ECUADOR: Maintaining Rigid Flexibility

Discussion in 'Ride Reports - Epic Rides' started by EvilClown, Apr 23, 2013.

  1. R-W

    R-W Been here awhile

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    Great vids guys! It's like riding along with you... giant man eating worms and all.

    :freaky
  2. whizzerwheel

    whizzerwheel Unimaginative Lab Rat Supporter

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    Sticking with our theme of "rigid flexibility" we continue on down the valley.

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    ...


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    A beautiful clear day and the riding couldn't be better....


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    Except the map shows that the road comes to a dead end. Being optimistic by nature we figure there must be some way to get through.

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    EC checks our bearings....


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    ...


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    Riding for click after click and there's absolutely no traffic and nobody around. We're surprised by this scene on the side of the road....

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    Lots and lots of tomatoes....makes me realize once again how lucky I am to be able to ride around the country on a motorcycle.
  3. EvilClown

    EvilClown Standing by to standby for a possible disregard Super Moderator

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    Location:
    In the shadow of the Uncanoonucs...
    If we're heading anywhere, we're heading to Mindo...

    <IFRAME height=480 src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/2551600539_5ZmwZDc?width=640&height=480&albumId=29307798&albumKey=3BsQss" frameBorder=0 width=640 scrolling=no></IFRAME>

    We may or may not make it there but we're going in that general direction.
  4. whizzerwheel

    whizzerwheel Unimaginative Lab Rat Supporter

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    And in spite of what the map says....

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    There is a bridge across the river....:deal
  5. EvilClown

    EvilClown Standing by to standby for a possible disregard Super Moderator

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    :cromag

    <iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="640" height="480" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/2545788478_cHFJv9c?width=640&height=480&albumId=29307798&albumKey=3BsQss"></iframe>

    How about a nice rip through the mountains this morning?

    <iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="640" height="480" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/2551621764_LpkjmRF?width=640&height=480&albumId=29307798&albumKey=3BsQss"></iframe>

    Keep an eye on the sky. Looks like we may be in for some weather.
  6. whizzerwheel

    whizzerwheel Unimaginative Lab Rat Supporter

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  7. Hektoglider

    Hektoglider One with Life

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    Love the critical navigation decision.....
    Do you use the coin toss? Or pull straws?
  8. R-W

    R-W Been here awhile

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    Mike may have had a temporary hearing loss but...

    His eye sight is excellent! :freaky

    ADVer's must look at pretty girls. It's the rule guys. :D
  9. whizzerwheel

    whizzerwheel Unimaginative Lab Rat Supporter

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    Scissors, rock, paper....


    Enjoying your ride report Hektoglider....looks like you covered some serious territory. :clap
  10. whizzerwheel

    whizzerwheel Unimaginative Lab Rat Supporter

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    R-W....Don't know what you're talking about....:augie
  11. Laconic

    Laconic Old Normal

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    Hey Mike, looks like you're having a ball. You and whizzer do a pretty good tag-team on a ride report. The short videos are great.

    That road you guys turned around on a couple pages back looked like it a few pucker factors in it here and there. :D I like the way all the fence posts were apparently taking root, too.

    P.S. You sound really good when you say "gracias" with the New Hampshuh accent. :deal

    I'll be following along.

    Rick
  12. EvilClown

    EvilClown Standing by to standby for a possible disregard Super Moderator

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    My helmet was still on...I was still wearing my earplugs...I'm slowly going deaf...:D


    : digsthroughgoprofootagetoseeifbychanceitwasstillon
  13. EvilClown

    EvilClown Standing by to standby for a possible disregard Super Moderator

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    Gracias!

    Thanks for stopping in, Rick!

    Tried to keep the videos short for a coupla reasons:

    1) I can't edit GoPro stuff.

    B. I have the attention span of a gnat. 01:39 is about it. Even less if I'm watching my own crap.

    III. ...where was I going with this...? :scratch
  14. EvilClown

    EvilClown Standing by to standby for a possible disregard Super Moderator

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    Location:
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    Some random shots of the day...

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    ...

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    Much like riding in Vermont, you can't really make a wrong turn in Ecuador!

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    ...

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    ...

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    Seeing a fork in the road, we took it...

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    A well maintained gravel road...

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    ...brings us to pavement.

    As Dave mentioned, the weather is gorgeous. This can only mean one thing...














































    ...we'll have to stop and make sure our mechanical sunblock is in its proper place...

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    ...and maybe get some water.:1drink
  15. whizzerwheel

    whizzerwheel Unimaginative Lab Rat Supporter

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    Even though we didn't necessarily intend to make it to Mindo...we did.

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    We had loosely decided that we would stay here tonight for whatever reason, so we went into town for a look see. If I remember right...it was actually getting later in the day and it was time to hunker down anyways.

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    We do a reconnaisance of town to try to get a feel for the place and find somewhere to stay...we notice a couple of real hotels on the way in but don't even hesitate...our standards are way lower than that.

    <iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wHmSL-PBmj4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


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  16. EvilClown

    EvilClown Standing by to standby for a possible disregard Super Moderator

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    Location:
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    After watering up we continue towards Mindo...

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    ...

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    ...

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    The further we push south...

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    ...the darker the skies get...

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    Tough to judge the skys here...

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    ...but eventually the suspense is broken...

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    ...we get some showers...

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    ...but nothing that the black sky in the distance had threatened...

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    ...seems as if we have just missed the worst of it...

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    We run into a local who just got a text from his wife, "Honey, could you pick up something for dinner on your way home...?"

    <IFRAME height=360 src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/2544792877_67gjhQX?width=640&height=360&albumId=29307798&albumKey=3BsQss" frameBorder=0 width=640 scrolling=no></IFRAME>

    ...

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    Getting closer to civilization, we find pavement...

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    ...more traffic...

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    ...and a coke...

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    ...before continuing on...

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  17. Cannonshot

    Cannonshot Having a Nice Time Administrator Super Moderator

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    What a great trip! Really enjoying the photos, vids, and stories. :thumb
  18. EvilClown

    EvilClown Standing by to standby for a possible disregard Super Moderator

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    Location:
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    Destination nearly in sight...

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    ...this is no time to get careless...

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    Quick pic for the Ecuador Tag-0-Rama...

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    ...then we make our final descent...

    <iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="640" height="480" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/2551621918_W7G5rL6?width=640&height=480&albumId=29307798&albumKey=3BsQss"></iframe>
  19. Laconic

    Laconic Old Normal

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    That dog looked comfortable. :D What are the temps like?
  20. whizzerwheel

    whizzerwheel Unimaginative Lab Rat Supporter

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    Sometimes there's actually a "dog slalom" course set up for us....

    <iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VRSwQYodfPk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

    But usually the dogs are simply trying to bite us as we ride by...



    The temps range dramatically in the mountains....we rode in snow and we saw temps probably in the 90's. Altitude and local conditions are a huge factor.

    Thanks for following along...