Blog | Nicholas Lauder

April - 5 Employment in Isinlivi, Ecuador.

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:02:10 -0500

So I'm going to be somewhat stationary working in a hostel in the Andes of Ecuador. The hostel is Llullullama. It's a rustic place and so far I'm loving it. I'll have more to update. Here are some photos from the pass days.

Into the middle of nowhere.

Hit a patch a mud, and fell. The next few hours I wondered the mountains in search of Itislivi with about five feet of visibility surrounded in cloud.

Itislivi, Ecuador

Good Friday procession

April 2 - Rolling with the punches, Ecuador

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:14:30 -0500

Awaken when Irene was getting up to catch her bus, I decided to snooze a little longer, the rain wasn't motivating me to get up. It was around 730 when I decided to finally get up. The rain had subsided and it was only the reminant water on the roof I could hear still falling.

I packed up most of my stuff, I was happy that I didn't have to pack up as much as I usually do. Usually the my tent and sleeping bag are unloaded when I stay anywhere long enough, but because this hostel was tucked away I didn't feel the need to unpack everything.

I got to the reception and as the host was greeting me I abruptly ask if their is coffee, realizing my error I do my best to smooth over my transgression. A couple cups of coffee while I pack up the bike and I'm ready to go by 830. Before I leave, Philip tells me he can hear the monkeys and shows me where they usually come. I've finally seens some monkeys, they were small and impossible to photograph with my camera and where I was but I tried.

I was off and I headed straight for San Migual.

April 1 - Mocoa

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:40:01 -0500

I'm just going type something up quick because the internet is going to be down soon, I have to hit the sack because it's going to be a lot of riding tomorrow. I'm hoping to get to Quito. In the meantime, Irene and I did some exploring here in Mocoa. Wondered into the Amazon and it was fucking amazing. Absolute dream. Here are the photos.

March 31 - San Agustin to Mocoa Colombia

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 22:22:58 -0500

After meeting up with Irene in San Agustin we decided to try loading the bike up with her backpack and driving to Mocoa Colombia which is on the edge of the Amazon. The road was in fair condition but it was a little precarious. The weight of the bike was felt over the smallest of bumps. We arrived in Mocoa around 530. Found a great little hostel on a river and called it a night.

Way overloaded bike

Paradise in Casa de Nelly

Myself, Harry & Irene

March 29 - San Agustin

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:32:28 -0500

Again not much to write about but I've taken a bunch of photos. Today Irene and I went for a four hour hike to the Magdalena River. Came across plenty of coffee plants, and an orange tree. Not much to write about except I got a little burnt. The walk was amazing, but I'm competely tired. My left knee has been hurting since Bogotá, I did something climbing the Montserrat there, but I think it hurts most when I descend. Something to do when the impact, it's not big deal and it only flares up when I'm hiking something. I think I'll find a tension bandage when I get around to it. In the meantime enjoy the show.

Mare and her colt

San Agustin

March 28 - Camino a San Agustin

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:06:31 -0500

There isn't much to write about the way to San Agustin except that about five kilometers outside of the town I went into a curve like I have a thousand times before except this time there was some sand on the road. I lost control, almost recovered but didn't and I ended up falling over on my right side. No other vehicles were involved. My toolbox spilt all over the road but for the most part the bike was ok. I picked her back up shaking a little from the adrenaline. After a quick "am I ok" I realized that again I'm undamaged and after putting my tool box back together and taking a few photos for the archives I continued on my way.

The rest of the route was interesting, mostly all dirt and a few surprises along the way. I went through what I thought was a small puddle and almost submurged Katrina. The vista were spectacular and I tried to capture as much as I could.

When I arrived in San Agustin I was covered in mud and I absolutely loved it, this time I did find Irene and she greeting me with a big hug. It's always great to find a familiar face every so often. That night we ate spaghetti and caught up on the few weeks we were apart. Last I saw her was when I was in Bogotá the first time.

March 27 - Popayán

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:38:48 -0500

Popayan was a cool litle town along the trans-american highway. I was about twenty kilometers outside of town when a guy on a 650 BMW greeted me and insisted on giving me a personal escort into Popayán. He told me he had a restaurant but unfortunately I didn't go looking for it. When I got to the hostel I was expecting to find Irene there but when I arrived she wasn't there and last I heard from here was Friday. While in Popaán I checked out some natural thermal baths that were just outside an even smaller town named Coconuco about forty kilometers outside of Popayan, for the most part pretty relaxing. The next day I was able to get in touch with a girl I had met in Cartagena who is orginally from Popayan but now lives in Austria. We went for a coffee and a quick bite.

I met a few of her friends and I'm glad she thought I was entertaing because I was entertaining the idea that in a relationship monogamy isn't exactly realistic in the long term. Something I think about a lot but really have no practice in it. Simply put I have a lot of friends who are in long term relationships but who seem to wonder, I don't think exclusivity is important in a long term relationship but honesty is definitely important, at least to me. Anyway, the night was fine.

