12 - 15 March Puerto Colombia

We faced a long truck day because Pete wanted to get us to the bottom of a mountain drive that was going to be pretty intense and he wanted an early start for that one to try to miss traffic.

Our first view of the Caribbean


Looking for a hotel from 6pm and not finding a suitable one for a few hours made it a 14 hour truck day. Pete thought everything went wrong that day. The front suspension bracket that has intermittently broken/been repaired/broken again....well, it broke. What amused me though was reversing the truck into an electricity pylon at one rejected hotel, then cos the security guard didn't look too alarmed, driving off. Then, getting stopped by locals further down the road, who kindly informed us one of our spare tyres (on the back of the truck) had just come off and bounced across a crossroads. Eek! Those things are huge but luckily no damage to anyone/thing. All part of being on the road and it tickled me. Poor Pete, ha ha. Ended up in a lovely hotel in a gated community (bit posh for us oiks etc).

Tight corners


So, off to Puerto Colombia, a town on the coast of the Caribbean. We only covered 54 km but it was all winding, sheer drop, often single lane roads with sharp switch backs which needed a three point turn sometimes to get round, along with crazy overtaking locals and buses speeding towards you, seemingly taking on the sheer drops on two wheels! Amazing views and a cracking bit of driving by Pete.

Vanessa peeking over the edge


Ah! Ok, breath in folks!


We split across 3 posadas and quickly worked out the one to hang out at. V and I didn't try the hammock that was hung over the bed (small room). Getting off onto soft ground (a bed) is apparently not easy. A tiny but pretty town, with much still shut as the country was in official mourning for Chavez, the President who died a day or two before we entered the country.

Anthony having a swim


Bit tight getting the truck in here too



Sandy stuff



Francois and Heather at back. Front, Geoff, Lisa, Vanessa and Tony


Some spent their time at the beach, some mooched town (a few times), explored further afield or relaxed at the posada. We ate at a restaurant one night, recommended by others in the group and had a fabulous tuna steak dish for equivalent of £5. We couldn't get a Cuba Libre though and were told there was no alcohol (official mourning again). We found out later, the booze had been saved for the others in our group who had come the night before, and who arrived as we left! Cheek! Ha.

Photo taken in a supermarket!


A bevy of South America's pneumatic mannequins


Pete's "much better than I expected" face


Our final night fell on Vanessa's birthday so a BBQ party it was. Highlights of the night were Duncan and Anthony's Gangnam Style. (I have video chaps!) and Mikkel (our Euro-Steve Irwin) walking in with a birthday present for Vanessa.......a tortoise with tinsel tied on with a shoelace! Priceless! Only later did we hear of the shock Anthony experienced when he found a tortoise in the shower of his room earlier that day, knawing on a cucumber, Mikkel's hiding place for him.

Top that!



There's a tortoise in ma kitchen, what am I gonna do? There's a tortoise in ma kitchen....etc


If your car is falling apart, chain it up and padlock it