charleysblog

Lots more riding in the heat. As soon as I think I’ve become accustomed to it, I am presented with a big hill and struggle again. I like the little towns along my way. Outside of one, I spotted a “resort hotel”. The sign said so, so who was I to argue. It even included […]

Ready and packed, at 0545 with four liters of water and electrolytes , I sped (😁) off. Turned out that after a mile of flat, the next almost two miles were an uphill to get over the hump splitting the city in two. So, I was dripping with sweat by the fifteen minute mark.  From

15 miles (25km) to my finca ( farm) above the town of Minca, in the mountains. Ready First five miles were easy, flat roads. The problem was motorcycles everywhere. If right lane is crowded they will go on other side of the road, weaving between opposing traffic. They ride up on sidewalks to get around traffic

Here’s the story of my visit to the KOGI village PART 2 Rukmini, my guide, wore a turban and had a bindi on his forehead. He explained that he studied meditation and yoga in India for ten years and now is a meditation and yoga teacher here in Colombia. He carried a peaceful, calm energy

The  bike ride to the city of Palomino seemed easy compared to the prior ride, with only a few short hills at the end. Coming into town, I looked for Carreterra 6, meaning the boulevard rather than the street. This “boulevard” was a small dirt road off the main highway, complete with potholes you could

Just finished my first ride and arrived at my hostel in Los Naranjos. Anna, the host, asked why I booked a double room when a single with a double bed instead of two tiny single beds in a room which was cheaper. When I reserved it on booking.com the double was all they showed available, so

I woke at 0430, did my morning breathing, stretching and exercise routines and now sit to write. I’m trying to capture the feelings I have with this day to be out in the heat and traffic and the unknown. Lots of questions swirl around in my mind. How hard will it be? Is it that

I thought I would share some of my trip planning ideas and first impressions of Colombia. TRIP PLANNING Since I wanted to stay off the main highway north to south, I get to plan my own route. First I want to explore the Tayrona National Park and the Sierra Nevada mountains, both in the northeast

I still haven’t ridden my bike here yet as I’m acclimating myself to the heat and culture and language. I took the free walking tour of Cartagena sponsored by my hostel. There was couple from Washington DC, but everyone else was from Netherlands, Germany, France, UK, New Zealand and a family from the south of Colombia.

Well, my bike and I made it to Colombia. We landed in Cartagena after a two and a half hour flight from Miami. I was sitting in row 9, so was one of the first off the plane. Felt like Alaska flying in that there is no tunnel to walk off the plane, just a