The last day with the girls today was spent visiting Cotopaxi- the highest active volcano in Ecuador. Leaving at about 8am we travelled 1 1/2 hours in the mini bus to get the car park of Cotopaxi at 4500 meters. It was incredibly windy but we were just about prepared with all our layers, hats, gloves and scarves. Nathan had refused to buy any extra warm stuff (as we are soon going to be in 30degrees) but was lucky that someone we met yesterday no longer needed his gloves so gave them to him. We stopped to buy water, sweets and snacks to help us acclimatise and give us energy for the hike. The plan was to hike 1.5km to the refuge at 4800 meters, and then for those who wanted to there was another 0.5km walk to the glaciers at 5000 meters.

The walk to the refuge was quite tough because of the sharp wind which was bitterly cold and going against us, making it difficult to walk up hill. It wasn't dusty like the hike to and from the lake was yesterday as it was hailing, so we were walking on kind of sandy gravel which was blanketed in snow as we neared the refuge. Apparently the snow had only just come in so we were fairly unlucky with the weather, we couldn't see a few meters in front as it was completely white. However this added to the fun and we fought through the wind and made it to the refuge. Browny got blown over at one point and I had a couple of stumbles! Nathan was the first to arrive barely out of breath, I was a few meters behind, Browny followed shortly after and Eddy after that. Arriving at the cabin the cord on Nathan's hoody was frozen and we were all very windswept. We agreed that actual walk wasn't too bad but the wind, cold and altitude made it tougher. Browny, Nathan and I wanted to try and make it to the glaciers so tucked into our snacks, however after we had done so the guide advised everyone to go back down as the visibility was poor and the wind was getting worse - the taxi driver had called us 'locos' for walking up at all (a couple of people from out group stayed in the minibus). We didn't want to hike to the glaciers to find that we couldn't see anything, so we all walked back down/ got blown back down to the bus! With the wind behind us it took 10 minutes if that, we were practically running and couldn't stop when we got to the van as the wind was so strong!

Back at the minibus we drove 2km downhill to begin our bike ride, our guide kept saying "there will be more less wind further down!". There was indeed more less wind and it was even a little sunny although still cold. We cycled 8km downhill on a gravelly road, it was a nice ride as you could take in the scenery without much effort! It was quite slippy in places though because of the gravel. This was much more Eddy's forte than the hike and she zoomed past us all, until we reached a sharp uphill corner where we all got off to walk! I was boiling by this point with my wooly hat and jumpers still on so had to de-layer. The sun was out and the clouds had cleared a little which meant that we had good views of Cotopaxi on the ride down. After 8km downhill we had about 2km flat, which became proper road towards the end which was much nicer to ride on. I was cycling with Eddy at this point and we knew Browny was a little behind, so were slightly concerned when the guide passed us whilst we were waiting for her and told us there was no one else behind! It turns out she had hopped on the mini bus at the steep hill so beat us to the car park. Again Nathan was the first down, takings pictures of us as we reached the car park. Before I arrived he was photographing another girl in a pink coat which he thought was me which was a bit awkward! After the cold today we are even more excited for the beaches and heat in Colombia!

We went back to PapaGayo Hostel for a late lunch, although they had no electricity so it was soup and salad! I felt sorry for the guy at reception as he had already had loads of complaints about the showers not being hot etc, and now he has to welcome guests to no electricity. Our rooms were nice enough if not a little cold and the food was ok but admittedly the showers weren't the best. We said goodbye to the girls on the bus back to Quito as they jumped off to catch a bus to Baños which is just an hour or so away from where we were. We were sad to leave them, the last couple of weeks have been good fun and it will be strange now travelling without them!

Back in Quito Nathan and I quickly got a subway for dinner and got straight in a taxi to the bus station, we made it a couple minutes before the next bus for Tulcán (they are fairly regular but this meant we wouldn't be quite so late arriving in the evening). The journey was 5 hours exactly which went fairly quickly, they played 3 different films although we didn't really watch them, they always put on really loud action/ shooting films which seem a bit inappropriate when people are trying to sleep! We got straight in a taxi for $1 to Hostel Azteca, it was a bit eerie when we arrived as there was no one around and no obvious entrance or bell to ring for the hostel, we had to bang on the gate (it wasn't that late- around 11pm). Someone did come down fairly soon, although all the lights in the hostel were off and we didn't see another soul! As we would be there less than 8 hours we weren't bothered and went straight off to sleep.