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The story of how we saved money, quit our jobs, sold our possessions, and set off to bicycle tour and travel around the world

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Alaska / Canada / USA
5-3-08 to present
Index to all pages

New Zealand
9-16-07 to 5-2-08
Index to all pages

Australia
9-15-06 to 9 -16 - 07
Index to all pages

SE Asia / China
11-22-04 to 9-15-06
Index to all pages

South America
6-3-03 to 6-17-04
Index to all pages

North & Central America
3-30-02 to 4-17-03
Index to all Pages


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Sign up for our RoadNews Newsletter by sending a blank email  Written on the road as we travel around the world on our bicycles including free downloadable video links  MORE INFO HERE


Equipment Pages Index

Introduction
How Much to Bring and Weight
Some Advise About Advise
A Note to Perspective Sponsors and Gear Suppliers

START HERE for Touring Bikes and Commuting Bicycles
Bicycle Touring Frames 
The Steel Repair Myth.
Steel and Aluminum Derailleur Hanger Repair.
Bicycle Touring Wheels
Phil Wood: The Best Bicycle Hubs

Panniers / Bike Bags
Cargo Trailers Vs Panniers
Tires for Bike Tours..
Bicycle Touring Saddles.
Cindie's Women's Specific Bike Touring Saddles
Brooks Leather Touring Bicycle Saddle Care and Conditioning
Bike Computer
Touring Handlebars, Bar Ends, Adjustable Stems, and Padded Grips.
Sealed Cartridge Headsets

Camping
Buying Camping Equipment
Tent and Ground Cloth
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Camp Stove
Pots and Pans
Water Filter

Clothing
Bike Touring Shorts

Health and First Aide

Electrical
Short-wave Radio
Computer
Internet
mp3

Books
Packing list
Pictures of Equipment Failures
Shopping

 

Ecuador #2:
The Magic of the Andes
Adventure Story, Novel, Book, Writings

Aug 14, 2003
(Sent From Chiclayo, Peru)  Latin America


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Hello from Peru:

Wow, we have been out of touch for a long time.  We have just crossed the expansive and sparsely populated desert in northern Peru.  Out in these open spaces was the beauty and tranquility of the desert that we both love so much.  We have not been in the desert since well over a year ago in Northern Mexico.  This area also contained some of the most impoverished people that we had seen to date.  The most difficult roads do not climb mountains or head into the wind.  The most difficult roads pass by hunger and disease.  The greatest misery for me is slowly passing by these things.  The country of Peru will make some hard hitting content for my next newsletter but this one is about the great nation of Ecuador.  Ecuador has been one of my favorites so far.

This is a long letter.  It covers so many kilometers and interesting events that it still seems to me short and inadequate.  It is very hard sometimes to put into words the things that we experience down the road.  I can guarantee that these letters take longer to write than they do to read.  I hope that you enjoy it.  I am always open to suggestions, praise, and useful criticism.  This is how I become a better writer.

On July 25, 2003, Cindie and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary.  Everyday I wake up and wonder how she puts up with me.  Life on the road, with our budget, does not allow for a lot of fanfare.  No little boxes with big surprises.  We have moved beyond material extravagance and arrived at a higher level of being that does not dwell on the rat race and acquiring wealth.  At least that is what I keep telling her, I am not sure that she is buying it but it saves a lot of money in the jewelry store.  We have become content with the experience of seeing the world one kilometer at a time.  She seems perfectly happy living free on the cheap.  When I asked her what she wanted for her Anniversary she answered "I just want to ride".  She is a true drifter.  Besides, she can not wear expensive jewelry down here.  That would attract trouble from thieves and create envy among the countless poor people we meet.

Our wedding was pretty simple as well.  We were both working back then but we were still faced with the decision between a fancy wedding or a three week bike tour on our new tandem.  Of course, we chose the bike tour.  A little over five years ago I wrote Cindie a story about how a tandem bicycle is a bigger commitment than a diamond ring.  That story and the pictures of our drive thru bicycle wedding, in Las Vegas are posted on our web page and can be found at the link below.  True love could never be stronger.

http://www.downtheroad.org/Journals/1beforetrip/wedding.htm

Tim Travis

==================

Tim's Birthday is August 19th, he would love to get email from his family, friends, and anyone else he has met or written along the way.

