tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66569909431245788252024-03-05T14:10:20.526+00:00theamericasbycycle...on recycled bicycles from Alaska(Fairbanks) to Argentina(Ushuaia)Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-53554563054607555922013-12-04T10:30:00.004+00:002013-12-04T10:30:59.575+00:00
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Argentina And Chile - solo</span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raul will cycle Chile and Argentina
solo. I decided to pull out.
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Why? As we kept
saying from the very beginning of this trip it has never been about
destination. But we had to choose two points on the map to draw the
line of the journey between them.
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When we left Alaska two and a half year
ago, we had countless number of turns and junction ahead. That's the
beauty of a road trip – freedom of choice, lack of routine,
spontaneity. We rarely turned down invitations from locals; we would
stop in the middle of the day just because someone invited us for
'chicha' or stay a day longer in a village, because Dona Maria
promised to cook local speciality for us or her children wanted to
show as their hideout in the forest. We would take longer ride just
because someone told us that there is something beautiful to see that
none of the guidebooks talk about. We would stay longer in a town
just because we like its vibes or there was a local party coming up.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Neither was it about cycling, at least
not for me. It was always about travelling freely. To be honest I had
very serious doubts about 'the whole bike thing' at the beginning.
But now, with no doubt, I can say that bike is the best vehicle to
really be there with the environment and with the people, to truly
experience the place, not just look at it. Cycling lets one engage
fully with the surroundings. Whether it's uphill or downhill,
whether is hot or cold, rainy or windy (or both ;)), whether we pass
through the most stunning canyon or in between traffic that follows
no rules in La Paz, whether it smells pine forest or sh.t – we feel
it all, with all our seances. But the most beautiful is the
experience with people; bikes have opened for us many doors and even
more hearts. This trip was the best lesson of human generosity and
kindness. Ans I'm sure no other vehicle would give the same
experience.
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, few months ago we noticed
Ushuaia on the map. The destination, the end of the trip, became an
obvious part of it. And it wouldn't be a problem, if it wasn't for
the fact that each day it was gaining more importance. Soon we
realized that if we want to arrive to Ushuaia on time (there is a
very small gap of good weather), we have to speed up. To do so we
even decided, for the first time, to take a bus in Peru, which I
didn't like at all; it was killing the spirit of the trip. And yet
counting days and kilometres we realized that we are still too slow.
We started to turn down invitations, we couldn't afford to 'waste'
time to wait for a fiesta that is in few days time, we had to plan
how far to go each day in order to make 'the minimum daily distance'
etc. The priorities switched; it was more about reaching Ushuaia by
bike rather than about the journey. And I didn't like it, didn't like
it at all. I didn't want to cycle across Chile and Argentina in order
to reach Ushuaia, I wanted to experience those places. So I decided
to pull out. I might be back one day. And then I'll start from
Ushuaia and go North. This way I'll have all the time I need to explore. Free
again.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Raul keeps cycling. The fact is that he
is faster then me, so by making a bit more kilometres every day he is
'saving' more time for exploration. Yet he has to keep Ushuaia in
mind; he has to speed up significantly. But he still have the
strength and determination to do so. However I doubt he'll find much
time to share his stories with us. I'll however post sometimes on his
behalf on Facebook, just to let you guys know, how is he doing. And
we'll definitely post pictures from Peru and Bolivia some time in
near future.
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">m.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-26700791604515840852013-09-28T19:29:00.003+01:002013-09-28T19:29:33.451+01:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After, as beautiful as challenging, ride through Bolivian
altiplano, we are taking a short break from cycling to visit some sites in Peru
that were totally off our cycling route. We are now in Arequipa enjoying pleasant
warmth of 2000 masl and planning hike to the deepest canyon in the world, the
Colca Canyon.</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since we left our bikes behind, we had to face the
disadvantages of backpacking, one of which is arriving at your destination at
early morning hours. Our bus, surprisingly and to our disappointment, arrived
on time, which meant 4 in the morning. Not having much option, we found a
corner where we curled around our bags and tried to get some more sleep. But a
guy who was sleeping next to us, decided to get up. And it wouldn’t bothered us
if not for the fact that, before he even put his trousers on (the terminal even
at 4 am was full of people), he pulled his portable radio out and standing
there, just in his underwear in the middle of bus terminal at four in the
morning, started to tune the radio to his – and every single Peruvian –
favourite music – Cumbia Peruana. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
music is like some national epidemic; as bad as it is, it can be heard
everywhere and we haven’t med one Peruvian who wouldn’t like it. Raul thought
that there can’t be worst music than receton, Marta that the cheesiest music
ever made was disco-polo. But we were both wrong…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Check yourself.Specialy for you: Sonia Morales! La Internacional!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yep, Peru is huge and yet we
are already by the very end of it; in two days we'll be in Bolivia. But it
wasn't without a price, we had to rush. We can inevitably feel the breath of
Argentinian winter on our necks and, for the first time on this trip, the time matters.
We had to say no to so many invitation to sit and chat over <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">chicha</i> in the middle of the day, we
missed so many fiestas and has to skip so many side trips and for the first
time we even had to take a bus just to catch up with time; however distant it
still is, we can see the end…</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So that is why we neglected
a bit the blog, three months in Peru and not a single picture has been uploaded.
It is all coming; slowly, but surely. For those few who still follow our
travels, we just want to let you know that we are alive, we still keep cycling
and pictures from the Amazon Jungle and text about Raul’s Ayahuasca experience
is coming very soon!</span></div>
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Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-13683280071790578342013-06-06T02:59:00.002+01:002013-06-06T02:59:37.857+01:00<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wow! Peru is huge! We haven't started cycling South yet and we've already done close to 800km in a bit more than 2 weeks. After crossing the border we headed East as we decided we want to see Amazon Jungle. The only highlight of this ride was the stopover in Chachapoyas, where we met our friend, Daniel and went to see ruins of Kulap, very interesting pre-Incan culture. The rest of the ride was just the way to the Jungle; we were afraid of heat and mosquitoes, but luckily neither of these was an issue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So here we are - in Yurimaguas, still at the same latitude as 2 weeks ago, the road has ended and the only way to go from here any further is to take a boat. And that's our plan! We'll cruise along Amazon River for 3-4 day, arrive to Iquitos, a city the size of Edinburgh that is not connected by land with the rest of the country (which makes it the biggest city in the world that is not connected by land) and come back to finally make our way South!</span>Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-62781409835152117232013-05-19T22:03:00.002+01:002013-05-19T22:49:39.311+01:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>our long way to Peru </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We finally crossed the border with Peru. A bit reluctantly,
as on one hand we got to like Ecuador so much and on the other we heard some stories
of people having bad experiences in Peru.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But everybody lives their own story, so leaving all the prejudgements
behind, we are here – in Peru!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But what a border crossing it was! Zumba seemed to be the
most obvious choice for us – straight South from Cuenca and towards the
Peruvian jungle, where we are heading now. The road on the map was beautifully
drawn, all the way to the border marked as ‘secondary road, partially surfaced’.