March 25 - Going going back back to Cali Cali (for the first time)

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:21:07 -0500

I made it to Cali, I had planned to stay in Casa Blanca, it's famous for motorcyclist and David, a guy I was on the boat with left a spare latch for my pelican cases. While navigating through the city I came to an intersection and I wasn't sure what the car was going to do so I slowed to crawl, it didn't matter because I was hit left in one of the ammo boxes, it wasn't hard, she didn't knock me over but she tired to tell me somehow I was at fault even though it was she who hit me from the rear. We argued briefly, seeing how I was uninjured and there was no damage to the bike I continued looking for the hostel. It was too bad her car was undamaged, it would have been nice had there been some reminder for her.

I got to the hostel and it was an easy check in, they had the latch waiting for me in reception. Another rider Fletch greeted me and told me there was another guy from Canada on a DR 650, I knew immediately it had to be Nick, one of the guys I met on the boat from Carti to Cartagena. I knew he was one of the few still in Colombia. After checking in I went over to the parqueo and found Nick cleaning his filter.

March 23 - Salento

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 10:03:50 -0500

Salento is this little village that has been taking over by foreigners and ex pats. A very beautiful place with a nice feel to it but it didn't exactly feel like Colombia. Half the people you see are foreigners. It was a place friends said to visit and I was glad I had. I stayed in this cool little hostel called Tralala and went on a five hour hike through the cloud forest. There isn't much to write about so I'll just post the photos. The wax plams stretch for about 60 meters. Something that has to be seen.

Yeah those rubber boots were a good idea

March 20 - Back in Bogotá

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 09:22:10 -0500

I made it back to Bogotá Monday morning which was a holiday in Colombia. What they're celebrating I didn't bother to research. The ride from Bucaramanga to Bogotá was uneventful except my rear brake falling off.

I was in a little town still a few hours from Bogotá when a fellow motorcyclist tried to get my attention. I had my ipod on so I had to pull over to know what he was saying. I thought he was curious about where I was coming from, he wanted to tell me I had no rear brake. I looked back and there was my brake just hanging from the brake line for how long I have no idea. In my own defence the brake was soft to begin with, the pads were low and needed changing. Some towns people were telling me where to find some bolts. I went to one shop to see if they would have the proper bolts to secure the brake again, but they only had one that would have worked. I knew I wouldn't find brake pads so I disconnected the caliper and secured the brake line so it wouldn't rub the wheel and continued towards Bogotá with only a front brake.

March 18 - Bucaramanga

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 09:13:31 -0500

Bucaramanga was great, it was great to hang out with my friend and catch up. We hadn't seen each other for over 6 years. For the most part I was able to relax. I was there for a little over a week. Spent St. Patty's there. Funny enough it was the most time I've spent with Americans in my trip. While in Bucaramanga I did some maintenance on the bike, a oil change and my rear brakes needed attention so I changed the fluid. From Bucaramanga I went back to Bogotá. This time didn't take 10 hours.

March 15 - Rain, wet and thunder

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:01:01 -0500

I left Bogotá and heading north east to Bucaramanga. I Luis wanted to meet up and show me the way out of Bogotá. Navigating out of any big city is a chore and any help is welcomed. We grabbed a bite to eat and then rode. I left Bogotá later than I would have liked and the ride was suppose to be about 7 hours, but because I got lost on the way there, even having to turn back at one point the ride ended up taking me just over 10.

I thought I would find signs when I was going by Tunja pointing me towards Bucaramanga and since I didn't I kept going. It wasn't until I got to a little town Duitama where I asked for directions. I could see on my map there was a little road that would take me through the mountains. I asked some military personal how I would find this road I was looking for which would take me to San Gil and eventually to Bucaramanga. He suggested that I head back towards Tunja because the road was muy mala. I told him this bike is tough. He told me how to get there.

To start the road was small, curvy but paved. A sign said San Gil was about 122 kms away and it was about 230 at the time. I was thinking I'd be in San Gil in about 2 hours and then another two until I got to Bucaramanga, meaning I would get arrive just as the sun was going down, or just after dark.

March 10 - Bogotá

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:47:56 -0500

While I'm not in Bogotá at the moment I did spend about a week there. I ended up with my old crew I had been running with from Cartagena. Andi, Irene, Matthias, san Hannah. Hannah was in Lima. I hate to say it but I think I fell for her. Falling for a German among thousands of beautiful Colombian I don't understand. However I know why she captivates me. Trying to figure a way to see her again. In the meantime I'm enjoying my journey as much as possible.

A summery of Bogotá:

First day there while hiking the Montserrat we almost got mugged. I mean almost because had we been about ten minutes quicker it may have been us and not the guy in front of us who warned us that he got robbed.

Mainly in Bogotá I was able to finish the repairs on the motorcycle she's close to 100%

Drink and eat, some great cafes and restaurants, something I felt was missing from Medellín.

