March 5, 2025 A "rest day" in Salento

After a good night rest, those of us that didn't consume to much last night went over to the B&B's restaurant and enjoyed an excellent early breakfast. 




Soon we were all together and the twelve of us walked up to the plaza to inquire about finding jeeps to transport us to the park. To my surprise we were told that the twelve of us would fit in single Willy jeep. So we all squeezed in.


I chose an interior seat

Jose Jairo had fun hanging on the the outside
Mike looking pretty serious
The ride was quite the adventure. The park was absolutely beautiful. Fortunately the jeep ride out and back had no casualties!









Dinner that night consisted of a large mushroom and chicken pizza  that Mike and I shared. The rest of the group wanted something else and wandered around Salento, unsuccessfully looking for a place they could all agree on. As Mike and I were finishing our meal, the rest of the group showed up, frustrated  and resigned to ordering pizza and pasta. We all laughed. 

Tomorrow is a big ride to Manizales and the plan was to once again cut through the center of Pereira.
Rain is in the forecast.






Comments

  1. LMarch 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM

    Salento. One of my old Peace Corps sites (1968-70) Did high elevation research on different types of corn above Salento. Made it all the way to the top of the Cordillera where it drops down into Ibague. 11,000 to 17,700 feet above sea level along the snow capped volcanic peaks. I actually wrote a book about the area, published in Spanish. I can't believe you are the second person this past month that traveled there. The other is a friend from Albuquerque. By the way, I raced in the Quindio with the climb up to Salento the finish line. It was not a sanctioned race, just a local event. Nairo Quintana also raced in the Quindio with Salento the final assent. I believe he came in 2nd to one of the Medellin bad asses. I'm glad you had a great time. Perhaps I'll meet you at one of those Westside rides some day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DFischMarch 22, 2025 at 8:25 PM

      It's fascinating to hear your story. It would be great to see you at a Westside ride or after a ride for coffee at Whispering bean. Your comments come in as from L and I'm not sure who you are but it sounds like your in the Westside Wanderer group.

      Delete
    2. LMarch 23, 2025 at 7:39 AM

      Sorry, I thought the names were automatically popped up on the post. My name is Larry Larrichio. I'm an old broken down, falling apart local racer, but I still ride a lot. Funny thing is I don't get from Point A to Point B as fast as I used to. I married a woman from the Salento area during Peace Corps, so I travel to that region a lot. I'm also a visiting professor at a University in Pereira, just north of Salento and an Adjunct at UNM. Charles Ray is a pal and Phil Shew I believe is also in your group. I'll make one of your rides for sure. Usually when Spring arrives, I most ride in the East Mountains. I commuted to UNM from the Westside for 30 years, but I don't like riding in the city much anymore. I do ride the Bike path during the winter and occasionally head up to Algodones. My new knee seems to be coming along fine, so I'll be back.

      Delete
    3. DFischMarch 23, 2025 at 8:48 AM

      Thanks Larry. I think we are all moving from point A to point B more slowly! I know Charles and Phil. Strong riders! Both are in the Westside Wanderers group. Cheers, Dave

      Delete
  2. LMarch 22, 2025 at 6:52 PM

    One last point. As you can imagine Salento was a hell of a lot different in 1968. There was zero tourism. Mostly marginal farmers. Salento is too high for good quality coffee so it was mostly cattle, potatoes, corn, etc. There are thousands of archaeological sites around the area. Travel was mostly via horseback and mules. most jeeps could not make it to the top of the cordillera due to heavy rains and mud. The road you took towards the Palma de cera region was a 16th century camino real that headed over the cordillera to Bogota, and south to Quito, Ecuador.. I travel there frequently, and I am shocked at the amount of European and American tourism there these days. The cycling is great as you can tell also. In all of the years I have been cycling there, I was never once harassed by drivers. Same in Italy. bicycle culture rules. Having said that I hope you found it to be safe. Not that Colombian drivers are very good; they are pretty bad like in Italy, but they don't hate cyclists on the road.

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