Not that we trust maps too much – you cannot trust any map in South America
(some roads have been planned to be paved for years, but the money always disappear
from the construction site and appears in somebody’s pocket; yet they are optimistically
put on the maps as paved; and then other roads that are marked as unpaved we
found with smooth brand new surface), but since in Ecuador they frenetically
pave every single donkey track, we learnt that even the smallest roads, that we
didn’t expect to be paved,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are already
surfaced. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And yet in Vilcabamba, I had this feeling that maybe this
road won’t be paved; we asked few people, including Police and Visitor Centre, but
since it is very small border crossing and the road leads to nowhere, we got
very different answers. At the end we managed to establish that the road is not
fully paved; that about 40 more km is paved (to the top of the hill, which was
good news, because at least we’ll climb n pavement), but then another 100ish km
is dirt; that there are road works going on and so the road is being prepared
for new surface so has been widen and smoothen. It sounded ok, however on the
back of my head I had still this disturbing information I read in a guide that
the bus ride from Loja to Zumba (about 150km) takes 6 to 7 hours! But I just
thought it must have been written before they started paving the road. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So our plan was: day 1 Vilcabamba – Valladolid (60ish km),
day 2 Valladolid – Zumba (60ish km), day 3 Zumba – border – San Ignacio
(60ish km). But it didn’t go this way…</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We completed day one, but….it took us 7 hours! First the
hill – for the last two months in Andes we’ve been climbing may hills, but this
one we won’t forget for a long time; at 44<sup>th</sup> km we finally stopped
climbing and my speedometer was showing nearly 2000m altitude gain, but we
gained it in less than 30km!, as over this 44km of climb there were few brief
downhills. That could possibly be one of the steepest climb we’ve done! From
there was ‘only’ downhill. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were
told there was no more pavement, but as we weren’t told the road works were
super intense and what were supposed to be smoothen dirt turned to be totally destroyed
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by heavy-duty machines surface; add to
this recent rains and you’ll get… mud until ankles! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbvxidA2x6M/UZk96IQWHsI/AAAAAAAAI0o/lQ5_z1GEhvM/s1600/P5165691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GbvxidA2x6M/UZk96IQWHsI/AAAAAAAAI0o/lQ5_z1GEhvM/s320/P5165691.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">15 hellish km downhill
where we had to try hard not to slip and fall and break so hard that we were
going downhill not much faster than where we were climbing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We thought we
cannot go like this for another 70+ km, so the next morning we decided to take
a bus. The 60km-ride to Zumba took us 3 hours! The road was bad and I just
couldn’t imagine how it can get any worse, because we were told that the
14km-ride from Zumba to the border will take about 2 hours!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next day my bum learnt how it can be worse…so both
Google Map and our guidebook claims that it actually is only 14km, for me it
felt like minimum 140km… The transport that goes from Zumba to the border is ‘ranchero’
(in Colombia called ‘chivo’), a poorer cousin of Guatemalan chicken buses. It
is a truck converted to transport people, where the back where passengers are
seated has open sides, wooden roof and rows of benches (cushioned, but it doesn’t
really make much difference to me…). We put our bikes and pannier bags being
last bench, so we had to seat on the back of the truck to keep an eye if we are
not losing something on the way, as I said the sides of the ‘bus’ are
open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it shake the most at the
back of the bus, but we had not much choice. What a ride it was! Stones and
holes, holes and stones, stones in holes – it didn’t stop even for a second! I
had to hold myself with my two hands and press with my knees against the bench
in front of me and yet I was thrown up in the air constantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My poor coccyx will remember this ride for a
long time, the cushions were useless… And yes! This 14km ride took us 1:45
hrs!!!</span></div>
Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-42425628956527642412013-05-06T02:49:00.000+01:002013-05-06T02:49:53.951+01:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Happy 20000 km!</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U32rLh0Si6A/UYb6Nhis1eI/AAAAAAAAI0E/J9GxldbcleU/s1600/P5055584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U32rLh0Si6A/UYb6Nhis1eI/AAAAAAAAI0E/J9GxldbcleU/s400/P5055584.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just before arriving to Cuenca the first number on our speedometers changed from 1 to 2. Perfect! A reason for treats and celebration! So since for quite a while we were craving the ordinary apple pie (an apple is an exotic fruit here, so an apple pie is something fancy and not easy to find), rather than buying local cream cakes, we made our own 20000km-pie :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How was the ride from Banos to here? Beautiful! It was overcasted all the time we stayed in Banos; the day we left I was pretty sure we'll get wet. But, instead the sun was shining, the sky was blue and we finally got to see the Tungurahua volcano. We went towards Chimborazo (6300-and a bit m asl, the highest mountains of Ecuador and apparently - for its proximity to the Equator and the not that perfect spherical shape of our planet - the furthest point from the Earth centre) and we were pretty much climbing for three days straight up to nearly 4500m asl. So high and with the sky clear the views were stunning; sometimes we could see four different volcanoes at the same time, including mighty Chimborazo and perfectly conical Cotopaxi. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leaving Chimborazo we decided to cycle on PanAm for a longer time for the first time; and since past Riobamba the official PanAm heads to the coast, the road that keeps going straight South receives very little traffic and actually is very pretty; I can't get enough of Andean patchworked hills. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ah! And we got first broken spoke (Marta's rear wheel) :(</span></div>
Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-46863250522232066472013-04-20T17:32:00.000+01:002013-04-20T17:32:19.453+01:00<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Adventroubulus ride from Tumbaco/Quito to Banos</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In Ecuador there are pretty much three roads running in N-S direction; one along the coast, other in the jungle and the third one - the busy Panamericana in the mountains. So since we want to stay in the mountains, but not necessarily breathing fumes of the trucks roaring along the big highway, we followed, already well beaten, cyclists track and looped first to the left and then to the right of PanAm. The first loop took us through Cotopaxi NP. On the way there we had to go through very through internal fight; we took an alternative route to avoid cobble, but we ended up on a cobbled road anyway - very bad, sharp and uneven stones. We had already tried cycling on cobble in Ecuador and with our rather thin tires and heavy weight in, gently speaking, a nightmare. So when we were standing there (4km of cobble behind us, half cycled half pushed; another 12km ahead), trying to decide if the Cotopaxi Volcano is really worth it, a car came and offer us a lift; it was a hard decision, but we accepted. It was the first time we took a lift, the first time the road won the battle...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The second loop, called after picturesque crater lake Quilotoa, was one of my favourite rides on this trip, even though I had all the reasons to be fed up with it. First my front inner tube exploded damaging the rim (after some filing down it still can be used) and the brand-new tire (this one most likely is damage beyond use), then for the next three days I had problem with the rear wheel loosing air (the protection tape inside of the rim over time hardened and its edges became hard and were cutting through the inner tube; we put an insulation tape over it, but the inner tube had already so many small cuts, that with the pressure they were just opening on by one) and when we were done with this and the ride was becoming 'boring' my rear gear cable lost tension. But the loop is truly beautiful; the road winds and rolls through hills covered with patchwork of fields and pasture lands, with snow-capped volcanoes in the background, small indigenous villages until it reaches stunning Quilotoa Lake at nearly 4000m asl. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We actually bit our record and reached over 4000m asl on bikes on the way from the lake to Latacunga. We made a short stopover in Latacunga as we arrived there a day before one of the biggest markets in Central Highlands in a nearby village, Saquisili. So we couldn't miss it. The next day after a long ride against heavy wind we arrived to Banos. Today we go for well-deserved soak in thermal baths fed by water heated by nearby Volcano Tungurahua.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fZez7nuQPDM/UXLCwmpsWrI/AAAAAAAAIGg/kfeSW35aUyY/s1600/Nueva+carpeta1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fZez7nuQPDM/UXLCwmpsWrI/AAAAAAAAIGg/kfeSW35aUyY/s400/Nueva+carpeta1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-86128652348004457842013-04-02T18:38:00.002+01:002013-04-02T18:42:23.149+01:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Quito</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After a week cycling in Ecuador we are in Casa del Cyclista
in Quito. Over this week we’ve already managed to fall in love with Equador.
