Tuesday 27th May 2025 Ipiales to Pasto
Border towns always a bit weird, same with Ipiales, staff in the restaurants not great, first one we tried the girl was on her phone all the time, had a beer then gave up, just paid for the beer, second one got some beers, but did not touch them, they did not have a clue, so we walked out! they had opened the beers, tried to make us pay for them, I just stood behind Bingo has he said No, in the fearsome manner of his. Half expecting the Colombian cartels to be after us (they still might me, though they will struggle to catch us, we don’t know where we are going, so they won’t have a clue), ended up going to the pasta place, where we had lunch, least they like us, great pasta dish again so all good. Then back to the digs, after a little walk through the central plaza.

Another big day of climbing today, so loaded up on the chocolate and cereal, before we headed out, hopefully it will stay down today, few steep nasty little climbs as we weaved our way out of Ipiales, few little cheers from the lads on their way to work, always makes you feel better. Soon got on the highway, nice tarmac and a wide hard shoulder, something us cyclist love, so made really good progress in the early hours, all good knowing that we have a couple of long climbs to tackle later. So enjoy the good times while they last as sweep down the stunning mountain, wind in my hair feels great songs belting out, enjoying the ride, as we came upto a fantastic bridge I signaled to Bingo I was pulling over, which I did. However he was nowhere to be seen, took some pictures and waited, was a bit strange as there was also no traffic on the road, tried calling him and pin dropped my location, was a bit concerned after 15 mins had passed, then the traffic started to flow with Bingo doing his upmost to keep up with them, think he clocked over 50 MPH, pretty good going on a touring bike. Seems they stopped the traffic after I sailed through, to let some abseilers attache the rock fall protection, allegedly the traffic marshal could not put up with my singing. Stopped for a soft drink and coffee in a newly opened service area, not had the nice Colombian coffee yet though had to settle with instant, no worries, enjoyed the view, with the nagging thought in the back of my head, that we now have to climb back up the other side of the mountain, worry about that later.

Not long before the little green monster appears on my Garmin, well its mainly black indicating a steep hill, they don’t lie, so once again get into the groove clear my head of any negative thoughts and pedal, it took us around 4 hrs to climb the mountain, all good though plenty of cheery waves and encouragement as slowly made are way up. No cafes or rest area’s so stopped and had a snack on the armco barrier, waving at the traffic as it goes by.

Felt so good to reach the summit, it always does, just a gentle ride in to Pasto, stopped on the outskirts for a spot of lunch and a beer, only one, as the town seems very busy and not used to the Colombian drivers, they are not so considerate as their Ecuadorian neighbours, back to the beeping horns and hazard lights on for no apparent reason. Slowly merged in to the traffic flow, only about 5 miles but very leary no one giving an inch it seemed, was glad when we turned off the main road, heading to the hostel Bingo had booked while we where having lunch. Hostel all sorted, now for the game of have we got a decent hot shower, maybe we would have if we paid the extra £1, but the shower gods are on our side today, hot shower and wash the kit, then rest, get ready to do it all again in the morning.