Sunday 1st June 2025 Peurto Tejada to Andalucia
Well we are in June and still riding, the way it’s going we could still be going next June, provided my darling wife Sandra agrees, already been reprimanded for using the wrong card, sorry I provisionally apologies, so looking forward to seeing you in Texas, in around nine weeks time. That’s enough of the lovey dovey stuff, let’s get on to the riding and animal spotting.

No regrets from last night, just a few beers in a local bar and a little snack, as the locals enjoyed their Saturday night, good luck to them, once upon a time I would have joined them, then smashed the ride the next day, bit older and wiser, (that’s debatable) just older I think.

Still up at the crack of dawn ready to rock and roll, we leave before 6, much to the disappointment of the girl at the desk, she looked like she had been at the Salsa club all night, bless her, I feel great. Still heading North to a town Tulua, we will just ride see what happens, great riding eating up the miles in the early morning, through the avenue of majestic oak trees, sure they are oak, but will check with my ever reliable editor (Steven House) doing a fabulous job of putting my jumble of words into some sort of readable narrative, well I done the research: “Quercus humboldtii, commonly known as the Andean oak, Colombian oak or roble, is a species of oak found only in Colombia and Panama. It is named from Alexander von Humboldt.”

Colombian Oak (Quercus humboldti)
So impressed with myself, I was sure it was oak. It was beautiful just like riding through the New Forest, Colombia also has the green and pleasant land.

All the Colombian local lads are getting ready to ride, it’s brilliant, loads of them waiting at the junctions, all giving us a big thumbs up, as we put on the pace, sure enough the lads pass us with a pat on the back and a massive smile, makes you feel good, Bingo and I got into a steady group and just enjoyed the help. One lad in particular Diego, was so keen to know what we were up to, brilliant lad, teaching me Spanish as we are rocking at 17mph, laughing and joking, turns out he is an electrician at a sugar refinery, actually we pass one of the refineries that he works at. Proper good lad, asks if we would like a coffee, sure we are going to a cafe, we end up having a coffee at his mates house. With the BBQ on full tilt, we have a coffee, Bingo has a big chorizo with a cheese fritter, I just have the cheese fritter, really nice great stop and lovely friends, loads of pictures and shaking of the hands, wonderful.

Managed to pull our self away from the party, it was only 09:00, said our farewells to Diego top guy and off we go again, still pushing the pace enjoying the ride, loads of other cyclists pushing us on, still very early in the morning so good to have all the other cyclists encouraging us, being from solid Aylesham stock keeping up with the peleton with consummate ease, chatting in broken Spanish and wallowing in the knowledge that Simon Yates had just won the Giro, all good fun.

The big peleton turned off with a massive wave and ‘viajes seguro’s ringing out from the crowd, made us feel so good, still only early and we have nearly finished the ride, easily sorted, let’s go a bit further, both feeling strong. Pull over for a coffee just as we should have turned off for Tulua, decide to push on a little further to a little town Andalucía, just 10 miles up the road, so no distance, stops us having to many beers, I dont think so, I pull over just before we enter the little town, Bingo says you all right, thirsty was my one word reply! few light refreshments before we head to the little hostel, all booked in ready to relax, cracking days riding.

Added a few more birds to our list to day: Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostri), Southern House Wren (Troglodytes musculus), Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), Carib Grackle (Quiscalus lugubris) and Yellow-headed Caracara (Daptrius chimachima).
Showered, washed the kit, then sat on the balcony and enjoyed the Colombian lazy Sunday afternoon. Good day, every day is a good day!