Just after crossing the border we took a dirt road through Paramo El Angel,
truly magical landscape of high mountains in tropics – rolling peaks covered
with fraylejones all the way until the horizon. There, we also beat our record
of the highest altitude we reached on bikes – 3750 m asl, that, I’m sure, it is
going to be beaten very soon J</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From there we dropped down to Otavalo, very interesting
indigenous town, where one of the biggest and oldest market in Andes is held
every Saturday. We obviously couldn’t miss such event, where one can buy
everything from livestock to finest crafts. We got ourselves only warm llama
socks for the cold Andean evenings. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We left Otavalo on Easter Sunday just to cross the equator
line on this exact day to be able to the ‘magic trick’ with balancing an
egg (in this case it was the Polish
Easter egg) on a nail, that can be done with ease only on equator ;) And the
day after we were already in Quito. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We stopped in very friendly Casa del Cyclista run by
Santiago and his family where we’ll stay for a week or so; we need to do some
bike maintenance as well as catch up a bit with the blog, so keep checking <span style="font-size: small;">:)</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-46508835014505451852013-03-11T16:30:00.000+00:002013-03-11T16:30:34.248+00:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">In San Agustin – finally</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">12 days in the saddle, nearly 800km – that's far more than we did in the
whole February and I think neither we've ever cycled so many days in a raw. The
road was easy, but at the same time boring for most of the time; first a quick
ride on a plateau through Bogota's neighbouring towns to avoid the crazy capital,
then fast downhill cycle where in one go we dropped from some 2500 masl to 300
masl and then flat again in hot and humid valley of river Magdalena. The only questionable
attraction of this ride was the co-called Tatacoa Desert, which is actually not
a desert, but a tiny area, where nearby mountains block most of the clouds, so
it doesn’t rain much there, but when the rain falls, it is normally heavy and
forms peculiar forms in the ground that is made out of red clay. But because of
its micro scale it looks like a miniature of Grand Canyon surrounded by pasture
lands – if it wasn’t on our way I don’t think it is worth a hassle. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">So it was a fast ride, good to cover some kilometres; until the last
three days where we got closer to the mountains (roller-coaster again) and
coffee lands as well; why the coffee is important? Because at that time there
was general strike of coffee farmers that we’d heard of in news, but we also
had heard that only areas where the coffee is grown are affected, so we didn’t
pay much attention to it. Until we came across the first fallen tree on the
road; we passed it and there was another fallen three, some huge rocks and
burned tires and crowd of guys at the age ranging from 12 to 70 armed with
sticks. We found ourselves in the middle of the protest, which had a form of
blocking the national roads. That day we managed – with some hassles – to pass
three blockages, but – as we found out from locals – the protestants were
letting to pass only to pedestrians and cyclists, so all those towns had the
deliveries cut off for eleven days and some people were stuck in one place for a
week. Luckily, that night the coffee farmers’ representatives signed the
agreement and the next morning all the roads were open again. What it meant for
us was that, as the previous day we had the road only for ourselves, this day
we had to share them with all this, hold for eleven days, traffic. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">We arrived to San Agustin tired, so we are going to hang out here for
few days to recover our strength and to see the area, which is very magic; not
far from here the very Colombian river Magdalena has its source, it is also
here where the two largest Colombian sierras (Central and Eastern) meet and continuous
South all the way to the bottom of Chile as Andes. <span> </span>So it seems quite obvious that this place was
once very important site for some ancient mysterious culture, that didn’t leave
much evidence about whom they were apart from countless peculiar stone figures
scattered on both sites of Canyon of river Magdalena. And that is what we are
going to see today.</span></span></span></div>
Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-14103394957245838162013-02-20T19:49:00.000+00:002013-02-20T19:49:40.519+00:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Another unexpected weekend - festival in Villa de Leyva</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After lazy few days around San
Gil and Barichara our next destination was the capital city of Boyaca district
– Tunja. We’d already spoke with German, our host in Tunja and he told us that
there is a Gastronomic Festival in Villa de Leyva next weekend and if we make
it on time, we could go there together. We love festivals, (like all cyclists)
we love food even more and Villa de Leyva is supposed to be one of the most
beautiful towns in Colombia, so it couldn’t be a better plan for weekend. We
had a glimpse at the elevation chart of the road ahead and there was a big hill
before Tunja, but the first 100tish km was sort of rolling and pretty much
staying at the same altitude. It looked doable in 3, maximum 4 days… we should
have analysed the chart better. As we very quickly realized the hills were
surely rolling but at a killing grade 9-11% (a small digression: someone one in
Mexico told us that the national road must be built so that the hills aren’t
steeper than 6%, because trucks cannot make it. Wrong! They should see
Colombian trucks; I’m amazed with them! They can make any hill). These, plus
temperatures </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lYPn7ZYHBqQ/USUmCHz5jII/AAAAAAAAHFw/h4F8ozexuIM/s1600/02-20-13+COL+(377).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lYPn7ZYHBqQ/USUmCHz5jII/AAAAAAAAHFw/h4F8ozexuIM/s200/02-20-13+COL+(377).JPG" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">'The Hill'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">reaching 40C, caused that after 45-50 km we were not able to move
any further. And there was still this ‘Hill’ ahead; the more closer we were
getting to Tunja, the more often people were telling us stories: that this hill
is one of the toughest in Colombia, that is part of national cycling race,
because not only in 55km the road goes 1500m up, but there are some steep
climbs, sharp turns and what’s the worst – it is on high altitude (the peak is
over 3000 masl) where there is far less oxygen. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">On Friday afternoon we arrived to
the bottom of ‘The Hill’ and, after all those stories, we doubted if we could
make it in one day. But it would be a pity to miss the festival, mmmmm…food! So
we made a quick decision - we were just by the town called Moniquira, it was
4pm, 60km to Tunja; we decided we’ll be there the same evening - by bus, our
bikes had to stay in Moniquira. We went to the bike shop to ask the guy if he
could help us with storing the bikes over the weekend. He called someone who
knew someone in the council and in less than an hour our bikes were safely
locked in local sport centre. We very lucky to meet this super helpful people
over there. We grabbed what was necessary and at 5:30 we were on the bus to
Tunja. Why we didn’t take our bikes on the bus rather than coming back on
Monday morning to cycle ‘The Hill’? We believe that if you take another transport
once, it’ll be easier to do it second time and even easier to find a pretext
for the third time etc. There is always an excuse – wind, rain, hills, heavy
traffic, dangerous area… and there are some cyclists who travel this way, but
for us there is always a manner to cycle whatever is ahead. That’s the part of
the adventure and the more you sweat, the more you appreciate it. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We arrived to German’s flat and
Raul excited about the festival started asking: </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘So how this is going to look
like? We could have some food there? There’ll be some stands?...’ </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6656990943124578825" name="_GoBack"></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">German
answered: ‘Well, surely we can have some food there and we can look at the
stars…’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Look at the stars?’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Well, I guess so, it is an
Astronomic Festival.’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">‘Aaaaa….astronomic! I understood
(g)astronomic when we were talking on the phone’:)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I was equally happy; I love
star-gazing as much as I love food! And however it wasn't what we expected and
