Follow The White Rabbit

Picked up a new ride the other day. It’s a 2009 Yamaha 650 with a Ural sidecar. A one owner with 1400 miles. He bought it and a friend installed the sidecar rode it a little and parked it. Actually the friend rode it a then went back to Europe and the owner was scared to ride it. Needs a few things like some new tires then some road trips hopefully. Striped of the windshields and a lot of bling. It is way to shinny for me so we will see how long that last. Never thought of me have a cruiser I’m more of a off roader. Yeah I needed it like another hole in my head. JD said I have an addiction, maybe. Nice to be back in the wind!

Well I made my first Summit. I tagged along to Casitagua volcano which is in the middle of the world along the equator. The crew ( Daniela’s friends ) and this time Elena invited me so off we went. I was the last to reach the summit but only by a couple of minutes. I think this was my 4th or 5th hike but I finally made it all the way. The way up was all up but pretty much a decent road until the last few kilometers. The way down was a pain. We pretty much followed a single track down that between the rain and motorcycles was mostly jumping from side to side over a washed out path. Those that know me well know that I am always twisting an ankle and today was no exception on the way down. Minor but made it painful none the less. Ugh

Well Daniela decided she was going to upgrade her bicycle. There is a nice trail close by and many places to ride, matter in fact there are bike paths along the highways. So I picked up one for myself. Let’s see if I can make my heart explode. My first ride she invited me to keep up with her and Benjamin. Well I walked two hills and had to stop to catch my breath a couple times. We live at around 7800ft in elevation and the ride went up and down 1000ft. Kicked my butt for sure my legs were rubber. Since then I can brag that I have made it up both hills I had to first walk. I made it but it I am huffing and puffing. I’ll get better I hope.

Friends invited us to Quito for a traditional Ecuadorian Easter meal. It was very good. Included a fish stew called fanesta that had 12 ingredients then later we made cake wrapped in leaves ( quimbilitos ) then steamed. I was a wonderful day. I really was not in the mood to go but I am glad I did. One of my best friends Greg had passed away. Cancer finally caught him and it was on my mind for a few days. God bless you buddy I’ll miss ya!

Enjoy life while you can!

Celebración en el nuevo restaurante. Third party in the last three days. At least there isn’t one on Monday. Tuesday yes but not on Monday.

The family has been busy for the last year on an addition to the home that includes a restaurant. I call it “Mama Elena’s” but it has not officially been named yet. The kitchen still needs to be finished with a few small other things but it will have a grand opening soon.

Last night they hosted a friends birthday party. Elena and Daniela did a wonderful job as the hostesses. Everyone had a great time.

I am very happy for the family and last night was a sign that they will be blessed with great success!

Well I took like 20 pictures all weekend Daniela took 300. These are a few of hers.

The Biggest news is that there are a few new family members and the restaurant is beginning business.

Elena, Edwin, Daniela, David and Mateo have been busy working on the restaurant on top of all the other things they have going on.

Elena keeps busy managing the workers, attending classes, then around home. Edwin works during the day in Quito then comes home to continue working late into the night. Daniela teaching and studying then pitching in. David working at Shinny Dog and here. Mateo also working at Shinny Dog, a local restaurant and at home. It will be open officially very soon. I am very excited for them. I wish them all the success in the world and have the greatest confidence in their adventure. I will post pictures of all their work soon.

A new puppy has been adopted so back to six dogs. They gave me the honor of naming him so meet “Beauregard” or in Spanish “Borigar”. He’s a cute little guy what I would have called “Bait” when living in Greenwood. I haven’t told them the true meaning of his name “creature with a dark soul”. Samuray and Kaya have accepted him not so much Chokoreto, Chiso and Chaski. The little guy should stay away from Chaski and Chiso since they have a tendency to eat smaller animals and he looks delicious to them. I wish him no harm but we will see……..

Rosario (Elena’s mother) officially has someone special in her life, Rodrigo. They both invited their families to a soiree to let everyone know. After they made their announcement and all were introduced there was food, music, and dancing. I am super happy for them and wish a very deserving happy future!

