Chinchina

The rain over night was very heavy, but by about 10 was a drizzle. We stopped by R2R moto to drop off a sticker and have a photo op. Unfortunately this was a statutory holiday and they were closed.

The day was spent in and over the mountains, and it was mostly raining, which sucked.

We stopped for a drink at a small restaurant and this Daniel stopped to talk to us and he was so excited about our trip!

There was a truck that drove off the road and blocked the highway in both directions. When we came upon it there was a line of cars several km long.

We of course drove to the front like the other almost 100 bikes. We had perfect timing! 5 minutes after we arrived the police opened the road to let oncoming traffic go for 5 min and then let us get thru.

On the other side of the accident the cars were lined up on the 3 spur roads, and they stretched for several km on the road were on.

Letting about 100 bikes thru at once was a bit chaotic, but this meant that other than bikes there was no cars or trucks to pass for almost 80 km.

We arrived in the town of Chinchina (Chin-Chi-Na) on the advice of Claudia and Ingo and stayed at a nice family owned Hacienda Guayabal. The service here is 5 star. The setting is stunning.

Jorge advised us on a route thru the area for the day and for getting to Cali and avoiding Pereira the back way. He also suggested the Hot springs at Santa Clara. We set out under cloudy skies for the back roads thru the coffee region.

Stopping for gas we checked out the local fashion for riding boots.This is my view as a pillion!

The road thru Marsella was paved at one time and it is still in patches and it twists and turns thru the stunning scenery.

This is really a picture post card town. These old gents agreed to a picture.

We then headed to the hot springs at Santa Clara.The road half way from the town is paved and it has white arrows painted on it that say terminales this way.

The waterfall here is so perfect it looks man made.

You can cool off in the falls and then soak in the hot pools.

Back at the ranch we were welcomed home like old friends.

That evening three British girls Fiona, Helen, and Lucy who were an absolute riot joined us.