even the star-gazing wasn't successful, because it got cloudy in the evening we
had fun and interesting weekend. German showed us little treasures of Boyacá,
that otherwise we'd never visit. Like all those tiny and pretty colonial towns
hidden somewhere up in the mountains or down long and bumpy dirt roads; by far
my favourite was sleepy Iza, where one side of the market square is lined with
cakes and puddings stands.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPkAhA8gUMQ/USUn3EVppnI/AAAAAAAAHGY/p6lWN_7kS14/s1600/02-20-13+COL+(263).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HPkAhA8gUMQ/USUn3EVppnI/AAAAAAAAHGY/p6lWN_7kS14/s200/02-20-13+COL+(263).JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Delicious! I had a sample of every single one and that
was a mistake, because I couldn't decide which one I want! We strolled down
streets of Raquira and Nobsa, lined with local hand made products – pottery and
woollen goods; in that places I'm glad I travel by bike, otherwise I'd buy too
much; but if I think about Colombian hills, I buy nothing. The next day we went
for a ride along the biggest lake in Colombia (and lake at the highest altitude
I've ever been to – 3015 masl) – Lago Tota. Beautiful, scenic ride and
beautiful lake. This area is also 'the kingdom of onion'; wherever we looked
around there were onion fields stretching until the horizon. :) And actually,
the weekend turned to be gastronomic, maybe not festival, but definitely,
feast. In Villa de Leyva German invited us for lunch to a restaurant
specialized in contemporary local cuisine, them the deserts in Iza, hand-made ice-cream
and a taste of local chorizo and meat cooked in typical for this region way –
very slowly over a bonfire.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">And on Monday morning we jumped on the bus back to
Moniquira, we picked our bikes and we faced ‘The Hill’. And it turned out to be
much more pleasant ride than the previous 100km of ‘rolling hills’. Long, but
steady climb and very beautiful views. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So since midday on Tuesday we are officially ;) – by bike
– in Tunja. </span></span></div>
Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-80421784187243138762013-02-12T20:35:00.002+00:002013-02-12T20:42:18.966+00:00<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">An unexpected weekend in El Playon</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Our plan was to make those 95 km uphill
from the low lands, which end in San Alberto to Bucaramanga in 2 days. A very
hard climb, the road winds constantly up and down so that you gain several hundred
meters in few km and then go downhill to loose it all, and then again more
climbing and more downhill; the average grade for the hills is 6% -10%. After
an exhausting day we arrived to El Playon, for us just a dot on the map
perfectly located half way to Bucaramanga. I went to the city hall to ask if
they have any space where we could camp for a nigh and they told us that we
could camp in the sport hall, so we went there and, I have to say, they were
super helpful they open a small room, so we could sleep under roof and even let
us use the shower - there is not a better thing you could offer to a cyclist
after a whole day sweating.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Once we settled down two guys from
the council came to see how we were doing, the web master Ivan and journalist
for the city-hall, Javier. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Ivan invited us to have dinner in
his place; we accepted, we love to meet locals and spend time with them. When
we were having dinner they offered us to stay a couple of days so they could
show us around and see how we like El Playon. They are just starting to promote
the town as touristic spot and they are full of ideas. The main attractions are
the waterfalls that we were supposed to go and see on Sunday with the team from
the City Hall that was going there to take pictures of them for their web. On
Saturday we were invited to go to the nearby Balnearios (restaurants by the
river where you have access to swim) and then to a finca which grows
heliconias, super beautiful tropical flowers. The plan sounded great! To be
invited by the council to the best places of this municipality just to give our
opinion and see if we enjoyed or not as a tourist. Good plan!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FX3MzuiZryY/URqm_uqfDFI/AAAAAAAAHFM/xwAMZEkiwkM/s1600/02-06-13+COL+(207).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FX3MzuiZryY/URqm_uqfDFI/AAAAAAAAHFM/xwAMZEkiwkM/s200/02-06-13+COL+(207).JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">The Saturday run smoothly, swim in
the river in the local Balneario, had lunch and then we went to visit Don
Agapito, great character who grows the famous heliconias, those flowers are
breath taking!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Sunday, the big day! The plan was to
go by car with more people, but in the morning Ivan explained me that they
could not find any transport so we will go just the 4 of us with moto-taxis
(regular motorbike that can carry one passenger). Ivan has one motorbike so
they will need to rent just two to take us up to the mountains where the walk
to the waterfalls starts, in San Pedro. It takes more than 45 minutes riding uphill
to San Pedro to start walking, our guide, Don Paolo and his friend were already
waiting for us it the path straight away, because so the walk was also new for
Ivan and Javier so all of us we were super excited. The waterfalls are
seriously beautiful, the first one called Salto del Indio the highest, over 30
meters, an easy walk but then to go to the other 2 the difficulty grown severely;
our guide had to use the machete to open track and set rope to climb up or
down, pure jungle. Each waterfall has its unique beauty with astonishing
locations, magic corners within the jungle; it took us over 6 hour to reach the
finca of our guide, none of them Ivan or Javier did this walk previously so we
weren't fully prepared, tired and hungry - that's how we arrived to the finca
maybe 40 minutes after our guide :) </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZYMxFA4Fsg/URqnS7XdNII/AAAAAAAAHFU/gJrrl8s1JSw/s1600/02-06-13+COL+(267).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZYMxFA4Fsg/URqnS7XdNII/AAAAAAAAHFU/gJrrl8s1JSw/s200/02-06-13+COL+(267).JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">When we arrived the food was almost ready,
plenty of food for the exhausted tourists. What a lovely lunch prepared for all
of us by Dom Paolo’s wife, Thank you Senora!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">It was starting to be late so we
walked back to San Pedro to meet our moto-taxis. But we arrived too late and
they were already gone; our hosts tried to call them, but they didn’t pick the
phone, I guess they weren’t bothered to do this long ride up again on their
Sunday evening. It wasn’t until after 3 hours of waiting (with hope that they
will maybe come) and frenetically looking for some guy from San Pedro who would
ride us down, until they encounter one. Only one, which meant we had only two
motorbikes and 5 people. The plan was to go Ivan and one of us in one motorbike
and the other 2 in the moto-taxi (regular motorbike). Quickly Javier came and
told me ‘I go with Ivan and you two, because you are slim, go with the
moto-taxi’ we said fine, of course a bit more risky but who cares after 3 hours
waiting. When we arrived unfortunately something happened that spoilt the day,
the guy from the moto-taxi asked me for an awful amount of money and none of
our host from the council stood up to pay for the fee so I had to pay it, this
money would last us for a week in
Colombia. It was weird! Sometimes people acts in a way that surprises us, the
whole thing of coming to us with the idea of promoting their village and see
how we like it and at the end finished the day with this gesture it has left a
bit of bitter taste in our memories of El Playon.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB">Anyway all the best for those guys
and its project of promoting El Playon</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-18519392961027023202013-01-28T00:14:00.002+00:002013-01-28T00:32:10.481+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLG593zlhy4/UQXG4bTvEzI/AAAAAAAAHA8/ITfZq6lfVts/s1600/_1050790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLG593zlhy4/UQXG4bTvEzI/AAAAAAAAHA8/ITfZq6lfVts/s320/_1050790.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Just a small update - we are in Mompox, some 300km away from Cartagena <br />After
we've been off the bikes for some time everything starts almost from
the biginning; so on the first days we took it easy, checking our bodies
how they are copeing; not only with the break of five months, but also
with the extreme temperstures that reach here over 40 degrees Celcius i
the middle of the day and drop to 30 at night. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We
are still on the low lands so we've had fairly flat roads, though we've
faced first Colombian gravel roads and have aparently plenty ahead.
