Some catch up stepping miles on Monday. The group pulls in just under 918 miles - WOOHOO.
On Route E25 north by northeast through Machala, with the Pacific ocean in all its glory to our left, venturing back into the northern Andes mountains into the state/province of Chimborazo before connecting to E35. Through the Andes winding roads with volcanos on either side (inactive Chimborazo on the left, very active Tungurahua on the right), through Ambato. past active volcano Cotopaxi (news alert - our guide has a death wish).
At this point we once again cross the equator, moving from very late fall to very late spring, and sort of wishing we could walk on water to trek the 700 miles or so to the Galapagos islands, biological laboratory of the world! But we we trek on to Atuntaqui before crossing the border just north of Tulcan into Columbia. Past the high Andes towns of Balboa and Cali until arriving at Cartago, Columbia. We have re-entered areas previously part of the drug cartel universe, though much of that has splintered since the main cartels were splintered in the 1990s.
Columbia is still a beautiful country with massive biodiversity, from rain forests to the high Andes mountains. We will be very glad to be at lower elevations as truly this type of hiking would be much tougher at these altitudes.
The next section will again be tough as we fast approach central America.
Once again mind melding with current events, the U.S. national soccer team plays Ecuador next on Thursday 6/16 - be there!!!
On Route E25 north by northeast through Machala, with the Pacific ocean in all its glory to our left, venturing back into the northern Andes mountains into the state/province of Chimborazo before connecting to E35. Through the Andes winding roads with volcanos on either side (inactive Chimborazo on the left, very active Tungurahua on the right), through Ambato. past active volcano Cotopaxi (news alert - our guide has a death wish).
At this point we once again cross the equator, moving from very late fall to very late spring, and sort of wishing we could walk on water to trek the 700 miles or so to the Galapagos islands, biological laboratory of the world! But we we trek on to Atuntaqui before crossing the border just north of Tulcan into Columbia. Past the high Andes towns of Balboa and Cali until arriving at Cartago, Columbia. We have re-entered areas previously part of the drug cartel universe, though much of that has splintered since the main cartels were splintered in the 1990s.
Columbia is still a beautiful country with massive biodiversity, from rain forests to the high Andes mountains. We will be very glad to be at lower elevations as truly this type of hiking would be much tougher at these altitudes.
The next section will again be tough as we fast approach central America.
Once again mind melding with current events, the U.S. national soccer team plays Ecuador next on Thursday 6/16 - be there!!!