Saturday 26th April 2025 Puyango to El Guabo
Mate that was an early night, just as we started dinner some rice thing with bits of fish and shells in it, it was really nice, lots of rice, not to keen on the shells, seem a bit crunchy, but a really big, just what we needed. A tropical storm blew across, all good just that the rain was joined together for a few hours, blew the electrics, Bingo the ace electrician, springs into action and gets two more beers, before the fridge get warm, priorities need to be adhered to.

Morning campers, just a steady downpour now, easing off, we both say, as we munch the cold porridge and nuts, pacing our little janitors room, like caged lions ready to devour a gladiator or tackle a little 9 mile climb straight away, we lasted 5 mins, sod this sitting around let do it, put on the soaking wet kit and packed the bikes up, left only about 06:30, we could only manage 30 mins looking at each other, what we going to do now then, ride.

Waved good bye to the janitor, not sure where he slept last night, but seemed pretty cheerful, so well done to him for giving up his quarters for the needy, as he opened the gates up to the roads, not sure how it will be, loads of debris as we start off, go past a little police check as we start the climb, they say ‘Estar cansado de los deslizamientos de tierra’ be weary of the land slides, with a smile. Fair play there was not much traffic on the road and they all went very steady, mudslides, tree falls all over the place, all we got was a thumbs up and a well done wave, drivers were so considerate, well they did not know what was around the next sweepback. Early morning birds lively, have a few to note, from the early session, namely the following, Bingo ever intrepid on the bird watch, me just trying to stay upright. So for starters today, we had Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, one of Bingo’s finds, I looked but just seen a tree! Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) I did see loads of these sweet little thing sitting on the wires mainly, then a Barred Hawk (Morphnarchus princeps), seen this one above us, could have been any thing really with my eyes, but seemed like it was a gracious glider.

Still climbing this little hill, but so nice, no litter, signs everywhere saying to not contaminate the countryside fair play to the Ecuadorians, makes such a pleasant change, nice to have pleasant thoughts as we amble up this quite nice hill or mountain, just taking our time in the right gear, all good. We stop just before the top, only because a busy coffee shop is there and they wave us in, most of the drivers had passed up coming up, what a welcome, nice cup of coffee and a soft drink, little chat with all the drivers, one guy had a RAF sweatshirt on, not sure he knew though, tried to explain, but lost in the wild world of words. Finish the last bit of the climb with ease, then just through the lovely forest, for the next section. We stopped on a bridge overlooking a river with two massive lizards, strolling around without a care in the world, must have been 4 feet long, lovely sight.

Beautiful ride through the forest then into the banana plantations, seems like everyone is wearing yellow wellies and have a massive knife, they must be free issue from DOLE Bananas , big multinational company, that runs most of the plantations, not my thing really, but they do seem to look after the local environment, will need to look into it a bit more, but still lots of wildlife around, so that good.

Still looking around for more animals, seen a squirrel scurrying around the hedges, Bingo reckons it was a Guayaquil squirrel (Sciurus stramineus), I just seen it move, Bingo got a good sighting, but nice seeing all the wildlife again.

Last little stretch for today, on a slightly busier road, nice hard shoulder and drivers very courteous, not in a hurry as we rolled into the surprising busy town El Guabo, nothing booked but had a place in mind, duly turned up there only to be told they are fully booked, we had just checked on booking.com they said they had rooms and a booking ref, still no joy, with the miserably girl at the reception, hey ho we found another place around the corner so all good, the guy could not have been more helpful, Bingo even gave him a beer, so all’s well that ends well.

Nice shower and relax for the afternoon.