Until the next week th climbing won't start we will see how it goes we
have hundreds and hundreds of meters to climb ahead</span></span>.Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-54586275975728094272013-01-20T20:21:00.001+00:002013-01-28T00:32:52.310+00:00<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ready, steady, go! Part Two: South America<span style="font-size: large;">!</span></span></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtnXfxBsEcU/UQXGq9V4vsI/AAAAAAAAHA0/oDx4A3i6q1s/s1600/_1050758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtnXfxBsEcU/UQXGq9V4vsI/AAAAAAAAHA0/oDx4A3i6q1s/s200/_1050758.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are excited! Tomorrow we are back on the road! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Somehow naturally, without our intention at all, our adventure got divided <span style="font-size: small;">into two parts. <span style="font-size: small;">Last year <span style="font-size: small;">i</span>n September</span> we arrived to Portobelo in Panama, which for us was the end o<span style="font-size: small;">f</span> Nor<span style="font-size: small;">th America<span style="font-size: small;">; </span>that was when <span style="font-size: small;">we had th<span style="font-size: small;">e opportunity to earn some money,<span style="font-size: small;"> but just before that we d<span style="font-size: small;">id 3-week backpacking trip in Colombia with Ania and Kamila; </span>and then because of various circumstances we de<span style="font-size: small;">cided to go home for Christmas. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now<span style="font-size: small;">, after nearly 5! (I<span style="font-size: small;">'ve just realized that! Long time!) months,</span> we are back in Cartagena, the place where we stepped on South American groun<span style="font-size: small;">d</span> for the very first time. A week ago we were in Medellin, but we decided to come by bus (the same way as we got to Medellin) uh here so that we won't m<span style="font-size: small;">iss <span style="font-size: small;">cycling any part of <span style="font-size: small;">Colombia. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">We took advantage of being in <span style="font-size: small;">US and Europe and got so<span style="font-size: small;">me <span style="font-size: small;">bike parts and other useful stuff that are hard to get here<span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Lets do a small sum up of what we are starting with the second part.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">First o<span style="font-size: small;">f all bikes, that Raul <span style="font-size: small;">was working on<span style="font-size: small;"> them for few days. We both have new chain and casette; it was the second change o<span style="font-size: small;">f them<span style="font-size: small;">. <span style="font-size: small;">We changed it for the first time after about 8000km, and now - after 16770km. The crown sets seem to be still working fine in both bikes. All the cables and housings ha<span style="font-size: small;">s been changed as well (<span style="font-size: small;">it was the second time <span style="font-size: small;">for </span>the gear ones; first time - breaks). Raul had to service his rear hub, because the c<span style="font-size: small;">ones were<span style="font-size: small;"> worn off. And we change<span style="font-size: small;">d my front tire<span style="font-size: small;">, which <span style="font-size: small;">has been with me since Alaska. My rear tire has still some life left as it was change<span style="font-size: small;">d in Portland<span style="font-size: small;">, Oregon. Raul's front tire came with him <span style="font-size: small;">from Alaska and still can do a little bit more, while the rear one is fairly new (has been changed in Chiapas, Mexico). However, we carry two new tires - one each - a bit thick<span style="font-size: small;">er (<span style="font-size: small;">the thickest possible that will fit o<span style="font-size: small;">n our bikes) and with <span style="font-size: small;">a grip t<span style="font-size: small;">hat is better for gravel roads, whi<span style="font-size: small;">ch we<span style="font-size: small;">'ll have to face <span style="font-size: small;">more often in South America. We also carry 5 spare inner tubes<span style="font-size: small;">, because we learnt that south from US in size 700 <span style="font-size: small;">we can onl<span style="font-size: small;">y get the skinny tubes for road bikes. And we have new grips, the one with a platfor<span style="font-size: small;">m for long hour<span style="font-size: small;">s on <span style="font-size: small;">a</span> bike, thanks to which the wrist is more<span style="font-size: small;"> relaxed. It was a present<span style="font-size: small;">, <span style="font-size: small;">thank you guys! A<span style="font-size: small;">h! The last thing - speedometers<span style="font-size: small;">. Both, mine and Raul, had to be <span style="font-size: small;">exchanged <span style="font-size: small;">two times already and the last ones we got somewhere in Mexico. They were both of no-brand and didn't last long. So no<span style="font-size: small;">w we invested in something better. <span style="font-size: small;">Mine will even show us <span style="font-size: small;">the altitude and the gr<span style="font-size: small;">ade<span style="font-size: small;"> while climbing. <span style="font-size: small;">Another present; thank you Parents!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">W<span style="font-size: small;">e also got few new stuff for campin<span style="font-size: small;">g, but first of all we finally <span style="font-size: small;">got the zips in ou<span style="font-size: small;">r</span> tent fixed! Becaus<span style="font-size: small;">e to open/close them was <span style="font-size: small;">becoming</span> an art; <span style="font-size: small;">we had to hold here, squeeze there and pull the zipper at a <span style="font-size: small;">certain angle and all of it at the same time to make sure that it won'<span style="font-size: small;">t separate in the middle of the night. It co<span style="font-size: small;">sted Raul many hours of <span style="font-size: small;">unravelling</span>, </span>but was <span style="font-size: small;">undoubtedly</span> <span style="font-size: small;">necessary</span>. We are planning to do more treks now that Andes are just in front of us. <span style="font-size: small;">That's why we <span style="font-size: small;">got trek<span style="font-size: small;">king shoes, ins<span style="font-size: small;">tead of lighter trainers that we had before. <span style="font-size: small;">For the same <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">reason</span> we</span></span> decided to exhange the big <span style="font-size: small;">transverse rear pannier that Raul carries for a 50l backpack</span> that will do the same job as the pannier on daily basis, but when we want to go trekking we'll have comfortable <span style="font-size: small;">backpack. And the last <span style="font-size: small;">thing is a present as well, which I believe <span style="font-size: small;">is going to be very useful<span style="font-size: small;">; it's small JetB<span style="font-size: small;">o<span style="font-size: small;">il</span> stove, which will be just perfect to prepare hot cup of something for lunch in cold days up in the Andes<span style="font-size: small;">. Thanks Sis!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So that's us. Ready. South America! We are coming! ;)</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-89195545993446645322013-01-14T01:51:00.001+00:002013-01-14T01:55:05.409+00:00<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Back in Colombia </span></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">So what was going on
with us for the last three months? We got to US and managed to top up
our budget; we spent some time in San Francisco, which I personally
like a lot; we went to LA to visit our friends and had great time
with them. We even managed to do a few days trip to US Parks that we
like so much. This time we choose South and the heat of the desert.