As for me, I did get a 2 year visa and a Cedula. The Cedula is basically the same as a Social Security number in the USA. It is used way more often here. it is your formal ID and also used when purchasing pretty much anything. Just great another number to remember, ugh. I need to work a lot more on my Espanol. Seems that I am easily distracted. I am planning on a getting bike cycle soon and really want a motorcycle with a sidecar but we’ll see about the last one. One of my best friends in the USA has started Hospice. I love him and his family dearly and they are in my prayers. It only pounds into me how precious life is and that you never know when your number pops up. Sidecar?????

To my family and friends “Smile, Laugh and Love as much as you can”.

God Bless!

The pictures didn’t load correctly but you can see them if you click on the one.

Cerro Atacazo is a volcano of at the edge of south Quito. It is on the western side of the “Avenue of Volcanos”. At the summit the elevation is 14,642ft/4463meters.

Daniela and her friends were heading there for their first time and I was invited to tag along. I was looking forward to finally making a summit. It is considered a good beginner hike of about 2 hours each way. Well where we started out it turned out to be 3 1/2 hours to the Summit.

The sun was out but the higher in elevation the more we were in the clouds. The trail was mostly a gravel road all up hill. I think I did pretty good the first hour and kept the main group in sight. After that I got a little slower. Daniela and Ibis slowed their pace and kept me company. Ibis bless her heart even acted like she was winded. I really enjoyed watching Daniela interact with Ibis. Daniela is a teacher/student and Ibis is is a bright young lady so tagging behind them listening to their conversation in Español made my walk (did I say ALL up hill) easier. Daniela’s students and their parents really like the way she teaches and I can see why. She is very good with kids and I was impressed.

We stopped and took a break and as a hiker passed us on his way down he said we only had a 1/2 hour more to go. We were in the clouds, the wind was cold with a little moisture and the main group had already reached the summit. I decided to call it a day and head back down. I did not want to be holding everyone back as I already had Daniela and Ibis. I believe we were above 13,700ft when I whimped out. Well not really whimped out because with a little more time I would have made it. Just not fair of me to hold up the group. I will go back and make the summit. Being it was so cloudy you couldn’t see much anyway so I don’t feel I missed much by not making the summit on this day.

I really enjoyed the walk down and enjoyed the solitude. Even better my hands thawed out. On the way home while riding in the van Ibis and I had a nice conversation in English which she has a very good handle on.

I hope to keep getting better and maybe actually keep up with the groups pace one day. I sure appreciate Daniela’s patience for the gringo, thank you Daniele! If there is a next time I’m invited to go along with the group she can set the pace to push the group (after all she is the leader) and I will just bring up the rear. Again not fair for me to hold everyone back. I am really enjoying it I just need to stick to it. Thanks goes to Edwin and Elena for dropping us off and picking us up.

It was Carnival weekend and we were invited to dinner on the way home. Our second party in two days.

Just a wonderful time. Sorry the pictures don’t show much of the volcano but it was cloudy!

This area was named by the Spanish because it reminded them of an alter.

Two weeks ago I tagged along with a group that Daniela put together to hike to El Altar. Edwin and Mateo went also. It is a 20 kilometer hike back to the camp spot and another 2 kilometer hike up to the lake.

Daniela had done the trek two years ago. There was supposed to be 2 Kilometers of mud but it was more like 10 Kilometers. I knew they would have had to shoot me like a lame horse if I walked it so I hired a pony to ride. That still kicked my behind and many times the pony was knee deep in mud while going up and down the mountains. The ride in was way more dangerous than walking the way out even tougher. I was thrown off once on a steep downhill portion when the Choco decided to make a 90 degree turn on the way down. Landed on my backpack not my head.

It was a very beautiful spot and the weather was great. NO Rain just a little sprinkle in the evening. Woke up with ice on the tent. Everyone hiked up to the lake but I only made it half way and wisely turned back. I needed much better shoes than the rubber boots I was wearing. Also above 13,000 ft. was getting to me. If I had better shoes and took my time I think it would be great to try again.

The ride back was very tiresome and yes I was saddle sore.

I would like to spend more time just laying around and doing some day hikes in areas like this. To me after taking the time to get there I want to hang out for a while. The pictures don’t do the majestic beauty justice. I could of easily spent many days there even in the rain which it does most of the time. Not far to the Amazon from here.

I found another trail that is mostly downhill (right on). It starts at over 13,000 ft. and goes down to around 4000ft. that I want to check out in the future.

“ya all take care now, ya hear”