Spokes and Shoes

2026-02-14 — Santa Ana, Yawa Jee Reserve, Ecuador Intro Today marked a necessary pause in the journey, a day off the bike in the heart of the Yawa Jee Reserve near Santa Ana. The usual rhythm of pedaling was replaced by a more grounded exploration of local life, and I Read more

#208 Returning to David's house Intro Day 208, and the ride today was less about covering ground and more about returning to a familiar hearth. After a stretch of movement, settling back into the rhythm of David’s house felt like dropping anchor in a welcoming bay. My mood began restless, Read more

#207 Hunting jungle birds Intro Day 207 found me not on the saddle, but deep within the Yawa Jee Reserve, an immersive pause in the rhythm of my long journey. It was a day of profound connection to a way of life far removed from paved roads and daily routines. Read more

#206 Revisit a native jungle family Intro Day 206 dawned with a quiet sense of purpose. This wasn't a day for big miles, but for connection, a revisit to a native jungle family in Santa Ana, within the embrace of the Yawa Jee Reserve. My mood was motivated, ready for Read more

#205 Visiting the large sacred tree and checking the traps in the jungle Intro Day 205, and a welcome pause from the saddle. This leg of the journey has brought me deep into the Yawa Jee Reserve, trading kilometres for footsteps and the hum of tires for the symphony of Read more

#204 Jungle walk in the night Intro Day 204 unfurled not on two wheels, but deep within the humid embrace of the Yawa Jee Reserve. This was day seven of a ten-day immersion, a complete departure from the rhythm of the road. My morning began with a knot of frustration, Read more

#203 Visiting a native jungle family and the sacred stone Intro Day 203 found me deep within the Yawa Jee Reserve, a welcome pause from the relentless rhythm of the road. This was the sixth day of my immersion in the jungle, a stark contrast to the familiar hum of Read more

#202 Leaving the jungle Intro Day 202 dawned with a palpable sense of transition. It was the sixth morning of my ten-day jungle adventure, and the time had come to finally leave the deep camp in the Yawa Jee Reserve. My mood was already tested, a blend of weariness from Read more

#201 Building a trap for ratite Intro Day 201 arrived, a peculiar landmark in this long journey that has taken so many forms. Today, the bicycle was parked, a distant memory almost, as I delved deeper into the Yawa Jee Reserve. My usual rhythm of pedalling was replaced by the Read more

#200 Walk to the nearby river for fishing Intro Day 200. A significant milestone, though today wasn’t marked by miles on the saddle, but by footsteps deep in the Ecuadorian jungle. My bicycle rests, patiently waiting for the next leg, while I’m immersed in a different kind of journey. I Read more