We went to </span><span lang="pl-PL">Anza-Borrego State Park</span><span lang="en-GB">
and Joshua National Park, which is stunning! And then we flew to
Europe for Christmas to spent some time with our families.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Now we are back in
Colombia. We flew to Bogota and that is where we left from three
months ago. We went to exactly the same Hostel we stayed in the first
time. Three months ago, a day before our flight to US we walked Ania
and Kamila to the bus stop, because they were going to Peru after
three weeks of travelling with us in Colombia. So when we got to the
hostel this time it seemed as if we just said ‘Bye’ to the girls.
Somehow it felt to me as if we never left Bogota. </span></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Few days ago we
picked our bikes and when we first saw them they looked miserable. We
left them covered with a tarp, but in the meantime they were doing
some painting and had to move our bikes and never covered them back.
So they had thick layer of dust on them, they were splashed with
whitewash, full of spider webs and with tires flat. I thought we’ll
need hours of hard work before they can take us anywhere. But it was
enough to wipe the dust off, pump up the tires and they looked so
much better!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Our first ride after
3 months was a real challenge! 10 or so kilometres uphill on a steep
windy road full of crazy Colombian drivers under genuine tropical
Sun with all those extra kilograms of food and other luxuries that we
brought from Europe. But we made it! Slowly, but surely we got to the
top </span><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-size: small;">:)</span> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">We are now in Casa
del Cyclista just outside of Medellin taking advantage of the
generosity of Manuel, his wife Marta and daughter Manuela, who not
only open their house for us (and other cyclist; including us there
are 5 cyclist in the house now!), but also let Raul use their bike
shop, where he can give his ‘babies’ new look. And in the
meantime I’ve been doing, as usual, the ‘computer stuff’ (which
is anything that involves using computer – writing, organizing
pictures, googling etc.), but I cannot complain, because I’m
sitting on a porch of their little ‘finca’ (finca means house in
a farm, but here they use it for any countryside house, whether you
do farming or not) with beautiful Antioquenas mountains in front of
me. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">Ah! And Journal is <span style="font-size: small;">completed</span> all the way to Panama! Have a look!</span></span></span>
</div>
Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-65979609781671963032012-10-11T23:03:00.000+01:002012-10-11T23:03:29.753+01:00<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hi folk!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a while
since we have written something juicy in the blog, too bad! But we
have been doing and thinking a lot of stuff. We have decided to take
a break from cycling WAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! No it's not that bad,
everything is alright, Jut a small gap from October to January, (3
months, 92 days, 2208 hours, 132480 seconds without my bike).</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB">As we can imagine or
we would like to imagine;) you all are wondering what has happened?
Why are they taking a break? Problems with the bike? Health? Family
issues? </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB">Let’s start from
the beginning, there is more than one reason to do that and even
though the trip was thought at the beginning as 'a one go trip' it
came very natural the idea of breaking it into 2 parts: North America
(Alaska-Panama) and South America (Colombia-Argentina). </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why is that?</span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N127Npha7Ag/UHdB3v6E0QI/AAAAAAAAGu8/RhRK6GCAh2A/s1600/09-20-12+COL+(42).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N127Npha7Ag/UHdB3v6E0QI/AAAAAAAAGu8/RhRK6GCAh2A/s320/09-20-12+COL+(42).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wrapping our bikes up for the winter nap</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB">Money. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> After 1 1/2
year on the road we started to see the bottom of our piggybank more
and more; although we have worked few times, it might be not enough
to carry on the rest of the trip with the money we have left, so it's
time to work a bit. We found an organic farm for hard, well-paid
seasonal job and we took it!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="en-GB">Another strong
thought was related with the length of the trip; it is not going to
be 2 years as we estimated at the beginning, but more than this, we
like to loop around too much :) We lost this class where the teacher
explained "the shortest distance between point A and piont B is
a straight line". And so our families are starting to feel
abandoned (and we miss them too!); they can't afford to come to visit
us and either we could go and visit them (unless we earn the money
). So the money we are going to get working, is going to be spent
partially in going for Xmas back home to give the biggest of the hugs
to our families, before we fly back to our bikes to keep pedalling
down South. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another big plus to
stop is that the closer we are getting to the Andes the more info
comes about when is the best time to go into these mountains, which
is obviously in the dry season, which starts within a month and lasts
until May. After being happily soaked during the rainy season in
Central America we thought is time to dry the cloth a bit, isn't it?
So to our understanding there is no point of going up there when it's
cloudy and rainy if we are going to be missing all the beauty of
those giant mountains as they'll be covered with clouds. The dry
season in Peru starts in May so if we start pedalling from the North
of Colombia in January we will be in Peru at the end of April so it
makes sense the break in here too.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">South of America
will take us between 12 and 13 months to cycle it, roughly and it's
very important to take this number into account because the gap with
reasonable cycling conditions, down in Tierra de Fuego, and is very
short. From November to February, the rest of the year is COLD and
WINDYYYYYYYY! So if we start cycling in January, we'll get down there
just in the middle of their short, but surely beautiful summer.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next thing we
had to sort out was a "nursery" for our babies; where and
with whom we could leave the bikes for such a long period of time.
Ideally we need a place in the northern Colombia where we will be
starting to pedal in January, but to find a spot there turned to be
impossible. My mother came up with the brilliant idea of leaving the
bikes in an orphanage that belongs to the same organization that she
works for; unfortunatelly it is located in the centre of the country,
so we took a bus from Cartagena, where we agreed we are going to
start to pedal to Medellin, where the orphanage is. It was great to
meet the sisters who are going to 'babysit' our bikes and they can't
be in better hands. In January we will go back to them where
hopefully they will allowed us to spend few days with them while I
fix the bikes. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They actually need quite a bit of work: new cassette,
chains, cables, housing, brake pads, tire, truing wheels and perhaps
even replacing chain rings if the new chains skips the old ones; new
grips too, which are present from our good friends Kasia and Jarek.
It's going to be wonderful change for my wrists! Since we left Alaska
I've been struggling with bad grips and sore wrist, thanks guys! I
know It's going to take me few days :) but they have to run smoothly
we go to climb the Andes. I have arrived in Medellin with my bike in
the worst condition it has been, flat tire for the last week pumping
every few hours, all the inner tubes I had are gone and the last one
was losing air from all the patches it has; I guess the glue with the
hot temperatures didn’t work. In Colombia there is no way to find a
700 38C inner tube they just don’t sell them I've been in 3 major
cities in all the bike shops I found and the same answer in all of
them 'try the shop that is .... They may have them' You know what No!
They don’t have them! So if you come to cycle anything further down
from US, DON’T go with 700 wheels as we did or think about carrying
a lot of spares inner tubes as I’m going to get in Spain :)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So my friends that
is basically all the reasons why we are taking a break and perhaps if
we are around where you will be we could meet up; is been a while
since last time isn’t it? And if not we will need to wait a bit
longer to give you a big hug:)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hopefully during
this break we are going to be catching up with the blog to have it
fully updated for the second part of the trip South America!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big kiss</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">r</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-315528113010811742012-09-18T19:18:00.000+01:002012-09-18T19:18:12.063+01:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><b>in South America</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The border between Panama and Colombia (which is also
the border between North and South America), called Darien Gap, is one of the
most difficult and inhospitable border crossing. It is not only that that there
is no road; the whole area is covered with thick jungle, steep hills and vast
wetlands; if this wasn’t enough it is home to unfriendly natives and a hideout
for drugs dealers and Colombian guerrilla. Pretty much not a place where you
would like to go to (however some adventure seekers take the challenge). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There are few options to cross the Gap, but the one
that worked best for us was to take a 5-day cruise on a sail boat, with 2-day
stopover in San Blas. Something we’ve heard of fairly recently; and however not
cheap, it turned to be a great experience. First of all, we’ve never sailed before,
so that was a great opportunity to try it; secondly, San Blas Islands are just </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hi6Sx-BuGQA/UFi6d3KhK3I/AAAAAAAAGcE/pRw_MV1gXpo/s1600/09-03-12+San+Blas+(352).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hi6Sx-BuGQA/UFi6d3KhK3I/AAAAAAAAGcE/pRw_MV1gXpo/s200/09-03-12+San+Blas+(352).JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">BEAUTIFUL!