Also we are still anticipating getting some great mail when we arrive in Cusco in a month or more.  If you want to drop us a letter or postcard within the next month please send it to:

Tim and Cindie Travis
South America Explorers Club (SAEC)
Apartado 500, Cusco, Peru

They will hold our mail until we get there.

Thanks. Cindie Travis

 

==================

 

2002 - 2012 © DownTheRoad.org (TM) All Rights Reserved

 

 


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INDEX #2: South America
6-3-03 to 6-17-04

1North and
Central America
3-30-02 to 4-17-03

2 South America
6-3-03 to 6-17-04

3 SE Asia / China
11-22-04 to
9-15-06

4 Australia
9-15-06 to 9-15-07

5 New Zealand
9-16-07 to 5-2-08
6 Alaska, Canada, and the USA
5-3-08 to present
Cindie's Daily Journal INDEX Where are we now?  BLOG and latest news
June 4 -  July 8, 2003
Ecuador #1
Quito to Riobamba, Ecuador

Cindie's Daily Journals
Ecuador #1

Tim's Emailed Newsletters (Join  List)
Ecuador: Riding on top of the Southern Hemisphere

Best Place to see Pictures
Thumbnail Page of Pictures in Ecuador #1

Full size Picture Pages

WARNING These pages are very slow loaders

- Quito The Old City
- The Equator "Mitad del Mundo"
- Volcano Tugurahua, Backpacking
- Banos, Ecuador Natural Hot Springs
- Quito to Latacunga, Ecuador
- The City of Latacunga, Ecuador
- Latacunga to Riobamba, Ecuador
- The Village of Mocha, Ecuador
- The City of Riobamba, Ecuador
- Other

 

July 9 - Aug 4, 2003
Ecuador #2
Riobamba to Macara, Ecuador
( Peruvian border)

Cindie's Daily Journals
Ecuador #2

Tim's Emailed Newsletters (Join  List)
Ecuador #2: The Magic of the Andes

The Fastest Place to see Pictures
Thumbnail Page of  Pictures in Ecuador #2

Full size Picture Pages

WARNING These pages are very slow loaders

- Riobamba to Alausi, Ecuador
- The City of Alausi, Ecuador
- Nariz Del Diablo - Train Ride
- Alausi to Cuenca, Ecuador
- The City of Cuenca, Ecuador
- Cuenca to Loja, Ecuador
- Loja to Macara, Ecuador

 

Aug 5 - Sept. 14, 2003
Peru #1
The Ecuador border to Huallanca, Peru

Cindie's Daily Journals
Peru #1 JOURNAL

Tim's Emailed Newsletters (Join  List)
Peru #1 Riding Between The Extremes

Best Place to see Pictures
Peru #1 THUMBS

Full size Picture Pages

WARNING These pages are very slow loaders

- The Ecuador Border to Chiclayo, Peru
- Chiclayo to Trujillo, Peru
- Casa De Ciclista, Peru Cyclist House
- The Ruins of Chan Chan
- Ruins - Temple of the Moon and Sun
- Trujillo to Huallanca, Peru
- Huallanca to Huaraz, Peru
- Huarez to Pachapaque
- Pachapaqui to Huallanca

 

Sept. 15 - Oct. 31, 2003
Peru #2
Huallanca, Peru to
Copacabana, Bolivia

Cindie's Daily Journals
Peru #2 JOURNAL

Tim's Emailed Newsletters (Join  List)
Peru #2: Been Doing Some Hard Traveling

Best Place to see Pictures
Peru #2 THUMBS

Full size Picture Pages

WARNING These pages are very slow loaders

- Huallanca to Huanuco
- Huanuco to La Oroya, Peru
- Arequipa, Peru
- Cusco, Peru
- Tambo Machay, Pucapucara, Qenqo
- Sacsayhuaman, Inca Ruin
- Machu Picchu #1
- Machu Picchu #2
- Machu Picchu #3
- Cusco to Santa Rosa, Peru
- Santa Rosa, Peru to Copacabana Bolivia
- Uros, Peru Lake Titicaca

 

November 1 - December 8, 2003
Bolivia
Copacabana to Villazon, Bolivia

Cindie's Daily Journals
Bolivia JOURNAL

Tim's Emailed Newsletters (Join  List)
Bolivia: The Calm After the Storm.

