Riding out of Bogota and heading south in the intense heat

Tuesday February 2, 2016, 134 miles (216 km) – Total so far: 13,870 miles (22,322 km)

January 31, 2016 45 miles After a fun three nights in Bogota it was time to get back on the road. We timed it right because it was Sunday and traffic seemed lighter at least for a while. Before we knew it we were in the thick of traffic trying to negotiate partly on the road and partly on many bike paths. There are over 350 km of bike paths in Bogota. The morning was very tedious until we were outside the city. We felt lucky that neither of us were hit by a car, truck or bus. Many people tried but we outmaneuvered several close calls. Outside of town we soon began climbing and the weather turned cold around 8,900 feet. We stopped and donned some cold weather gear then the road dropped to 6,000 feet and warm again. We arrived in the small town of Silvania where we found a fairly new hotel that cost us less than $12. We love these prices! We had a nice meal in town then settled into our room for the night. It was a great start on our route south towards Ecuador.

February 1, 2016 59 miles We got a good early start and stopped in town for a breakfast of 2 eggs with rice. The first 30 miles was an up and down kind of day then we dropped quickly on a wild downhill into an oven like valley to 1,200 feet. With the temperature at 120 F we did struggle after the cold at elevation. Jocelyn was having trouble with cramping of her legs and we slowly rolled into the town of Espinal where we found an inexpensive hotel. The room was very small and would only fit one bike so we splurged on two rooms. Together the rooms cost $18.50 and this includes air conditioning! Across the street was a good restaurant where we ate bbq’d chicken and soup. Once again sleep came early.

February 2, 2016 30 miles This morning we awoke to a puncture on Jocelyn’s rear tire. It was another tiny tire wire. That makes three and three for us since Canada. We are having continuing problems with Jocelyn’s headset becoming loose every few days. We bought a large crescent wrench in Bogota and are using that to tighten both nuts. We know not to over torque these two nuts. Since we don’t know why this headset continually loosens we are asking if any of the readers have any suggestions. I do have Loctite and am considering a few drops on the nuts so they don’t back off. But there must be a reason it is loosening so quickly. We are trying to get used to Colombian food but since there is so much meat we are having a tough time. All soups come cooked with some sort of bony thing that we remove before eating. The other day Jocelyn received a bowl of soup full of fatty chunks of something. I like chicken but it always seems either over or under cooked. The beans are good though but once again they are full of meat fat. We do well at breakfast though with eggs and rice! But it would be nice to have a simple bowl of cereal, granola, and yogurt.

Jocelyn’s muscle spasms continued this morning. We are eating lots of bananas and drinking lots of water with Nuun tabs, an electrolyte enhanced drink tab I brought from home. The heat is intense. As we are at 4 degrees north latitude it will get worse. We continually take breaks in shady areas but it really got to us today after only 30 miles. So we are taking the afternoon off and resting.

Riding out of Bogota, Colombia on a Sunday morning.
Riding out of Bogota, Colombia on a Sunday morning.
This guy is really talented riding his bike and walking 4 dogs!
This guy is really talented riding his bike and walking 4 dogs!
Passing the on the street meat market. It looked like Iran.
Passing the on the street meat market. It looked like Iran.
This wasn't good as there were two lanes merging onto us. We got to the bike path on the right.
This wasn’t good as there were two lanes merging onto us. We got to the bike path on the right.
Too much traffic on the bike paths too.
Too much traffic on the bike paths too.
We have seen many different street vendors around the world. Here are fire extinguishers?
We have seen many different street vendors around the world. Here are fire extinguishers?
And of course there were many Pringle stands just in case you get the urge for Pringles while driving.
And of course there were many Pringle stands just in case you get the urge for Pringles while driving.
Climbing out of Bogota into the cold.
Climbing out of Bogota into the cold.
What a pretty valley we rode through.
What a pretty valley we rode through.
We spent the night in the small town of Silvania.
We spent the night in the small town of Silvania.
What a cool statue!
What a cool statue!
The attached plaque.
The attached plaque.
Riding to the top.
Riding to the top.
A very interesting 7,500 foot descent.
A very interesting 7,500 foot descent.
Yikes!
Yikes!

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Looks like a falcon head.
Looks like a falcon head.
Falling rocks and Where's Waldo?
Falling rocks and Where’s Waldo?
Once in the valley we cruised along a river.
Once in the valley we cruised along a river.
Palm trees in the Andees.
Palm trees in the Andees.
We tried palm tree wine. It was a bit sweet for us.
We tried palm tree wine. It was a bit sweet for us.
A nearby Colombian military base.
A nearby Colombian military base.
We were resting in the shade when a motorcyclist stopped and asked if we needed help.
We were resting in the shade when a motorcyclist stopped and asked if we needed help.
A Colombian roadie cycled with us into town.
A Colombian roadie cycled with us into town.
If any bike tech people know why Jocelyn's headset is coming loose every few days please write in the guestbook. We have a crescent wrench to tighten it but foresee more problems. Thank you.
If any bike tech people know why Jocelyn’s headset is coming loose every few days please write in the guestbook. We have a crescent wrench to tighten it but foresee more problems. Thank you.
I wonder what this guy was thinking as we rode by.
I wonder what this guy was thinking as we rode by.
We met a Colombian couple cycling the other way while we were resting in a roadside stand.
We met a Colombian couple cycling the other way while we were resting in a roadside stand.
A fine Colombian soda.
A fine Colombian soda.
Sweeping the maze for drying.
Sweeping the maze for drying.
Tonight we are staying in the town of Saldana.
Tonight we are staying in the town of Saldana.
A fine fish dinner.
A fine fish dinner.
The view from our hotel.
The view from our hotel.
A very fast descent.
A very fast descent.

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3 thoughts on “Riding out of Bogota and heading south in the intense heat

  1. “A very interesting 7,500 foot descent.”

    Hmm, interesting eh?? how about insane!

    Reminds me of a moment in the latest pixar movie we watched named: “A good dinosaur”. Although, that statue sums it up, pretty much.

    Here’s a few links to the gifs:

    http://giphy.com/gifs/thegooddinosaur-dino-the-good-dinosaur-3oEdv7QC7n6uCgWBqM

    and then

    http://giphy.com/gifs/thegooddinosaur-pixar-the-good-dinosaur-xTiTnryKJvXMO26vug

    Nice spot with the face in the rocks! Super inspiring for the current art I’m working on.

  2. Thanks Jim, Good to hear from you. We’ll try to find some teflon thread tape. Great idea. I hesitate on using the loc-tite.

  3. Threads on both the nut and forks may be worn and streched if you can find some teflon thread tape like used for pipes in plumbing and wrap the threads then tighten the nut it may help also lock tight may work.

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