Tuesday 3rd June 2025 La Virginia to La Pintada
Nice little meal in the wonderful eco restaurant cum hotel last night, sure we was the last one standing, which is a great feat for us, fair play it was only 19:30. Everyone had gone on their merry way, really cool place to stay, looks like they do a lot of school kids activities looking after the environment and encouraging wildlife conservation very impressive will certainly give them a five star review, top guys. Palo Verde Restaurant Eco Hotel.

Even the gate man was super friendly in the morning as he waved us goodbye with a slight shake of the head, thinking what an earth are these old guys upto, just smiled at him as we left. No maps for me today, as we had no WIFI , just do what I normally do pedal and turn when I am told to! Sometimes I am obedient, not very often though. Few little climbs, would tell you where we are going but have not got a scobby do, somewhere in the general direction of Medellín, I hope.

Knew we had a tunnel that might be a little bit leery, if they let us through, just keep pedaling nothing can go wrong, up we go with a massive sign warning of a tunnel “Tunel Arturo Gomez Jaramillo” not sure who he is, maybe the guy who let all the Hippos out in Colombia who knows, sure my editor will correct me in his usually diligent manner. [He was the head of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia in the 1930s: Ed] We still keep climbing through a bit of road works the guys waving us through, we both feel great we will get through the tunnel. We get to the entrance, have a bit of a chat with the workmen, sort out the headtorch and rear lights, then say “Vamos” lets go, oh no Mr security pops up, rambles on for about 5 mins, the gist of it is we can’t cycle have to get a lift, the workmen give us a wry smile. Of we go down the road with our tails between our legs and start thumbing, me always trying for an extra inch, go back to the workmen and ask them if they can take us through, for some dollars, sure one guy wanted to, but his miserable boss put a stop to it.

No worries the sun always shines on the good, forgot the biblical term righteous I think, so what we waited and thumbed a lift. Sure as eggs are eggs after about 40 minutes two vans stopped plastered with logos “Ushuaia to Alaska”, they had no room in the vans, but such good people came up with a plan! tie the bikes on the back of one van, put all the bags in the front van, with the two big dogs, then Bingo in one van and me in the other, as we slowly went through the tunnel, so good and wonderful people. We all got out the other side hug, handshakes and smiles all around, loads of pictures and exchanging social media stuff and stickers: “CALIMBA BUCEANDO POR AMERICA” and AL EXITO SIN ESCALA” CALIMBA DIVING THROUGH AMERICA and TO SUCCESS WITHOUT A SCALE respectably, really great character that will stay with me forever, great people respect and one more thing “We are not Hippies we are Happies”
Once again so humble to meet such wonderful people, thats what this game is all about viajes seguros to all and sundry keep the red flag flying and travel.

With all our good-byes and safe travel off we went on are separate ways with the same common goal travel and help people what a great philosophy, really gives you a boost when you meet like minded people who are willing to go the extra mile to help another traveller, actually met them again as we went through the peaje, they had to queue up we just skip around the right hand lane, nice little wave and toot of the horn. Lovely bit of downhill now, with a few little spikes, nothing serious, originally heading for a little town La Felisa, but think that may change and put on a few extra miles, first on the agenda is to get down to the Cauca river then hug the fast flowing river, the road was glorious, reminiscent of the Wye valley down to Chepstow, just that the river was flowing a lot faster and the valley a bit steeper and higher, lovely riding. Stopped for a bite to eat and a celebratory beer in a riverside restaurant, very nice setting food was the standard rice, beans and eggs, my staple diet. Also make the decision to push onto the town La Pintada, another two hours riding, the scenery is that good let’s do it. No hostel booked, but plenty available in the town, famous last words, but sure we will find a place. Nice easy pace following the river, think the river is flowing down hill, so the road must go down! They never do, as we start climbing up the valley, through the lovely green forest danger signs beware of the Anteaters and Armadillo, though we did not see any live ones, plenty of squashed Armadillos though. The road just went up into the forest making for a lovely view of the valley below, but hard work getting up there in the midday sun, like all good climbs, my favourite ones that is, there was a bar / restaurant at the top, just what I needed a cool beer, well plural beers. Just sitting on the table waxing lyrical about the days ride, cold beers marvellous, I just moved my sunglasses, then got stung by a little wasp thing, mate sometimes these make me go into an anaphylaxis, had a night in hospital last summer due to the blighters. The thing is the sting does not hurt, but getting good at understanding what goes on so with my EpiPen at the ready, just relaxed, with a minute I get a itchy feeling all over my body, then start to swell, waited for this to happen, brilliant nothing, Bingo asks how I am, said feeling confident that all is good, as he takes a drink out of beer then spits a wasp out, sod the even / odd numbers we are out of here, carefully checked my beer then obviously finished it before we left.

About 10 miles from La Pintada, all downhill, back to the riverside, then the warning signs appeared for Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana), sure enough there was loads of them laying in the sun, then scuttling off as we sped past. Soon came in to La Pintada, Bingo noticed a riverside hotel complex, with chalets nice gardens, lets go in, all booked in for the night, just have to wait for the room to be ready, sat outside with a cold beer, and watched the hummingbirds dart around the shrubs, really difficult to get a good picture, they move so fast, also The Red-bellied Macaws in the oak trees, really great seeing the wildlife., little swim in the pool as we waited for the room to be prepared, had a shower – and got a few looks last time we dived into the pool with the cycling kit still on!

Nice relaxing meal, in a stunning setting, sorted out a route for tomorrow and was able to download it onto the Garmins, so all set for a big push into Medellín, tomorrow.