Spokes and Shoes

2026-03-02 — Tumbes, Peru Intro Today was not a day for turning pedals, but an essential pause in the journey through Tumbes, Peru. My broken phone, a persistent digital shadow, finally demanded full attention. Despite the technical headache, I woke with a sense of purpose, knowing that resolving this issue Read more

#224 From Arenillas Ecological Reserve to Tumbes Intro Day 224 dawned with a thick cloud of frustration, marking my departure from the Reserva Ecologica Arenillas and my long-anticipated crossing into Peru. What should have been a straightforward transition became a tangled thread of minor mishaps, amplified by a sudden mechanical Read more

#223 From Casacay to Reserva Ecological Arenilla Intro Day 223 dawned with a sense of quiet determination, a feeling that has become a constant companion on this long journey. Today was about reaching Reserva Ecologica Arenillas, a step closer to the Peruvian border, and I felt ready for whatever the Read more

#222 From Santa Isabel to Casacay Intro Day 222 dawned with a familiar hum, a rhythm now deeply ingrained after so many weeks on the road. This stretch, from Santa Isabel down towards Casacay, felt like a continuation of yesterday’s descent, a gradual unspooling from the highlands. My mood was Read more

#221 from Baños to Santa Isabel Intro Day 221 dawned, signaling my departure from the lively town of Baños and its thermal waters. A late start, perhaps, but a deep sense of readiness settled over me as I clipped into the pedals, eager to see what the road to Santa Read more

#220 From Cuenca to Baños via zoo Amaru Intro Day 220, and it was time to leave the comforts of Cuenca, a city that had offered a much-needed pause in my journey. The past few days had been a blur of resupply and rest, but today marked a return to Read more

#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