Call Me Lance The Bear Armstrong!!

Greetings everyone.
Nice to hear the positive responses about the blog. Thought I would drop a quick line before I head off to the Galapagos Islands.
Since Quito I have been to Banos and Riobamba which are amongst some lush mountains and volcanoes. Done a bike ride in both towns and how different they were. Banios ride started great, not bad weather, great scenery with a few waterfalls thrown in. Then when I got to the furthest point of the day, about 20 kilometres from Banos it started pissing it down. Christ!
I was like a drowned rat so I decided to motor back. I seriously thought I was not going to make it, I'm not too proud to say I was knackered, me legs had gone. Mind you how I did not get run over and killed in the tunnel I had to walk through, I will never know. It must have been a good kilometre long, no lights I could not see jack!! I was walking into the tunnel walls & falling in the side ditch. I kissed the road like the bloody Pope when I got through!
Had to take the following day off recover and do some serious laundry.
Now the bike ride in Riobamba was part of a tour and was mint. We drove up to the foot of the biggest volcano in Equador, damn forgot the name. Chimbarazo I think. Its over 6000 metres high and the weather was clear so I got some great shots. Did a short walk to about 5000 metres with snow under my feet and the volcano right in me face. Then we rode the bike all the way down-hill to around 2500metres. The start of the downhill was off-road, I was in me element. Then, when we hit the tarmac I went for it - wow you pick up some speed. Got a little rollocking off the tour guide for leaving everyone eating my dust. I told the tour guide that's the Joe Mangel (gamble) my friend! Great to see snow capped mountains and volcanoes.

Bring on the Galapagos Islands...THE BEAR