Final leg – Trans Ecuador 5 – Cuenca to Vilcabamba

This last stage from Cuenca to Vilcabamba was a lot of fun to ride but it had me in virtual tears for the penultimate day. Not quite the same altitudes as the previous sectors but it certainly passes through pleasant farm valleys / canyons and has the usual very steep dirt sections to challenge one’s calf muscles.

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…

Crossing Panama

After a few pleasant excursions in Boquete it was time to head to Panama City. I took a side route via Sona which a good alternate to the Panamerican Highway for a short stretch; I cycled it with an awesome couple Janet and Brian for a day or so. I could barely keep up with…

Railway bridges – Costa Rican Caribbean

This post describes my first attempt to cycle la linea de tren from Siquirres to Limón on a fully loaded bike; crossing the bridges was an unnerving yet exhilarating experience. After arriving from Turrialba in Santa Cruz I didn’t feel like losing more altitude so I  took an alternate route which climbed back up via…