Best Place to see Pictures
Bolivia THUMBS

Full size Picture Pages

WARNING These pages are very slow loaders

- Copacabana, Bolivia on Lake Titicaca
- Todos Santos - Day of the Dead
- Copacabana to La Paz
- La Paz to Oruro
- Oruro to Quillacas
- Quillacas to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
- Salar de Uyuni Salt Lake to The City of Uyuni

 
(December 9, 2003 - January 22, 2004)
NW Argentina
La Quiaca, to La Cueva, (border with Chile) Argentina

Cindie's Daily Journals
Cindie's North West Argentina Daily Journal

Tim's Emailed Newsletters (Join  List)
Northwest Argentina: The Wrong Way In the Right Country 

Best Place to see Pictures
Pictures of  North West Argentina

Full size Picture Pages

WARNING These pages are very slow loaders

- Quiaca to Tilcara
- Tilcara to Salta
- Salta to Cafayate
- Cafayate to Belen
- Belen to Mendoza
- Parque National Talampaya
- Valle De Luna Provincial Park
- Mendoza to La Cueva
- Aconcagua National Park

 
January 23 - February 29, 2004
Chile
Portillo, Chile to Bariloche, Argentina

Cindie's Daily Journals
Cindie's Chile Daily Journal

Tim's Emailed Newsletters (Join  List)
coming!

Best Place to see Pictures
Thumbnails of Chile

Full size Picture Pages

WARNING These pages are very slow loaders

- Portillo to Los Andes
- Temuco to Parqua National Conguillio
- Conguillio National Park to Villarrica
- Villarrica to Playa Pucara
- Playa Pucura to Puerto Pirihueico
- Bariloche, Argentina Velodrome

 
March 3, to 23, 2004
  Patagonia, South America
 Argentina and Chile

Cindie's Daily Journals
Patagonia

Tim's Emailed Newsletters (Join  List)
coming!

Best Place to see Pictures
Patagonia THUMBS

Full size Picture Pages

WARNING These pages are very slow loaders

- Southern Patagonia Birds
- Perito Moreno Glacier, (Before rupture)
- Perito Moreno Glacier (After rupture)
- Torres Del Paine National Park #1
- Torres Del Paine National Park #2
- Torres Del Paine National Park #3
- Torres Del Paine National Park #4
- El Chalten  - Fritz Roy
- Cuevas los Manos, Rock Art


- My First Jewish Passover
- Ski Argentina Cerro Cathedral
- Fall in Bariloche
- Cerro Campanerio
- Cerro Lopez
- Nordic Cross Country Skiing Bariloche, Argentina

1North and
Central America
3-30-02 to 4-17-03

2 South America
6-3-03 to 6-17-04

3 SE Asia / China
11-22-04 to
9-15-06

4 Australia
9-15-06 to 9-15-07

5 New Zealand
9-16-07 to 5-2-08
6 Alaska, Canada, and the USA
5-3-08 to present
Cindie's Daily Journal INDEX Where are we now?  BLOG and latest news

 

 



Our 1st book
The Road That Has No End


How we traded our ordinary lives for a global bicycle touring adventure.

Our 2nd book
Down The Road in South America

A bicycle tour through poverty, paradise, and the places in between.

Printed Soft Cover
(Ships Internationally)

mp3 Audio Book
 Download
Hear First Chapter NOW

PDF eBook
 Download



Heavy Duty Travel Tested
Sealed Cartridge Hubs.

Take a look at the strongest hubs built specifically for touring


How to Buy a Used or New Custom Touring Bicycle and existing Bike Upgrade Guide.

What years on the road have taught us.

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