they were right. We stayed in the hotel Isabel which again did the job with clean and tidy services. A chicken n chips supper and the worst coffee and cake I've ever tasted, rough !! The following morning Geoff gets up to announce his camera has gone missing. I asked if he was sure. Yep it was charging on the side table and was no longer there. There were a few expletives as we searched the room and found the window slightly ajar. A loud outburst from Geoff stating the Ba----ds had also nicked his havaianas ( flip flops) he went mad. He was more concerned about his flip flops than his camera. I again asked him if he was sure....definitely. I went off and searched the truck, back and searched the room top to bottom, Geoff also checking his rucksacks, they were nowhere to be found. I let Pete know who was just about to inform the hotel when Geoff re appeared. He'd found them, camera wedged between his flip flops in a safe compartment of his rucksack, what a joy stick !! I'll tell you I'm putting in for carers allowance if he keeps this up :))
We hit the border at Ipiales for our entry into Ecuador and everything went smoothly until I stated that this was the quickest crossing we had encountered, wrong !! Poor old Karen and Steve ( Liverpool fan) got detained and were refused entry. Apparently they had been to Ecuador a few years ago and the exit stamps from that trip were in old passports, passport control had upgraded their system and there was no record of them exiting. We were really concerned :) and continued our journey on to Otavalo where we had a great day around the old town enjoying the clean surroundings, the indigenous people's and taking photos. We also had several beers toasting our loss but thankfully Stevo, Karen and Kirsten, who'd remained to assist, caught us up about ten hours later.
And so the journey continues heading towards Quito and one of my most looked forward to parts of the expedition, that of flying to the Galapagos. Before Quito we hit the equator line and take time out for a photo shoot in all manner of poses.
Until then mes amigos,
Adios
Tony x
1-2 in the back of a jeep heading up to Plantation House
3-6 In cafe Brunch catching up on e- mails, admiring all the quips and Geoff saling the burgers
7. Geoff and Nessa on the swings
8. Local village church
9. Local coffee machine from a bygone era
10. Beautiful views all along the route, mountainous, dramatic, eerie, awesome.......
11-13. Popayan village architecture
14. Geoff and I celebrating life, Robin squinting, Stevo with a small beer, Pete and Kirsten, Geoff teaching Kirsten a few moves
15. Heather and I in the sulphur baths with a sneaky Antony in the background
16-18. At the local farm stuffing fresh strawberries and cream, taste was unbelievable. The two farm kids who giggled and laughed infectiously when I showed them some photos.
19-22. The cycle ride, Heather and I and another two lovely kids cheering us on .
