Viva Ecuador!

So, long story short, an amazing woman (who is not me) got the Baja Divide scholarship.  Good thing, because I already had the itch and the means to make another bike tour happen.  Sometimes the stars align and good friends decide to drink whiskey with you and buy plane tickets to Ecuador for a three week bike tour.  Enter Ani and Ed, a dynamic sister and brother duo who are no strangers to bike tours.  Ani has been featured in some of my greatest hits, including, bike touring the McKenzie Pass last year.

I am fortunate to have a healthy savings account and seven weeks of vacation, which is my non-profit's noteworthy attempt to provide work-life balance for domestic violence advocates exposed to a lot of trauma.  Ani saved a lot of money making maps and managing data for a big agricultural consultant that ended up laying off a bunch of folks due to reasons out of Ani's control.  Ed just loves bike tours and made this shit happen.  And so, our motley crew was born.  Airplane tickets have been purchased and the cold winter months of Bend, Oregon have been spent in front of toasty fireplaces sorting through gear and routes.

Mmmm, maps of Ecuador.

We find ourselves just three weeks away!  Immunizations are being finalized, research on plugs conducted, and gear being sorted.  Soon, an itinerary will be born from bike blogs and suggestions from friends who have lived in Ecuador.  I'll be happy to swap my -8 degree nights for balmy 40 degree weather in the highlands.

As always, we plan to chase the roads less travelled, eat all the food, and take the rest as it comes.