Spokes and Shoes

#219 Park National Cajas Intro Day 219 brought a deliberate shift in pace, a day away from the familiar rhythm of the bike. The morning started with a heavy blanket of sleep deprivation and a nagging worry, but the raw beauty of Parque Nacional Cajas pulled me forward. This was Read more

#218 A day riding in Cuenca Intro Day 218 unfolded in Cuenca, a city that already felt surprisingly welcoming. My initial mood was one of quiet motivation, ready to explore, but the day quickly veered from my solo plans into something far more communal and heartwarming. It was a beautiful Read more

#217 Gualaceo to Cuenca Intro Day 217 brought me from the quiet charm of Gualaceo to the higher altitudes of Cuenca, a significant city in this part of Ecuador. My mood was one of quiet curiosity, wondering what new experiences the day’s ride would unfold, especially with the weather looking Read more

#216 Gualaceo to Cafe Aleman and return Date: 2026-02-22 Day number: 216 Intro Day 216 dawned as a designated pause day in Gualaceo, Ecuador, a welcome break after a week that had thrown a few curveballs my way. I started the morning with a determined mood, set on tackling a Read more

#215 Restaurante el turísmo to Gualaceo Intro Day 215 dawned with a familiar crispness, deep within the Andean embrace of Ecuador. My legs felt surprisingly fresh, a quiet hum of anticipation building for the significant climb ahead. There was a clear motivation to tackle today’s elevation, a feeling of readiness Read more

#213 Cafe Alegria Tradicion to Restaurante el turísmo Intro Day 214 dawned, a steady hum beneath the surface of what had become an extended journey. Each morning now feels like a familiar unfolding, though the landscape continually surprises. Today was another climb, linking two points on a map between Limon Read more

#213 Yunganza to Cafe Alegría Tradición Intro Day 213 unfurled itself with a gentle, satisfying hum, a quiet counterpoint to the long journey that stretched both behind and ahead. My mood at the start was one of contentment, a feeling buoyed by the unexpected twists that morning had already brought. Read more

#212 From Shuar community Kurintza to Yunganza Intro Day 212 of this grand loop through Ecuador. The morning began with a quiet sense of calm, a familiar feeling now, as I prepared to leave the Shuar community of Kurintza. Each day unfolds with its own rhythm, and this one promised Read more

#211 Sucua to Shuar community Kurintza Intro Day 211 found me waking in Sucua, a town that had offered a quiet respite. The broader journey through Ecuador was unfolding, and today promised a departure from the main highway, a decision I felt good about. My mood at the start of Read more

#210 Huamboya to Sucua Intro Day 210 dawned with a quiet simplicity, a gentle continuation of the long journey through Ecuador. The initial calm mirrored the landscape around me, a feeling that settled deep as I prepared to leave Huamboya. Today felt less about conquering miles and more about simply Read more