uesday 22nd April 2025 Olmos to Chulucanas
Courtney’s Birthday Many happy returns for the day, hope you had a great time in Ibiza

Nice meal last night, best part was the chocolate cake I threw into the shopping basket on the walk home, mixed it with vanilla yogurt and maple syrup what a combination it was delicious .

Still had enough yogurt for breakfast and loads of maple sauce my new favourite, hopefully will give me all the energy, as we left Olmos, through the airy, dark streets, just as the sun was rising. Soon out on the open road, feels very pleasant with a totally green background, very nice.

Heading for a little town Chulucanas, though a natural dry forest, sounds great, after the miles and miles of sand dunes, we have recently had. The scenery is incredible such a change, with little local farms, having their livestock on the road verges, very little traffic, a plethora of domesticated animals just wandering around the road side, lovely to see, the pigs, cows, donkeys, horses, goats, turkeys, chickens etc, if I have missed any sorry i was singing “Old Mac Donald had a farm” as we twisted through the green expanse. Even the dogs tried to behave, well most of them, still got a few who wanted to take a bit of succulent calf, they are a nuisance to say the least.

Really pleasant day riding, could hear the birds in the tree tops chirping away, few large lizards scampering over the road, most of them seemed to make it, the odd squashed one now and again, always easy to spot as the vultures do not miss a free meal, a they circle over us.

Just one little climb to today, had a little bit of a sting in its tail as it twisted up, nothing serious just a bit steep in places, truck had broken down right on a switch back, made it a bit leary for a while, made me think of the killers song “I predict a riot” always good for a rendition when the going get tough, sure thats another song, Kid Creole or something like that, on a roll now, soon had the little hill done with me murdering some classic songs.

Stopped for a soft drink, no coffee or ice cream, just a little pleasant shack, but thankful for it, as we now have 30 odd miles through the forest, with no towns or villages, we think! I always believe in the little oasis around the corner.

Met an extraordinary couple and their dog cycling up towards us, from Colombia, just north of Bogata – Diana and Didier and Thor the dog, [this link is the Insta account: Ed] the dog was shading under a blanket most of the time, love their bike set up, home made panniers, really nice flag on the back, just lovely eccentric couple, full of happiness. Had a lovely chat few photographs and exchanged social media contacts, straight away we they followed us and us them, loved it brilliant.

Just the rolling countryside without the little oasis, hey ho maybe next time, always looking at the positives, as we take in the glorious scenery, really smashing the ride today, just one little break, the legs are spinning, lungs full of the wonderfully clean air, what more could you ask for, well a little bar in the middle of nowhere would be nice, you never know!

Low and behold, we come around a corner, little hamlet La Vega-Agachadito, what do they say

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43 King James Bible [I changed the quote to the King James version – the usual version when we were growing up. “Love your neighbour, love your enemy” is pretty clear. “The sun will rise and the the rain will fall on everyone no matter what”, and “if you love those who love you a pub will always be around the corner”: Ed] I don’t understand most of it, will ask my Mum later, but there is a bar, so all good. Bingo got excited that a flock of Egrets (Garceta) landed in three trees (try saying that after a few beers) over the road, lovely site, though to be honest I was more interested in getting the liquid refreshments sorted.

Nice lunch with a few cold beers chucked in, Bingo did check the map, only 12 miles to go, so obviously I said let have another one then, never like leaving on even numbers, another one of my cycling rules (they do change, sometimes never like leaving on odd numbers but just how i feel on the day), the lads have finally got used to my weird and wonderful ways.

Well the 12 miles flew by, mainly because it was fueled by “Cristal” little local beer” that good we was merrily literally cycling along and missed the massive sign Hotel Boutique little 360 we soon had it all booked up, before you knew it we was in the roof top pool, doing the lengths and enjoying the day.

Good days riding, lovely road and brilliant views.