The Sheds back and bad backs

Well, we stayed in Quito for quite some time, longer than expected due to the holiday weekend and waiting for the Shed to come out of intensive care. I was really uneasy waiting for news about the bike not even sure which part of the city the bike was actually in. We only had e mail contact with Diego and Skype kept letting us down on quality so it became unusable, so for me at least it was an anxious time.

Me Yelling at the PC as Skype failed us

Still we used the time productively visiting the old town and watching the odd game of football in the nearest Irish bar.

Now all travellers know that there is an Irish bar in every town or city anywhere in the world, usually filled with ex pats and locals alike and usually all drinking way to much Guinness. Still they are a great refuge from local bars when you need something that resembles familiarity. Finn McCools was the chosen local. It served up a mean bacon sandwich and we met some great, if not completely mad people in there.

Anyway we finally got the word that the shed was off life support and was about to be discharged into our care. We couldn't wait.


Diego had one last surprise for us -a night time trip around the old town with some local fare thrown in. The town was amazing at night and Diego told us how the Ecuadorian's ousted any prime minister or president they felt was not doing a good job. They simply surround the presidents' residence and chant for a few hours until a helicopter flies the incumbent off to Panama and then swear in the next guy. This has happened on numerous occasions and is something some people in the UK might Envy.

The shed was back and at full strength again. It was great not to have her chugging away but back to her almost sprightly self. We were ready to leave. It's odd but after just a few days off the bike you can't wait to get back on the road. White line fever I think its called and something we would have to get used to, but more of that later.

We got out of the city quickly and very early and headed north. I find it very odd heading north on a southern direction journey. We actually went into the northern hemisphere again. There is just something wrong about it and I find little enthusiasm for it. However, it was necessary as we wanted to take the coast road through Ecuador and we wanted to do as much as we could. We stopped at a place called Mindo, a fantastic little village with hostels and the usual town square.


We had coffee and a butty, then onwards towards Esmeraldas (twined with Quasimodo in France) This is a big town that we wished to avoid so we turned left down the coast and stayed at a seaside village called Sua.

Not many hotels were open as the season for tourists has long gone. However, we did find one hotel partly refurbished that took us in. It was run by (presumably) a man and wife team, but the man did everything, fixed the railings, signed us in, took (and presumably cooked) our order for lunch and breakfast whilst his good lady did nothing except sit at a table giving directions and eating. The poor bloke never stopped working and his wife never stopped eating. However I did manage a first at this hotel. I am 50 years old and have never slept in a hammock. This was quickly rectified with one of the many hotel hammocks available. There was no comedy falling out as I got in and I think hammocks suite me.


It was funny the next morning as we got ready to check out. Sandra picked up the breakfast menu from the bar from underneath a fully loaded pump action shotgun with a sawn off stock. She did not even notice it but it woke me up I can tell you.

From Sau we went down the coast to our current location Canoa. The road was very odd indeed with almost continuous road works running its full 200 miles. Instead of improving one section at a time and then moving on, the whole road was being done at once except, we hardly saw anyone working on it at all. The reason for this as we were told later is purely political, so that everyone gets to see some improvement and not just one area. Heaven knows how long this will take but it sure is not going to be quick.

We had no idea what to expect as usual when we reached Canoa. but what a place its turned out to be. A collection of restaurants and bars (yes one is an Irish bar) nestled on the beautiful beach and quiet frankly, wonderful. We love it, which is a good job as we have been here nearly a week now. The reason for this lengthy stay is my fault. Me, bikes and sand do not get along and would you believe it, I have had an accident. Oh how I would love to tell you it was a dramatic spill, the bike sideways as the courageous rider tried to maintain control through some terrifying leap over a sand dune, but no. I was parking the bike on the sand and the front gave way. I tried to steady it with my leg, failed miserable and the bike went over and I put my back out. Now this is all on video but I am way to embarrassed to show it to you, unless popular demand forces me to release it.

So now after six days or so I am slowly recovering popping pills like there M and Ms and my back is getting better everyday. This extended stop over has integrated us somewhat into the community here and we have had a great time finding out about the people and why there have ended up in Canoa. A real education and I think we will miss this town very much.