It was very easy to cycle out of Popayan. Although the cycling for the rest of the day was reasonably strenuous. When you’ve climbed up to 1900 metres, dropped down 400 metres and repeat that a few times, it’s a touch on the tiring side.

Along the way, I met Jeff and Rose, an older Australian couple who were cycling from Cancun to Argentina. If I had to guess their ages, I would say late 50’s early 60’s (if wrong, many apologies!). Its great to see age being no barrier on cycling trips like this, and hopefully, I will still be doing crazy things like this into my seventies!!

After a roadside chat, I cycled on ahead and met them in a restaurant for lunch. What a pleasant change to have a decent conversation in English! From where we had stopped, it was only 15 kms or so to the town of El Bordo where we stayed at the same bargain hotel. At 15,000 a room it was a good one and affordable, more so for Jeff and Rose who paid the same price for their room. I really should get a cycling partner for these trips!