I did not ride a bike today. What I did do is take a jeep ride to hike around in the Cocora Valley to see the wax palm trees. Ironically, everything I was on today was totally suitable for biking 🤦♂️.
This valley is unreal. Extremely lush and green, wildly hilly, and with the wax palms. Up to 200 feet tall, they are the second tallest species of tree after sequoias. Beautiful.
After that I got some food on the main square and walked around town a few times. Like I mentioned, it is a beautiful colonial town, and so of course overrun with tourists. I didn’t take many pictures, but here are a few.
And the mandatory food pics:
I’m staying in a cabina that Karen stayed in when she was here 6 years ago. If I liked Salento more, I’d stay here one more day just for this cute little place. It’s big enough for a bed and a bike and not much else.
Alas, I should keep moving. Problem is, I’m not sure where. I have almost completely given up on trying to follow the route I came here to ride. I was prepared for tough riding, but not this tough. I have no way of knowing what the road conditions will be like until I’m on them, and once at a place where I can go no further, it’s not like I can just take the next right or left to better conditions.
So I spent the afternoon planning different places to ride. Any and all options still include a lot of uphill, pretty short daily distances and a bus back to Bogotá towards the end of the week, but it’ll be on mostly paved roads. I lose some of the beautiful scenery and off the beaten path towns, which is unfortunate, but I gain the ability to actually ride a bike and enjoy myself while doing so 😄.
It looks like a colorful, quaint town. Too bad about the bike trails, now what you expected but you never know until you get there. From the pictures you’ve posted you’ll have beautiful scenery even from the highway. Bike safe.
Sounds like a wonderful tour, including the change in plans. Bike safe.
Love the colourful houses. The food looks SO good.
You are wise and are making great decisions, Chad. All the ground you are covering is filled with awesome scenery, picturesque food (or vice versa) and people who know what living and giving is about. Any route you take hereon in, will be wonder and full of memories to last a lifetime. Enjoy!
I think you’re the wise one friend
Holy beautiful!! Those palm trees are amazing. The cream cheese ice cream thing looks yummy – was it more creamy and savory or sweet? All the food looks good.
Hope you enjoyed taking a day to explore and just switch up this trip as you need to.
It was a little bit sweet but not too sweet