Played a little soccer

Visited museums.

Made some new friends, Luis and Kim.

Here are the photos to summarize.

First Breakfast togther

Look in his right hand, he's packing

Police escort up the mountain after mugging

I don't know this guy is, but he has four bodyguards

kind of Beatles?

Man and his asses

Soccer game vs. Colombians. We lost.

magic

Magic

Me with Kim and Luis

Crazy guy

Llamas

Yes, Citytv in Bogotá

Great 5 dollar burger combo

looking cool

March 6 - Final repairs

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:42:09 -0500

Just a quick snapshot of some of the parts that got replaced. One part I ordered from Ebay turned out to be wrong, the main fairing bracket so I had to find a shot that could bend back the old one. Probably something I should have done but I'll admit when everything happened at the time I panicked. The following pictures are before and after.

March 5 - Adíos Medellín

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:01:02 -0500

I left Medellín after about a week and some change and headed to Bogotá. I had the fortune of my friends from Team KLR Colombia, Lucas and Oscar, joining me halfway to meet up with some other members for some lunch. From there we rode the rest of the curvy way to Bogotá. Nothing much to write about that ride except it was very hot until about 30 minutes from Bogotá. The ride felt more like a Sunday ride with friends than anything else. The day before I left I was able to get some decals on Katrina. Ridenaked is official.

Ridenaked is official, finally.

Tanks among tanks, typical Colombia higway security

One of Pablo's old stomping grounds

Lunch

Little break

March 2 - New Rack!!!

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:03:36 -0500

Just a quick update, I just got my new rack from KING Aluminum here in Medellín. The craftmanship is incredible. They did a better job than I would have thought. A big thanks to everyone there, especially Rene. I'm going to post before and after shots.

Old

New

Before

Quick Release latches

Before

Moved tool cylinder to the rear

Before

Thanks Rene, I love the new rack

Feb 26 - Team KLR Colombia

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:49:51 -0500

If you've been following the blog you'll know that my last week in January was a tough one. If you want to be reminded click here. I've been taking my time relaxing in Cartagena and now here in Medellín I've been getting a great deal of aid from a group of Colombian KLR riders. They've taken me under their wing helping me repair the front rim. They've introduced me to a workshop that is going to build a brand new rear rack custom built at K.I.N.G. Aluminum. The plastic fairing is in the shop and I'm excited to see how that repair comes through. I'm feeling like finally that all my luck is starting to turn around and everything that happened perhaps happened for a reason after all. In the end I believe this, but it was tough when all my dreams seemed to be coming apart at the seems. I have to send a big thanks to everyone who's been there for support. There are many and I think I'm going to dedicate a post to everyone. In the meantime, I'm going to say thanks and hopefully you know who you are.

Feb 25 - Guatapé

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:35:16 -0500

Hannah and I decided to go on a little road trip to check out the Colombian countryside. Vincent, the gentleman running Yellow House hostel here in Medellín gave a ton of suggestions of where to go. We took a mountainous road out of Medellín heading towards the lake about an hour and a half outside of Medellín. On the way back we found a secluded waterfall and went for a dip. On the way up we discovered a Hare Krishna temple which we were surprised to find them in Colombia. It turned out to be a great day. Here are the photos.

Medellín, Colombia

This young man every day wakes up with the dream to be someone is this great city.

Hare Krishna

Feb 24 - Medellín photos

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:04:37 -0500

Basically I've been spending a lot of time here in Medellín fixing up the bike and walking around. I'll just post photos. There isn't much to write about. The best thing about Medellín that I can immediately appreciate is the motorcycle culture. It's at least half the people ride motorycles here so it makes shops and parts cheap and readily available.

Irene and Hannah, Medellín

Just washing up

Exclusive Motorcycle Parking everywhere!!!

Bad boys….

Big gun

Feb 21 - Back in the saddle.

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:24:55 -0500

After about almost 2 weeks of delays and reluctance I finally left Cartagena with the bike towards Medellín. A day before I was going to leave I got an email from a fellow KLR rider, Jaime Allen Flores, who saw my website and said he wanted to ride with me for a small leg of the trip to Medellín. I thought it was perfect timing, forcing me to get my ass out of Cartagena and company is always welcomed. The front rim was warped but one of the guys from the boat, Andy Dear, spent several hours with me trying to make the rim as true as possible.

I was up at 7, so when Jaime came by the hostel at 10, I was mostly ready to leave. I just had to walk the bike out and load up the ammo boxes. I was concerned how it was going to feel once we hit the road. I hadn't been on the bike since Feb 5, and it was Feb 20.

I took it easy at first, but I could feel the difference that Andy made immediately. To look at the wheel it clearly wasn't straight, but it felt good so I was ready to ride the 600 kms to Medellín. Jaime invited me to his place, met his lovely wife and said he'd ride about 200 km with me towards Medellín before he would turn around.