Week 107: to El Remolino: back to the tropics

April 12, 2017

"I'm glad we didn't do this yesterday, I'd be walking what I can now ride. And we have views today" Rachel says. We've stopped just about every kilometer for a picture on the 23km downhill, and now beginning the 14km climb.

It is a nice day cycling. After pushing back to the main road, we have a nice long downhill with beautiful views of the green mountains. Then a climb, then another downhill to El Remolino. All this downhilling comes with a price: it gets a lot hotter.

After some searching, for some reason we do not see the sign, we find hotel "Los Balcones" and settle in to a fan room. We want to avoid using AC until we really feel we need it. Check in is just in time to watch the Champions League match between Bayern Munchen and Real Madrid.

Later we walk to a bakery, bread but no other goodies, and water. Water is sold in 5 liter bags. Then dinner at restaurant next to the hotel, soup, carne asada, rice and something different from French fries....beans.

The story of the next couple of days. Today to El Remolino, tomorrow El Bordo, then Rosas and finally Popayan.

The road is carved out of the mountain side. Very nice views and a nice steady down grade. Not too steep so we do not waste energy on our brakes.

Farm fields clinging to the mountain side.

We meet Mario, a cyclist from Pasto on a trip through his country.

Flowers in tree. Almost looks like a lily-pad.

Smiling roadworker. There are many workers dressed in bright orange cleaning-up rocks and mud from the recent rains.

In El Remolino we meet an English cyclist riding a tandem all by himself. We don't get the whole story, but it sounds like he has a stoker waiting for him in Ecuador.

Today's ride: 62 km (39 miles)
Total: 30,296 km (18,814 miles)

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