Cuenca in pictures

We spent in a week in lovely Cuenca. My mission while there was to do all the needed maintenance on the bikes, do my taxes for the city, state, and feds, get set up for the Montessori conference in March, and get over my stomach bug. I was able to accomplish all three.

Megan's goals were to hang out with her good friends Kathleen, Fran, and Samuel, create a strong relationship with the montessori school in Cuenca and work on her bike. By the time we left, Megan was satisfied as well.

Big thanks to Kathleen and Fran for making us feel so comfortable in Cuenca and for looking out for us.

At the park with the family.

Getting motorcycle boots repaired

Rabbits are cute

Observing the Montessori School

Showing off the bike to the kids at the Montessori School

Megan wants to raise $1000 for a scholarship for 1 year's tuition at the Montessori School. To do this she is putting together Ecuador baskets to sell at the montessori conference in Chicago in March. She went about Cuenca collecting 50 sets of small things that represent Ecuadorian culture. These are being put together and then mailed to Chicago for us to sell for $40 each. All proceeds from these will go to the scholarship fund.

Getting Beta at the local climbing shop on where to climb around Cuenca.

Very lost and looking for the climbing area near Paute.

Is the climbing here?

We found it and spent an afternoon climbing.

Scary caterpillar on the way to the crag.

Megan and Sam.

Marshall and Sam

6 Cubans arguing politics around a dinner table. As you can imagine, this got very loud.

Megan, Kathleen and Super Sam

Megan took this as we were leaving Cuenca. I had to stop at an ATM and get some more cash (they use US dollars in Ecuador)

A restaurant at 10,000 feet made to look like a western restaurant. Complete with Willie Nelson for music. Two motorcyclists from Cuenca passed us on the road South out of Cuenca and then waited for us here. Javier and Nick waited outside in the rain and flagged us down as we drove by. This place is popular with local motorcycle riders as many more streamed in. 

Nick and Javier (father and son) with BMW 1200GS and KTM 990. Nick (the father) rode from Alaska to Chile two years ago. It took him 4 months. Both these guys work for the big newspaper in Ecuador. Nick is a director. They bought us lunch and we really enjoyed chatting with them for an hour over some fantastic food and coffee. Motorcyclists all over the world are a big happy family. There is something about being out on two wheels and a motor that brings people together. It doesn't happen with 4 wheels and a motor, you need only two.