Making my way back towards Medellin (very slowly and circuitously) I was heading down to near sea level again. And once more it was becoming uncomfortably hot. Having previously been told by a taxi driver about the tragedy of Armero, I wanted to visit the town. Thousands died here after the eruption of the volcano … Continue reading Up a volcano, then down through a rain forest
(Click on pictures to enlarge where necessary) Having decided not to travel north I had much more time to explore the Department of Boyacá. The first day or two, I will confess, I wasn’t sure it was the friendliest place. My cries of ‘Buenas!’ (shortened version of Buenas tardes, or ‘good afternoon’) were met with … Continue reading Oh boy, Boyacá!
(For the instagrammers who wish to follow there, just search for 'nomadstu’) Setting off from Medellin, my intention was to slowly head North to the coast. I had no fixed plan, other than to take a circuitous route via some of the towns and villages of Boyaca, a region I hadn’t previously visited. First stop … Continue reading Escape to the hills!
The picture above is from my time in Medellin in 2018. The sheer joy of the music and dance in a public square in the Centro area made it one of my favourite memories. I revisited the square this time, and wasn't surprised to find the same musician creating the same incredible atmosphere (see below). … Continue reading All roads lead to Medellin
After a longer than expected experience in the corporate world, once again I find myself with the luxury of having time to travel. My first visit to Colombia in 2018 was incredible, and I've been promising myself for the past five years that I would return. Of course there's a danger somewhere that was new … Continue reading Colombia, I’ve missed you!
So, this is it. The final instalment of my travels. Hurray, I hear you cry.... A little over 10 000 kms after setting off from Medellin, I rolled into Berlin. The ride home continued to be hugely enjoyable, albeit for pure cycling adventure the Spanish Basque region was definitely the highlight in Europe. I took … Continue reading Basque country to Berlin
Since watching the musical ‘Evita’ in London as a child, Buenos Aires had always held a fascination for me. Needing to relax for a while after the brutal ride South, I decided to fly from Ushuaia to BA and then take a number of weeks to get to know the city a little. And what … Continue reading Buenos Aires to Madrid. And into the Basque region….
This entry covers the last leg of cycling in South America – the journey to the ‘end of the world’ (‘fin del mundo’). Ushuaia isn’t actually the end of the world, but it is the southernmost city in the world, hence 'fin del mundo'. Having finished the Carretera Austral, our intrepid group of 10 cyclists … Continue reading Journey to the end of the world
This post is going to be an attempt to get the blog more up to date (I claim lack of good internet and exhaustion as my defence). It covers a lot of distance, so I will try to let the pictures do most of the talking! From Bariloche I was finally into Patagonia. This vast … Continue reading The Carretera Austral
Having relaxed for a couple of days with my friends, I set off for a bit of exploring without the bike, first to Valparaiso and then to Santiago’s central district. Valparaiso is a bohemian city on the coast, famous for being a home at one time to Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet. It has a … Continue reading Santiago, Valparaiso, and the road to Patagonia
I had long been looking forward to Mendoza. I’d heard great things about the food there, and then of course there’s the wine…… In the event it was even better than expected. Not only did the food and wine live up to (or indeed exceed) expectations, the countryside, the scenery, and the warmth of the … Continue reading Mendoza to Santiago – Wine, steak, pumas, headwinds and mountain passes.
I hope everyone had a great time over the holidays and that 2019 has started well. I had a wonderful time with my friends in Santiago and got going again on the 2nd of January. I'm currently on the doorstep of Patagonia, but as you know, the blog is a little behind….. After the tough … Continue reading Cowboys and Canyons
Leaving our unexpected and comfortable accommodation at the border, Stephano, Tracey and I set off towards the next town (some 68 kms away). We were promised that the Police there would be expecting our arrival and would be happy for us to camp behind the police station. The corrugated concrete road surface, together with sand, … Continue reading What’s new, Argentina?
(Or for those who prefer song to film: 'Riding through the desert on a bike with no name') Having spent the night in Tacna, Peru, the next day had me cycling through the desert for the first time. I only had 60kms to ride to cross the border into Chile where I was to stay … Continue reading One billboard outside nowhere, Atacama…
As usual, sorry for the delay in posting and consequent length - there's a lot to catch up on! So after much deliberation, I'd decided to visit Galapagos after all. I’d been in a quandary as I’d read that the best way to experience the islands is on a cruise (albeit they have small boats … Continue reading Galapagos and Peru – travels without my bicycle
Nomad Stuart 