Ecuador

2 Super Sherpas explore....

I'll try and post a few photos & maybe some other stuff. It's looking good here.
Colombia was great, we'll tell that story another time.

Leaving the rainy streets of Ipiales we head for the border zone.
Looking back after almost 6 weeks of good times, we'll be back.....

The rain has been with us almost every day lately.


Stay tuned......

I'm in!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to put up some Sherpa shots from South America.

I've only been home a week or so and I was going through South America withdrawal and had the shakes.

Just kidding.

Your pics are a welcome sight. Keep up the good work amigos!

Saludos,
Juan Sherpa

Ok JD. We got your full attention eh?

As soon as we crossed into Ecuador the cops had the streets in Tulcan shut down. There was a bicycle race going on. We split a $2.50 plate of lunch, then took the suggested detour on our 250cc SuperSherpas.
The 1st part was paved, then greasy mud covered cobble up past the garbage dump.
Within our first 10km of being in the country we are already offroading !


With all the rain lately, we have decided to cool it on the backroads until things dry up. Soon we were back to the highway as the bikes whizzed by with police escort.

Heading south

Old Mr. Sun popped out for a while.

Running in top gear through the Andes



Stay tuned for the $7 hotel (3.50$ per person!) and the huge $2 dinners...

Sweet, I'm in!

I'm in.

You're talking my kind of language. You guys know that's minimalist Sherpa nirvana right there.

Saludos,
Juan Sherpa

The weather is nice down here on the coast!
Mike

Hektoglider,

Ecuador looks like the perfect place for a 250cc bike! Your timing couldn't be better as I'm heading to Ecuador in 3 weeks and renting a KLR; I'm sure I will miss my XT225 back home.

Looking forward to the rest,

We have some ATV tank bags . Take the seat off, throw them over the frame rails, put seat back on. Hardly even notice they are there, but carry a few extra items.

A peice of bicycle cable looped across with Aerostich Delrin locks keep the children from unzipping them.

Thorne has a heavy duty skid plate & crash guard on her Sherpa.
Yea the 250's with the six speed are great. Lots of times we are not in top gear, and locals who know the road blow past on 125cc bikes.
We are getting hungry for some of those rodents cooked on a skewer on a wood fire. .........

I'm in!

We ran the main highway down to Ibarra and began the search for a hotel. I often use the term "economico" when asking about prices etc.

Parked up on the sidewalk, some of the good places were full up. We managed to score a nice quiet place for $7.
At 1st I had to get her to repeat the price as I found it hard to fathom.

With the bikes parked and tarped, we went in search of dinner.

This city is quite cosmopolitan

The two dollar plates were nice & large

We strolled about looking for wifi and taking in our new surroundings. I feel a renewed sense of enthusiasm for exploring since getting into Ecuador.

With the cheap room, it looks like we will stay an extra day to figure out some routes & rest up.

Great to have you (& everyone else) on board.
Is it really hot & muggy on the coast? Weather is nice you say, ocean breeze...... We will hit some coastline stuff eventually.

Campstove & pot kit rides in the previously mention ATV bags.
Breakfast every day is oatmeal coffee & tea. Then with a sunny blue skie we head out on foot patrol. It's a tough life being an adventure Sherpa rider !

We stroll about and hit the grocery store, as well as hit the wifi to stay in touch with other riders who are ahead of us, as well as behind us.
Afternoon storm clouds brewing

Cheap lunch $2.50 each

We are coming into the cool season and it is not super hot or muggy! Nice ocean breeze every day! The coastal road between Puerto Cayo (actually the road from Jipijapa to puerto cayo is really neat too) to here in Salinas is really nice and scenic and if continuing south through Guayaquil I can show you a cut through to keep on the coast as far as playas!
Enjoy!
Mike

That sounds like a good area , Mike.


We are being flexible with our rigid maintenance schedule . The bikes really should have the valve clearance checked, we have shims along, but recently got the feeler gauges.I could use a new rear tire pretty soon too. The oil changes have been every 2000km or so . One quart out, one quart in.

Cool light switch in the old hotel

Bags of coffee beans at the co-op

Seeing these photos at the outdoor sporting goods place got me thinking

Scooped up a lightweight rig with a few lures. If I carried a flute from Xela to Cali I'm sure I can find room for this on board. I think there's gonna be a few places along the way. The guy said there's no fishing licenses needed. Rod and reel with lures$18 hotel $7 lunch $5
Store $4.50 were within budget here.

I think Monday we will look at getting the insurance $8 for one year. It may save us from hassles later

You have another devout lurker!

Thanks for sharing.

Best,
Vic

A kopper on a kawasaki