Rolling down the jungle hiway-commentary by Ramon

The Red Sausage rides again: Down to the jungle and back up to the sierra

6 days, 600kms over Easter. Julio Andrade (near Tulcan-Ecuador/Colombia border down to Lago Agrio, north into Colombia and up the Mocoa road to Pasto.
"Folding" frame. S and S couplings save on baggage fees.
















The active Reventador volcano









Up from Mocoa to Pasto

Carla's first day of school

Well...first day of Nursery that is. Maria was offered a temp teacher assistant job (covering a 3 month pregnancy leave...which is all ya get in Ecuador), so Carla is now with Ramon in Nursery. She will stay in Nursery next September for the year, and Ramon will move up to Kindergarten.

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

So said Hunter S Thompson. What the heck is the British Embassy doing in the entertainment biz? I actually paid $ to see Ozzie...way back in 86 in Vegas. He was rude and drunk...which was probably the norm then. Wonder if he'll behave himself at the "cocktail" party. Life is just too weird at times. And wouldn't you know it, we'll be on holiday cycling the amazon and I'd pass on the invite to you, dear reader, but the invite says non-transferable. I can tell you're heartbroken.

Carla-It's all in the hips

I don't know where she learns it...Sure isn't from Maria, we have no TV, we don't go to dances and it sure as heck isn't from me as you call well imagine!

Volker visit and kid pics

Volker, our good friend from Frieburg Germany, has come for a 5 week visit. He has been coming and going, using our guest suite as a base for his numerous cycling trips around Ecuador. Previously we have done 3 bikes trips with him in Ecuador,Peru and Bolivia over ten years ago, Guatemala city to Panama city around 10 years ago and thru the alps about 5 years ago. We first met when I was teaching English in Pasto in 1996. He was pushing his bike up a mtn to a refuge at around 4600m!!!

Cutting some bananas in the yard.


Carla and mom

Pitaya...a cactus fruit....related to the variety called Dragon fruit.

Don't know the name of these spiders...they are everywhere around our house.

Papa and his little princess

Grandpa Ramon and Carla

Tia Vilma and Carla




Carla got ahold of a pair of sissors and decided to she wanted to create her own hair style.

In our garden...lettuce everyday!




A cement slide....very slick!


If only this were as harmonious as the picture shows. Ramon thinks he knows everything now and he sure lets Carla know.

Chef Superman Ramon