Month: September 2021

So I have started to think about putting the expedition rig together. I have ordered some parts from the USA and have found a small shop in Tumbaco to do some fabrication work.

Juan has a fabrication shop with most of the tooling needed. Between him and Jose I am very confident in their work. The front bumper, nose rack, truck rack, and fender rack are ready to be sent out for powder coating. Next is to figure out some tool boxes. When taking off the chrome truck rack a painting was underneath. I like it but I don’t think it will stay when repainting the sidecar. It is cool though.

I am in a quandary of what to do. You see Juan gave me a sidecar that has been laying around his shop for over 5 years. He said “if you want, take it”. So I brought it back to the casa. So do I restore it and put it on the Yamaha. I can build a new frame for the Africa Twin which would be cool because it would be exactly what I would want. I really think restored the new sidecar would look classy on the Yamaha. I think it would sell for around 10k here if done right. Or I can try to sell the Yamaha without the sidecar which I think would bring 7k-8k pretty easily. It would be fun to see how the rig would look. Hmmmmm……….what to do.

Until next time “ya all have a wonderful day”!

It was almost two weeks ago when Daniela and I visited the Pambamarca ruins. While there we visited 3 or 4 sites but not all. She was looking for some steps she had seen in one of the pictures but we never found them.

Yesterday I jumped in the car for a little road trip not really knowing where to go. After going over the pass the weather looked good so I thought I could check out one of the ruins we had missed.

I really like the area for it is very peaceful and not many people. I had a good day but never found any steps. I spent an hour looking around what is the biggest Pucara (fortress) in the area. On the peaks the wind was blowing hard and very cold. I left the tallest peak for another day. I took a different route home and a couple of times thought I was lost but it all worked out. Meet a few locals and enjoyed the weather.

I was at over 12,000 feet and in the one picture beyond my feet is Cayambe Volcano at over 18,000 feet in the distance. In one picture you see the volcano in the distance and a mound on the left. That mound is the ruins of the Pucara.

After the Pambamarca ruins we headed for Cayambe-Coca National park to visit the Cayambe volcano. I have been to the park before but from the southern side so this was all new to me. Actually new for Daniela also for she had never been to this part of the park.

From the town of Cayambe it is less than an hour to the park entrance. the road was mostly cobble and not to bad. They are doing a lot of road work that looks like it has many years to go before finished. Some locals said the single lane tunnel was going to remain. Apparently it has been there for a long time.

Arriving to the gate for the park we were informed the next 13km of road was is horrible shape. He was truthful for it is 4 wheel drive only in many places. Not Rubicon like with any challenge but 4 wheeling.

We stopped where a few other cars had stopped thinking we had to walk the last 3k but were mistaken. We could have made it all the way to the camp in 4 wheel drive. Very beautiful as we started hiking up. When I last checked we started hiking a 4482m (14,704 feet). We never did make it to the base camp because we were running out of time since they want you out of the park by 5pm unless you are camping. So guess what, I have to go back again darn all the luck.

Cayambe volcano is the third highest in Ecuador with the summit a 5790m (18,996 feet). We did see some trekkers coming down the snow. Again my kind of place. not many people and I bet even less during the week. Awesome

As we reached the Pambamarca ruins we pass onto the Qhapaq-Nan road. Daniela noticed the sign and told me that it was one of the most important roads for the Inca Empire. She explained the it runs the length of Inca Empire along the Andes and through multiple countries. Very cool. I’m sure I will pass it again in my travels.

Howdy, I thought time for a little update. I haven’t been up to to much the last few weeks. Finally got the 4Runner registered and inspected. Glad that one is done with. This week I hope to get both the Yamaha and the Africa twin done also. It has been a pain in the butt.

Since the paper work on the motorcycles is almost done I have started planning on switching the sidecar over to the Africa Twin. It is going to be an interesting project but it will be cool when done. Biggest pain is to import the parts I need. Thank you JD for your much needed help.

So two weeks ago I took a ride to watch the sunrise. I just headed out with no real plans on where I was going. Ended up in the town of Cayambe and passed the equator on the way. What was really cool is while passing through the village of Oton I spotted a sign for the Pambamarca Ruins by accident. I had seen them on the map and had wanted to visit them before but did not know how to get there. I sent a picture of the sign to Daniela and she told me what I had found. A professor that she knows from the University helped the locals learn about what was in their backyard. So last weekend she had time to go and we headed out.

The Parmbamarca ruins is just part of a series of hilltop fortresses that was used by the Inca’s and maybe other indigenous people and date back to the 1300/1400’s. I visited Coshasqui earlier this year which is to the south but also part of the system of fortresses. Pucara is the Ecuadorian name for fortress.

In Oton you turn off the highway and travel for 12km to the ruins. This area of ruins consist of 6 hilltop Pucara’s. We did lose the path once and had to get directions in a small village. The road is mostly cobble and would be a nice pedal on bike. As we near the ruins we asked some local farmers where the trail was which they replied that were none they knew of. Just start walking across the pastures. The elevation was around 4000 meters (13,100 feet) give or take a little. The weather was perfect and the hike was easy so we visited 4 Pucara’s. We never did see the exact ruins that Daniela was looking for but I will go back and check out the other Pucara’s soon. They best thing for me was no other people doing what we were doing. I love off the beaten path stuff.

The reason we cut the hike short is that I wanted to visit Cayambe Volcano before the day was out. So off we went and our timing was perfect for it had started to lightly rain just as we were leaving.

Very interesting place and I plan on returning soon since it is less than 3 hours from the house.

So we went for a hike, played on swings and a zip line and just had fun after the race. Stopped by a greenhouse full of roses the Edwin’s brother has on the way back into town also.

Daniela and I signed up for a mountain bike race in Atahaulpa. The distance was 26km (16 miles) up and down but mostly up hill. She invited her family and friends and many showed up to cheer her on and see if the gringo died. She did outstanding and placed in 5th place. I on the other hand finished the race and did not die. Elena and Edwin made a trophy for me. They had left space on it to write “here lies” in case I died it could have been my head stone. I’m so proud of Daniela she killed it. Me on the other hand was probably the only one in the race looking at how beautiful the scenery was.

Sayuri, Hadaluz, Mateo, Daniela and I took a little day trip to check out a waterfall I had not been to. After the waterfall we tried to find some caves but never found them. Had a nice picnic on the mountain. Wonderful Day.