Chiwawa

Full circle: I'm right where I was when I began this blog and so its a fitting place to close it.

But the journey's not over and Colombia lives on, the memories are growing and fading, expanding and expounding. When I left Bogota 10-days ago I felt as though I'd gotten to know the country so well, but now that I'm back home I realize how many questions I left unanswered. Literally and symbolically. An obvious point of conversation and I still don't really understand the political-guerilla situation in Colombia to the degree that I should, however I probably understand it about as well as the average local who don't seem to concern themselves over what doesn't effect them. I tried to get more out of them, but instead I did the same as they and ignored the extraneous: I just rode my bike, traveled, and lived the life of the road.

When I left Bogota I had the feeling that I'd spent a good amount of time in Colombia, but now that I'm back it all seemed so fleeting. This is why its important to record your journeys and rehash them from time to time: how soon we forget.

The Chiwawa! When I left here for Colombia winter was still in full and there was 3 feet of snow in the yard. Today it was 80F/27C-degrees and instead of having to shovel to keep from being burried, I have to think about mowing every couple of days to keep from being overrun by greenery. Instead of my quiver of skis I go to my rack of bikes. Instead of splitting wood and stoking the fire I pull weeds, water the yard and try to keep the bugs from getting in. Sunsets at 9pm instead of 3:30!

My final weekend of winter before leaving for Colombia I did a cross-country ski race, and my first real weekend of summer after arriving home I did a bike race. Race report: nothing worth reporting because unfortunately I did as expected. I generally set unrealistic goals for myself but not this time: I'd been sick the previous week and didn't get on my race bike until two days before Stage 1 and so I was little help to my teammate and proved small threat to my competition. Any racing goals or expectations that might arise this summer will come from a hope that I can convert the long miles and power of my touring in Colombia to something more race productive: all-day power to snap and speed.

The final ride tally for Colombia was something over 3400-kilometers. I feel pretty good about that considering that I had a couple extended vacations from the bike.

I've got a few more items to post so I'm not quite through here... last week I typed up a lengthy essay and was in the process of uploading a bunch of pics when it all came crashing down and I'm almost emotionally ready to retry after that initial failed effort. Here's a sampling of pics still on the camera.

Pictures:
--(Below) I can only dream: that guy there is the Guanabana man. Look at all those plump, prickly guanabanas! -- Huge ride with "Mathew" out of Bucaramanga during my final week in Colombia: 110-kms for me, 160 for him. This kid can ride! -- On the Chumstick in Plain.

--(Above) Up the Icicle!