Canoa to Cuenca-March 17 2018 Cuenca to Loja March 18 2018

Juliya and I left Sundown at 6:30 am under warm sunny conditions but by afternoon we would be riding in fog and heavy rain before reaching Cuenca about 6 pm. Booked in at Chasky Wasy a place I stayed at over Christmas........a luke warm shower helped the chill of being wet for half the day but the wine and a nice dinner at a Mexican Restaurant more than topped of a good day.

 

 ready to roll

 mini breakfast early1st stop

Above Cuenca...highest elevation

A late start around noon was a mistake as we would ride in rain for the better part of the afternoon....though it did lead to an interesting stop over in a quaint town called Cumbe just about a 1/2 hour outside of Cuenca.....here Julia had a mechanic adjust her bike for altitude and while he was doing that we wandered into the town where Juliya purchased a replacement rain suite for the one she tore yesterday.....we stayed a little longer after the bike was adjusted for lunch.....rain suites were in order shortly after........but both of us ended up soaked again....Juliya due to a tear again in the trousers and me with leaking seams. We arrived about 6:45 and found a hostel  before heading out to a Parrilla Meat dinner and bottle of wine to wash it down........tomorrow I head off on my own and say goodbye to a new friend....thanks Juliya for getting me this far....

 Bike in for repair

 The pueblo of Cumbe

 pig on tap...I think she is hungry

 she needs a rain suite

 late afternoon coffee break and rain suite repair

    

Canoa-Final week-March 15 2018

 Tuesday evening, Dave convinced the students from the Annapolis Naval Academy To join us at Trivia night which is held weekly at The Surf Shack Bar....their young minds would certainly be of help.....though we had a score of 33 out of 40...we placed 4th.

 A tie had occurred so the 2 tables sent up dancers as a breaker.

 I may be a little wide for the return trip.....

 

Patricia Taking some snaps at an Eco Farm we visited last week called Rio Muchacho.operated by a New Zealand woman and her Ecuadorian husband......Eco visitors pay to work on the farm in exchange for R&B

  

 Julyia with passion fruit in hand

 my camera has developed a spot problem

Geta having a rest

 Julyia,Patricia, a girl from France & Geta

 Lunch served from organic foods in wooden bowels/spoons made from local fruit shells......

 Geta resting again

 Julyia trying to crank up the Eco bike water pump 

 Last nights sunset taken by Julyia

Canoa Gone Exploring-March 10/11 2018

  The past week I have had the company of a lovely young woman from Kazakhstan, Julyia (Luba)  who yesterday took me to a waterfall which most travellers would never see.......she has been coming to Canoa for the past 5 years and rides a moto. 

 This destination initially took us more directly but on curvy roads ( not Shown as Google maps cannot locate it ) so it was more a circular route. From San Isidro we entered a gravel road leading us to a trail head which we followed on foot to a remote farm house, Julyia, negotiated passage through her property for .50 each but gave her $2.00. The climb in and out was strenuous with the hot sun beating down and wearing full riding gear, as we had to carry all our possessions, having parked the bikes on the side of the road. a kilometer away.

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 We rode back to San Isidro for a chicken Lunch 

 

 This was our group from Sundown as of March 10th...missing is Geta ( Sangeetha ) . Juliya and I rode out to the Micro Brewery and joined our friends on our return.

Pictured L to R Barry Reid ( Huntsville Ontario now full time in Canoa ) Dave ( Ottawa ) Patricia ( New York) Juliya ( Luba )( Kazakastan ) Don ( California, now full time Canoa )....the alcohol at the brew is 8% so you must be careful to limit one's consumption....later this evening the party continued at Don's residence over wine and beer...not a good mix but enjoyable amongst new friends.

 
 
 Today,Sunday we rode up to Jama and out to the coast where Julyia purchased a 13k fish to feed 11 of us at Sundown this evening. Trying to stuff a 3 plus metre fish in the top box of her moto was interesting.....

Sunday Juliya planned on barbecuing a fish for all at Sundown....11 in all including Tony and Chris from next door plus 2 more young Canadians who arrived Saturday.....This led us to a beach Town outside Jama...( Ken if you are reading this the road to the beach was next to the Service Station we fuelled up where they were replacing the bridge and I used the handy cap washroom in error ).....Why so far away from Canoa a fishing village itself....not sure and I didn't ask...haha. The fish Luba purchased was 13 lbs and a short battle ensued to get it in the top box of her moto.

 Juliya preparing....smothered in onions,tomatoes, mayo and previously marinated in Lemon (Lime) juice.....Dave would do the barby while Julia and Roxanne made a salad.  

   

Canoa Still Chilling-March 8 2018

I am the only one left of the original transient group......Dave from Ottawa showed up last week and this is his 3rd year visiting Sundown......this week Seta from India but now living in Toronto On. arrived. The bike is running smoothly and I have taken it out almost daily for short runs. The longest was a trip along the Chone River to break the new engine parts in.....100k....then change out the oil to 100% synthetico as per Toby's instructions.

 Sangeetha (Seta) & Dave

 My break in ride took me across the Chone River which was blocked by Debris caught up under this bridge......result of heavy rains the night before. I would encounter mud numerous times from small landslides along the way.....and by the time I reached Bahia on a circular route I was covered in mud.....

 On the west side of the Chone camaron farms.....

 The Bahia/San Vicente bridge in the distance

 In need of a good cleaning ...my riding suite required getting into the shower with it on and soaping while showering....

 

 Daily walks on the beach meeting these riders exercising their horses........

 

 Marine life, likely discarded by fishermen after recovering their catch from the nets