Friday

After having breakfast on the terrace, i suggested a 20km bike ride down to Rio Verde, as Adam likes biking. After hiring mountain bikes, we headed out of town. I seemed to have a hard time peddling as going up hill there was a lot of resistance and going down hill, my peddles just swung round if i tried to do anything before slowing right down! Adam sorted out the gears for going up hill, and i have content on the down hill bit. There was a quite strong wind against us, which did not help some of the going. Now remember i have only been on a bike once in the last 15years that that was a quick trip around Barcelona a few years back, so i was very impressed with myself. The journey was great apart from some of the road bits as i did not like lorries passing, and the first tunnel through the mountain was cool, but after that there were outside passes with a cobbled surface to bike along away from the traffic.

On our way down the mountain we had 2 waterfalls to stop at, with steep climbs on both and what must go down has to come up again. But both were well worth the treks plus biking.

Once we finished our trip down to Rio Verde, we met an aussie couple, and 2 french guys and got a truck with them back up to Banyos. We then organised to meet them that evening for drinks at the Irish bar at 8pm. I rewarded myself a massage for $20 and Adam headed back to the baths.

Just before heading out, we met a guy that Adam had met in Quito, so organised for him to join us later. The Aussie couple we met were waiting for us and we went in and to the back courtyard were there was a huge bonfire and got a table. It{s was great chatting to them, and the evening flew past. Near the end, the swiss guys turned up and the guy from Quito and i saw a few others from the hostel, but had not really met.

At about 11am, Adama and i head up the street for pizza and headed back.