Spokes and Shoes

#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

#209 From Santa Ana to Huamboya Intro After a generous fourteen-day pause in Santa Ana, a stretch that included ten days deep in the Amazonian jungle with David, it felt good to be back in the saddle. The bike, too, seemed eager for movement. My mood was one of quiet Read more

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