It is one of those places that it is hard to believe they are real, even though
you are there. Our only concern (mine much more than Raul’s) was the
seasickness. But the motion sickness tablets did their job more than perfect –
they knock us down for two hours after taking each tablet. But on the open
ocean, let’s be honest, views are monotonous, so a good nap is not bad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Our cycling adventures in the new continent haven’t
started yet. The bikes are having well deserved rest, which is actually good,
because they are needy; mine tire must be changed (after cycling the whole
continent), Raul’s rear wheel goes flat all the time (with three different
inner tubes and the tire and rim being examined back and forth hundreds times).
So while our vehicles are waiting for their well-deserved spa treatment, we
became backpackers again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gFhPiuzjr0g/UFi6mBZZ-8I/AAAAAAAAGcM/_6180FNz1vc/s1600/_1020680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gFhPiuzjr0g/UFi6mBZZ-8I/AAAAAAAAGcM/_6180FNz1vc/s200/_1020680.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We have long-awaited visitors! My sister and her
friend are here! And they brought lots of goodies and present for us. Thanks to
all of you who participated in it! Special thanks for the lanterns; it was a beautiful
surprise! (thank you Sis for organizing it!) They all flew up to the stars, so
surely all the wishes will come true soon! We happy you’ve started to do the
dinners again! Hope you will keep it up and invite us once we are back </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So we are spending some time with Ania and Kamila, at
this moment hanging out on the Caribbean coast. Us, definitely NOT enjoying the
heat and humidity. Unlike the girls, who spent the whole summer in Scotland. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-44703220206081732462012-09-02T00:07:00.000+01:002012-09-02T00:07:02.887+01:00It´s been a while since we´ve updated here something. It is mostly because, for the first time during this trip, we have a deadline. One that we are looking forward a lot, though. My sister is coming to visit us in Columbia on 11th September an so we need to get there by then. And since we were very slow in Mexico and slow in Guatemala, we had to speed up through the rest of the countries. <br />
The other reason why things won´t be updated soon is that our computer refused working in a very crucial moment (when I was copying the only copy of some pictures from it to a external hard drive) and now some of the writtings we´ve done for blog as well as all the pictures from Nicaragua, Costa Rica and most from Panama are trapped in the broken hard disc. However, there is hope - the guy who checked our computer promised that all the pictures can be saved, but it´ll take like a week. so we just need a week off somewhere and a good IT. <br />
<br />
And now the most important - we are in Portobelo, a small port in Panama. From here we take a boat to go to Cartgena, Columbia. That means that the North America is finished!!! 16770 km 470 days and one continent completed!<br />
m.Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-43112234526938775662012-07-26T03:55:00.002+01:002012-07-26T03:55:56.308+01:00Hi guys!<br />
<br />
If someone was trying to contact us at info@theamericasbycycle.org and we didn't answer, it's because this e-mail seems not to work, so please contact us at our 'regular' e-mails:<br />
Marta marta.tajsiak@gmail.com<br />
raul paraisoscondido@yahoo.es<br />
<br />
Greetings from Granada!Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-81553999205071862902012-07-15T01:11:00.001+01:002012-07-15T02:55:06.878+01:00Hi folk!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRKhxk8gZPT43-I9OLnyO2IJGNE7oCiz-66Q9_zD80X2p62vTXnuHyj9sOYQ41KsMlvQZCoAG0bDi3Oe1u2r0UDgAF72YWgeO17Iah1ktAvmOIIfKpS2DmYtkis6_OhyphenhypheniTES-zdU0XiU/s1600/06-08-2012+GUATE+(116).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRKhxk8gZPT43-I9OLnyO2IJGNE7oCiz-66Q9_zD80X2p62vTXnuHyj9sOYQ41KsMlvQZCoAG0bDi3Oe1u2r0UDgAF72YWgeO17Iah1ktAvmOIIfKpS2DmYtkis6_OhyphenhypheniTES-zdU0XiU/s200/06-08-2012+GUATE+(116).JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">that's the lady you should look for!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you find your self in Nahuala (its not a great place to visit but sometime we need to spent a night because is late to keep cycling) and you need to spent a night over don't go to any of the Motel or Hotel that you find in town it is a bit of a cheat!. We found this lovely women Manuela Cotiy who took us to her place for an expensive price and even fed us, we had a great eve chatting with Manuela and her family over the table while having dinner.<br />
Her mobile number is (47867439)Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-52517943649374456232012-06-07T16:57:00.000+01:002012-06-09T00:36:38.852+01:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Something we won't miss from Mexico...</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDiJvmO_ZR8/T9DJ03I-gPI/AAAAAAAAFnc/SAjB-jyPCIw/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDiJvmO_ZR8/T9DJ03I-gPI/AAAAAAAAFnc/SAjB-jyPCIw/s320/IMG_0612.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Topes!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Topes are cyclist nightmare! Speed bumps, 'sleeping policeman', anything to force the drivers to obey 'stop' signs or speed limit. And since Mexican drivers are not too keen on obeying any sort of traffic rules, the creativity of officials as well as villagers (it's a common practice for a villagers to make their own topes) is endless in order to make a car to slow down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's a small collection we made on the way:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so-called 'vibradores', the worst ones for us</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENESgo5-z8w/T9DLBczzggI/AAAAAAAAFnk/Ei4gT3tRtzg/s1600/04-01-12+MS+(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ENESgo5-z8w/T9DLBczzggI/AAAAAAAAFnk/Ei4gT3tRtzg/s320/04-01-12+MS+(13).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to pass this ones you have to get of the bike most of the time</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieq0poByBtKDgRR7vW_RvSh11nXI2Y2nZrP3eIa7wO-kmpQObi9rdxLpvAu8jopI_nf0iDe5kV7uu4r2OsR9Ta32KCm68frPovFYFMkQifaYmgOhd3zcupoeuXbtHLHnpyjnk3uyWLsc/s1600/04-01-12+MS+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieq0poByBtKDgRR7vW_RvSh11nXI2Y2nZrP3eIa7wO-kmpQObi9rdxLpvAu8jopI_nf0iDe5kV7uu4r2OsR9Ta32KCm68frPovFYFMkQifaYmgOhd3zcupoeuXbtHLHnpyjnk3uyWLsc/s320/04-01-12+MS+(2).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a bit worn off</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdL4IK-yLPTrUb7S_m7cCScEbIEpEEwHYFle0KaV2dou3nENe-7oxxzL3W4qc8Lx2rvqWUwzhcAZbo7ubS-eRkuo9EzDr2CKl7T4L0zA1f-zCeKrdlDuWc069eRC9HxXsq2b5zQSOVaw/s1600/04-20-12+MS+(143).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdL4IK-yLPTrUb7S_m7cCScEbIEpEEwHYFle0KaV2dou3nENe-7oxxzL3W4qc8Lx2rvqWUwzhcAZbo7ubS-eRkuo9EzDr2CKl7T4L0zA1f-zCeKrdlDuWc069eRC9HxXsq2b5zQSOVaw/s320/04-20-12+MS+(143).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tire one</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gctb1DmuRlY/T9DLE6RzILI/AAAAAAAAFn8/CGNpybHwbXA/s1600/04-20-12+MS+(49).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gctb1DmuRlY/T9DLE6RzILI/AAAAAAAAFn8/CGNpybHwbXA/s320/04-20-12+MS+(49).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rope</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tea1PdEIJyQ/T9DLGdvpcyI/AAAAAAAAFoE/E7H76O5nF1s/s1600/04-25-12+MS+(50).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tea1PdEIJyQ/T9DLGdvpcyI/AAAAAAAAFoE/E7H76O5nF1s/s320/04-25-12+MS+(50).