Colombia

05.01.2018 Total: 9503 km
Pamplona- Cucuta: 91 km

Today we had a really long ride downhill- about 70 km. Our host in Cucuta warned us that it was very difficult to cross the border to Venezuela. We might have to think about another route if we are not allowed to cross the border. We are going to try crossing on Sunday as it won't be that busy. I hope we are lucky.

My host and his daughter in Bogota

04.01.2018 Total: 9411 km
Leticia- Pamplona: 99 km

Today we cycled up to 3900 metres ASL. We rode the first 26 km on a road which was in very bad condition.

Almost at the top.

Finally at the top (3900 metres ASL)

03.01.2018 Total: 9312 km
Malaga- leticia: 43 km

Today we cycled up to 3350 km and tomorrow we are going up to 4000 metres ASL. I had thought I wouldn't have to cycle to 4000 metres again after Ecuador but here we are.

As it rained today, we had to look for a dry place to put up our tents. Thanks God we were able to find one.

My view from the tent 

02.01.2018 Total: 9268 km
Soata- Malaga: 69 km

Although we are supposed to be in the dry season, we've had to put up with rain every day :-(

Camping near Soata

01.01.2018 Total: 9199 km
Belen- Soata: 83 km

On 31st December we camped near a river in a very remote area so no New Year's party for us. The only sound we heard was that of the river flowing. Today we cycled to 3400 metres ASL. The landscape was beautiful.

The river next to which we camped

31.12. Total: 9116 km
Tunja- Belen: 90 km

Camilo, our host in Tunja.

Camping on a cow farm next to a river on New Year's Eve. 

Church in Santa Rosa, a very nice small town

A Colombian cyclist who rode a little bit with us

30.12. Total: 9026 km
Ventaquemada- Tunja: 40 km

Church in Tunja

Plaza en Tunja

29.12. Total: 8996 km
Bogotá- Ventaquemada: 123 km

Todaywas the first day I cycled with my friend Stefan.

Bogotá at night

Camilo, my host in Bogotá, and Stefan

27.12. Total: 8863 km
Bogotá- Bogotá: 33 km

Today I visited old town Bogota.

26.12. Total: 8830 km
Bogotá- Bogotá: 25 km

My host in Bogotá.

25.12. Total: 8805 km
Bogotá- Bogotá: 31 km

Today I went sightseeing in Bogotá. I also went to a bike shop to have the chain, brakes and some other things changed and bought a bike for Stefan, a friend of mine who's joining me for a couple of months.

Tamal: a typical Colombian dish people eat on 25th. December.

24.12.Total: 8773 km
La Mesa- Bogotá: 72 km

Today I woke up at 3:40 am after a sleepless night. It rained very heavily the whole night causing landslides. Christmas celebrations started early and people must have drunk a lot in the evening as the streets were covered in broken glass. Luckily my tires don't get punctured so easily. The road was particularly dangerous today. I saw a motorbike without headlights run over a dog- the man was really lucky not to crash. Like in Peru, I was attacked by many  stray dogs. I don't know what's wrong with dogs in the mountains!

In La Mesa making mango juice and jam

Mango jam

Mango juice

My host, from Bogota

Arriving in Bogota

20.12. Total: 8701 km
Girardot- La Mesa: 74 km

Today I cycled with a couple from Colombia who rode race bikes. It was quite hard for me to keep up with them. The good thing was that then in La Mesa I was very fast.  They told me that I would have to cycle 35 km uphill . I'm leaving La Mesa on 24th so those 34 km uphill will be my Christmas present ;-)

A strange-looking church in Girardot

A normal- looking church in Girardot

17.12. Total: 8627 km
El Guamo- Girardot: 48 km

I'm puzzled. Since I arrived in Colombia I've been trying to buy bread that doesn't taste sweet. I've tried different bakeries and even asked for salty bread but nothing :-( Bread in Colombia is sweet.

View of Girardot from the flat I'm staying in

16.12. Total: 8579 km
Villavieja- El Guamo: 110 km

Crossing the Magdalena river in such a small boat was quite an adventure.

The boatman told me to get off here and ride along this path. There was absolutely nothing except for  thousands of stupid mosquitoes.

15.12. Total: 8468 km
Neiva- Villavieja: 73 km

Today I set off at 6 am. First I rode to Villavieja to leave my bags at the hostel where I was spending the night and then I rode to the Tatacoa desert. The landcape was beautiful so I decided to go on a ride and hike trip but it ended up being a "push and carry your bike" sort of trip. I got lost once but it was actually my fault- I didn't pay much attention to road signs.

My host in Neiva

In their spare time people in Colombia make stone men... ;-P

14.12. Total: 8394 km
Neiva-Neiva: 15 km

Today I stayed in Neiva and cycled a bit round the city. It's boiling here.

Church in Neiva

Fish market in Neiva

13.12. Total: 8379 km
Garzón- Neiva: 127 km

Yesterday my hosts and I visited the longest bridge in Colombia.

My hosts in garzón

The longest bridge in Colombia is 127 km long

Garzón

11.12. Total: 8251 km
Pitalito- Garzón: 78 km

I stayed in Pitalito for 3 days. My hosts were really cool. One of them is planning a trip to Austria in August and the other one in September 2018. It will be great to have the chance to show them my beautiful Austria ;-)

Admer from Pitalito

Hunting in the jungle in Colombia. Joke: we just  shoot targets

One of my hosts in Pitalito. He's visiting me in August 2018

Church in Garzón

8.12. Total: 8173 km

Mocoa- Pitalito: 143 km

Today I started cycling at 4:30 am. I started at 600 metres ASL and cycled up to 2300 metres ASL. The weather was very unstable and had both sunshine and rain on the very same day.

Closed street because of a landslide

6.12. Total: 8030 km

Santa Ana- Mocoa: 77 km

I was exhausted today. I have been cycling a lot in the heat and rain lately. It takes up a lot of energy to cycle in this climate.

5.12. Total: 7952 km

Nueva Loja- Santa Ana: 130 km

Today I crossed the border into Colombia. It was quite easy and didn't take long. There were two Customs officers in an office, one from Ecuador and the other from Colombia. Both of them put a stamp on my passport and I was free to enter the country :-)

Look at the state of that road! Even my arms hurt!