Of Trucks And Things

You can't speak of Christmas and New Years w/o mentioning the day-long Christmas parade, and the time-honored traditions of burning effigies, men dressing as women and stopping cars for money, and the lighting of fireworks.

The Christmas parade begins around 10am on Dec. 24 and lasts ALL DAY. Seriously, it's about an 8 hour parade. All of the local (and far away) communities and neighborhoods participate, decorating cars & trucks, horses, infants, and children in all manners of regalia. They are all pretty much their own version of the same theme: the manger scene.

The burning of the effigies has to do with getting rid of the previous year's bad karma; these figurines are highly flammable and burned on Dec. 31, usually after the sun goes down. You can purchase a super-hero to burn, a Disney character, or a plain body with no face, where you can affix your own mask or a pre-made mask. Popular masks are often of political figures.

I found this Christmas scene on a random side street; I had no idea it was there, and it is simply amazing! The photo does not do it justice, but the entire display is at least the size of a large garage.

Blue lights are strung across the river for about a mile; this year fish were added to the scene.

A really crazy tradition is where guys dress up as girls, and do their very best to stop traffic and solicit coin from the drivers. They will set up on the highway, in the city, anywhere traffic is strong. On a 60 mi. bike ride I saw at least a dozen groups of guys doing their thing. It's very bizarre, and makes no sense.

Fireworks. They say you can see the smoke from Ecuador's fireworks in space. Thank God the city is constructed of concrete, brick, and mortar, because otherwise it would burn down every New Year's Eve. Ecuadorians will use any excuse to set of rockets, and New Year's Eve is the grandaddy of them all. It's quite impressive, really.

This is by far the largest compilation of photos yet… probably because I never get tired of the scenery here. I do not think one sun-soaked mountain looks like the next… they are all unique with their distinct valleys, ridges, and even the same mountain can take on a completely different aspect depending on the clouds and shadows playing on its hillsides. Between my mountain bike and my road bike I’ve covered about every square half-mile of the region. The mountain bike really lets me explore these Andes Mts., as there are dirt roads everywhere leading into the countryside; unfortunately, the most fantastic views are usually preceded by the most demanding rides. To get on top of a mountain or mountain ridge, there’s going to be some climbing to get up there, and it’s never a little.

The road bike allows me to put some distance between Cuenca and neighboring towns and even provinces, all of which have their own mountain ranges that once you climb to the top, afford seemingly unending fabulous views of the land. Enjoy!

I'm at approx. 13,000ft; no trees, just tall grass and some scrub-brush

This is my bike. There are many like it, but this one is mine. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me my bike is useless. Without my bike, I am useless....

One of my first rides with Scott, Dave, and Daniel (making picture)

looking towards Girón

This is one of the coolest arches I've ever seen; they are near the entrance to SigSig; I think every town should have a set of arches this extravagant.

I've participated in one bike race since I've been here, a 'Gran Fondo' which basically means a big race, of 93 miles, from Guayaquil to Salinas, all on the coast. Mostly flat, with some rolling hills. Pictured are (R-L) Paul, Scott, Daniel, & me (Dave is making picture).

the group being led out of town

still riding in mass out of town

about 70 miles into the race

this is along one of my favorite rides... I call this one my 'money shot'

Sunday group ride in Cuenca, with (R-L) me, Dave, Paul, Daniel, Bob, and Scott (making picture)

Sunday group ride with the BiciCuenca group, a large group of riders who ride for mostly social reasons on Sunday mornings and Tuesday nights

after a rainy, muddy Tuesday night ride

Sunday group ride w/Bob, Scott, Dave, & Dan... for a while we were riding on rose petals before catching up to a parade, where girls in front were dropping rose petals on the ground

I have wiped out many times on this particular ride.

view from top of Trés Cruces, highest point in the Cajas, approx. 13,500ft. I actually climbed the steps from the road with my bike, just because.

heavy rains = landslides!

This is a real house... great view!

Moments after I arrived, clouds rolled in... at Laguna Busa, a popular park & pond area with the locals

same view as above, minus the clouds (different day)

clouds hugging the ground

The reason I shot this video is that it shows sunlight, ribbons of fast-moving clouds along the ground, and blue sky next to storm clouds, with additional clouds settling over the mountainside...