Cali Colombia and beyond

Since the trip to Cali was described to us as a ten-hour day, we left Bogota at 5:00AM in order to “beat the traffic.” We soon discovered that Bogota is inhabited by early risers, and due to the traffic and our navigational confusion, it took some time to get out of town. The riding for the first part of the trip was a trial by fire initiation to the ways of the road in Colombia. Passing large trucks between the sharp curves became an acquired skill, as we weaved our way through the slower heavy traffic. After a roadside breakfast, we soon started climbing into the mountains and the scenery went from mundane to spectacular. At higher altitudes the mountains became bright green and rugged with clouds above us and below us. It was a definite challenge maintaining the requisite concentration of pressing through the traffic between the switchbacks while being awestruck by the vistas. The description of the length of the trip proved true, and we arrived in Cali in the late afternoon, having covered a little more than 300 miles throughout the day. Fortunately, we found another pleasant place to stay, the Casa Blanca Hostel in a bustling neighborhood of Cali. After an outstanding dinner at a Peruvian restaurant, we were planning our next day’s ride to Pasto, our final stop in Colombia before crossing into Ecuador.

Have you seen many of these in your local gas station?

This little tike refused to smile for the camera dispite her mother and brother both carrying out all types of silly antics behind me.

As we approached Cali we stopped for gas and a little break. As Chris and I were standing around a guy rushes up and starts asking us all the normal questions. Soon he is on his mobile phone and within a few minutes his family shows up at the gas station. They were a delight to talk to and of course we all had to take a round of pictures.

Here is the Hostal where we stayed, the Casa Blanca. The owner Mike goes out of his way for people traveling on motorcycles. Its a nicely run hostel and we enjoyed the stay. Thanks Mike. Leaving Cali was harder than getting in to Cali. It seems Sundays are big food market days. We got stuck in the middle of it but enjoyed the sights.

The locals that lived up in the mountains would travel by bus from town and then have their goods packed up to the village by pack mules.

A lunch stop on the way to Posta for some famous Colombian Chicken and Potato soup. Seems they really didn't have chicken today. We were not sure what kind of meat was in the soup. The potatoes and broth were good.

While we were at the restaurant a Canadian couple pulled up on two 650 Dakar BMWs. They were north bound having circumnavigated the South American continent starting in Guyana. We were impressed. You can check out Brent and Carrie's story at http://www.aquest.ca/.

We got pulled over by the Colombian police. It turned out to be a bit of a love fest complete with exchanging names of popular Hip Hop artist. They, of course, won.