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">small 'vibradores' spread over 50 m</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdAbFv-YzyUMzOxd-sEJCzs23wPUagR70MKVg-HiEIsuSlFGtYhnH9i_npfOgwpsnm2WFBNMR35fq0e9VQvl-8SWR_j-Ex_UTnpziiFT0-ZoSI5TwM9UbZVtkM0Avz8LHvHnnHWbuKp8/s1600/04-25-12+MS+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdAbFv-YzyUMzOxd-sEJCzs23wPUagR70MKVg-HiEIsuSlFGtYhnH9i_npfOgwpsnm2WFBNMR35fq0e9VQvl-8SWR_j-Ex_UTnpziiFT0-ZoSI5TwM9UbZVtkM0Avz8LHvHnnHWbuKp8/s320/04-25-12+MS+(7).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a nice one</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zWyfcHTgeOE/T9DLI6_shOI/AAAAAAAAFoU/5cAjYRUUm7Y/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zWyfcHTgeOE/T9DLI6_shOI/AAAAAAAAFoU/5cAjYRUUm7Y/s320/IMG_0617.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-25021123639845697142012-05-24T00:17:00.001+01:002012-05-24T02:48:53.937+01:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>One year on the road</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This 18th of May was a year on the road since we left Alaska, we could not celebrated it as We wanted because both of us got a gentle stomach bug which stopped us from having fun We had a everything planed dinner, cake... but instead we were lying on the sofa alternating non stop visit to the toilet with movies :) It has been today when we felt totally bounced back, ready to face a big dinner, cake and anything we want to spoil ourselves with</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmSNIMVKte8/T71va_BxlNI/AAAAAAAAFFA/V-e2Zr9CKdw/s1600/Nowy+folder2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gmSNIMVKte8/T71va_BxlNI/AAAAAAAAFFA/V-e2Zr9CKdw/s400/Nowy+folder2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-23184443966978400052012-05-12T00:31:00.000+01:002012-05-14T00:58:59.812+01:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>20000 visits!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've just hit 20000 visits on our blog a few days ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to all of you for checking from time to time how are we getting on and congratulations to our 20000th visitor! :)</span>Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-63908312445108743452012-04-22T22:18:00.000+01:002012-04-22T22:18:00.025+01:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Well, there won't be a miracle...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marta got her first puncture. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After 13000 km (exactly 13051km) and just over 11 </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">months</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> cycling, on the road to nowhere (we were on a dead end looking for Nizanda, an apparent paradise, natural pools formed by warm springs) the rear tire went flat. We found tiny hole in the inner tube, however we didn't find any cause of it;maybe it's just wear of the material... </span>Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-23785746482463813762012-04-07T19:44:00.000+01:002012-04-07T19:44:30.800+01:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Party Time!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we arrived to Taxco we found out that there is a fiesta. How did we find out? Well, at any time of day or night we were being scared by sudden 'BANGS!', so we asked people what's going on? And they told us that there is a party, so they let off fireworks all the time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And we were also informed where we can see the best shows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Castillo de Munecos</b> (Castle of Dolls) is a tall structure with different paper mache figures attached, that are moved by the power of fireworks. It is all so meticulously connected that they just light a wick on the bottom of the tower and the fire travels upwards putting figure by figure in motion. Some of dolls are filled with sweets or other surprises and when they spin they open and the goodies fall down for children to catch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Castillo de Fuego </b>(Castle of Fire) is based on the same principals as the previous one; it was an amazing show lasting 40 minutes, where the fire was just set once at the bottom of the tower and then by travelling up was creating different shapes and figures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The video shows the final one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Torritos </b>is a tradition that cannot be explained. It has to be watched.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A! By the way, we shouldn't forget about the principals - The cause of the party was a religious celebration. It all happened on square just in front of a church.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We can hear fireworks everywhere and all the time. And very soon after this party we found an answer why; in a book about Natives of Mexico by Fernando Benitez Raul read that when Spaniards finished they "converting and civilizing" of Natives, they had lots of gunpowder left and didn't know what to do with it. So they showed locals how to make fireworks and the locals were bewildered and astonished as the cult of the fire is very strong in their culture. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And since then onward they just love it! </span>Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656990943124578825.post-46566927164703623982012-03-15T05:17:00.001+00:002012-04-23T02:51:04.600+01:00<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Wonders of Nature</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in El Rosario, Michoacan, Mexico</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those Butterflies migrate to Mexico every year from Canada and Northern parts of US. They travel over 4000km one way and can cover as much as 100km a day. They are the only Butterflies that make both, north and south migration on a regular basis; however, it is not the same individuals that go back. It is the third or fourth generation that returns to its northern locations, which they leave because of cold temperatures and lack of food in winter months. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They always go back to exactly the same locations, how they do it it's still a mystery. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mzeKhBNkt-A/T2F5naDSu6I/AAAAAAAAEHU/jSgHTmTcLU8/s1600/P1060239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mzeKhBNkt-A/T2F5naDSu6I/AAAAAAAAEHU/jSgHTmTcLU8/s320/P1060239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">one sat on Marta's hat</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M5vNOKt9prI/T2F54rzRAJI/AAAAAAAAEHc/dPYxCqGTG-k/s1600/03-11-11+MC+(181).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M5vNOKt9prI/T2F54rzRAJI/AAAAAAAAEHc/dPYxCqGTG-k/s320/03-11-11+MC+(181).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the branches are orange because of the butterflies sitting on them</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxfzWUaKc30DmOpsgsHrlwrb11U5pniL6H6ArM1MYCQYf46ebkYIRSQbp9X19qLPBZBOxhJ921_DS5Aw292Z4pSdZZ2ll6AzXPfaYJW0JgRF74AyulQn_vbDPxPZJ3yyNCZ-biyY21-U/s1600/03-11-11+MC+(189).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxfzWUaKc30DmOpsgsHrlwrb11U5pniL6H6ArM1MYCQYf46ebkYIRSQbp9X19qLPBZBOxhJ921_DS5Aw292Z4pSdZZ2ll6AzXPfaYJW0JgRF74AyulQn_vbDPxPZJ3yyNCZ-biyY21-U/s320/03-11-11+MC+(189).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">when is cloudy they don't fly, but gather together on trees; those black 'cones' are branches hanging down because of the weight of butterflies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">couple of videos of what words cannot describe</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/zYKrP1tXg2E" width="560"></iframe>Raulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11508032271799203709noreply@blogger.com1