ECUADOR: Maintaining Rigid Flexibility

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Edit: Skip ahead to page five for the beginning of our un-ride report.

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[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Disclaimer: This thread, by no means, guarantees or implies that a 'ride report' is going to happen, it merely allows a spot for a random picture or video to be tossed up for anyone who may be thinking about travel to Ecuador or who may want to follow along on our trip if we* do happen to produce a ride report. We'll see what develops. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]*I say we. In reality I don't dare try and suck whizzerwheel into another one of these things but if he wanders in on his own he'll be more than welcome.[/FONT]

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[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Fortunate enough to be able to step off the treadmill for a few weeks a year, whizzerwheel and I have made annual trips to Costa Rica to ride motorcycles the last couple of years. One was carefully documented. The second, not so much. [/FONT]



At least not to the point where it was posted. There certainly are more than enough photos and videos.

Ride report or not, rest assured, we did spend our time wisely learning more about the language and various cultural nuances...



...as we already had plans to expand our south of the border travels in the future.

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sometime last year, before we even boarded the plane for Costa Rica, the idea of an Ecuador trip was hatched. It was actually the product of a discussion Dave (whizzerwheel)* had had with a customer of his that had lived there for several years. Why not? We've traveled to places for lesser reasons. Besides, it fits within the very loosely laid out plan of 'Central and South America by motorcycle – one piece at a time. If you don't have a huge chunk of time to take to do it all at once, you have to adapt. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]There are some advantages to doing it this way - we're not just riding through these countries. We're hitting alot of the nooks and crannies off the beaten path. Or at least that's what we set out to do. [/FONT]

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[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]As stated in the disclaimer: we'll see what develops. Stole that line from Dave, btw.[/FONT]


[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]*Maybe we can lure Dave in early and get him to offer some firsthand insight to the discussion leading up to our choice of destinations - otr anything, for that matter.[/FONT]

Thanks for dropping in, Poolman!

With any luck, by the time it's over something useful will be posted in here.

With well over a year to prepare one might think that we'd be speaking Spanish dang near fluently by now and that collecting our gear and packing it up would be a snap. Au contraire. I haven't cracked open a Spanish book since before we left last February. It's predicted that I'll regret that. Some of the most fun on these trips is interacting with the locals.



It's also predicted that, forced into having to use it, I'll learn more Spanish faster.

That doesn't help us with the other languages they speak in Ecuador, though...

C'mon slacker, let's see what you've been up to

Thanks for coming along. Hipster! Hopefully we can pass along something helpful.

We'll get to that part.

Hey, GB! You don't want to see what I've been up to.

BTW, not to talk shop, but if you find this doesn't belong here do what you gotta do.



Oh, one more thing...

Plane ticket...check!

Passport...check!

Imodium...check!

Riding gear...check!

We're going live, folks. We're heading to Beantown! Ok. Right after we pick up Whizzer, we're heading to Beantown.

In a little over half a day I hope to be buying the celebratory first round in Quito! That, or you'll be watching us on the news.

Thanks, Bill!

Ask around. You can't be in a hurry with my ride reports.


edit: not sure how this whole pic thing is gonna work out...

'No shit' moment number one: even if you've made arrangements for transportation with your lodging provider, print out all of the info you have on the hotel and keep it with you. Logic sez if they send a driver, the driver will know which hotel you're going to and where it is located.

Thankfully, an email with some info could be dragged out of the phone.

We got to our place ok. Roodney hooked us up with a coupla Brahmas while we checked in.

Salvaged pic from earlier post today...



This is how this shxt starts.

There was a little celebrating. It's been a l-o-n-g wait but we're finally here!

Imagine Whizzerwheel's surprise when a plato full of llama schlongs arrives at the table.:huh



His fork was trembling in his hand!

We still have no idea what that was but it wasn't too bad - especially with the salsa. I wasn't going to eat anything as they actually served a meal on the plane and I wasn't really all that hungry. That rarely happens anymore. Both.