discovery


adventurelog


usually visit. Many of these people have never seen a blond-haired, blue- eyed girl like yourself.” Hailey takes notice of another small girl about her age. They wave and smile, sharing the universal language of children. Soon the little girl has taken my helmet, and the two girls pose for photos as a growing group of locals cheer them on.


Our day ends at a small patch of


dirt near a flowing river. We are directed to grab our gear, then follow Micho to a clearing where a small, narrow fiberglass boat awaits. We climb aboard and are ushered upriver to a small collection of bungalows. The accommodations are wonder- fully sparse; beds wreathed in mos- quito nets, a bathroom and a deck with chairs and hammocks overlook- ing the river. The room is surrounded by stunning groves of bamboo, their bases the size of adult human legs. The next morning we are whisked


upriver through the rapids, landing at a rocky shore where a series of water- falls await. We climb to the falls, tra- versing boulders and jumping into basin pools. The water is cool, the falls roaring and misting with immense power. A local directs us to stand under the falls, engaging us in a tradition of allowing the waters to “remove all negative energy and start anew.” The spiritual experience is lost on Hailey, who is content with splash- ing in the pools. We return to the bungalow and enjoy a tasty lunch of pork & beans before returning to our motorcycles. It was to be a short day of riding, but challenges were com- ing. “I’ve got a problem here,” I say to Micho over the Comm. “My front brakes are fading. I might have a fluid leak somewhere.” The previous day I had hit a boulder at speed. The impact was hard, and I was certain I had bent the rim. While there had been no visible damage, the impact had taken out my Anti-Lock Brakes, Cruise and Traction Control. The


Above, The accommodations were vast, ranging from upscale hotels to simple bungalows and beds with mosquito nets. This location was our favorite; a small riverfront villa surrounded by massive bamboo shoots. Below, Waterfalls are a common sight in Colombia. Locals believe that standing beneath the rushing water will cleanse both your body and soul. No word on whether it worked on Shawn!


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