Swinging Around Ecuador

There’s nothing more exciting than screaming through the sky in a saddle attached to a metal wire as the wind and jungle scream past as you hang precariously a hundred feet above the lush green valley below.

I get ahead of myself though.

Gravity Keeps the Red Cross Busy

Exiting the concrete jungle of Quito left its’ mark. In addition to memories and a bit of knowledge, Ecuador left a physical stain on Nadine. Before jumping on what would turn out to be the most indirect bus to the touristy town of Baños, the bus terminal literally tripped her up. The large, voluminous blue backpack she carried on her chest, a remnant of our around the world trip and every trip abroad, blocked a hidden hole in the asphalt. Just as quick a New Mexican can of green chili gets eaten at breakfast, the work of gravity and an absence of cement forced her to the ground in a heap of beauty and blue nylon backpack.

Fortunately, the friendly Red Cross nurses wrapped up her bum ankle in a jiffy and pushed an embarrassed Nadine across the modern bus terminal in a wheelchair to a bus that provided her ample time to consider future steps in the Ecuadorian Andes.

A Man In A Van Down By The River

Interestingly enough, the first morning outside the White Fry cottage on the banks of rain swollen Pastaza River in Lligua, sat an old, mud covered van hidden away between a fork in the rushing river and the fruit garden. Just as our families exited the cottage to inspect the cloudy skies and rushing river, a big hairy man exited his van down by the river. Pets and owner’s often carry the same appearance and mannerisms, and this man and his best friend reflected each other. Both were hairy and maybe a bit haggard from their expedition. The canine and his Pittsburgh owner found themselves roughly halfway through driving the length of the Americas.

Before ziplining central Ecuador, there was some personal preparation in order.

Dirty Holy Water

Our departure from Abby’s Hideaway included a stop in the sulfuric thermal bathes of Termas de la Virgen. These holy water cleansed our bodies, but soon the breezy heights of Puntzán Canopy soon dried us off.

It’s Just Monkey Business She Says

And there’s nothing like a monkey calling your attention to the importance of protecting your children. More specifically, when your child swings across a valley like a monkey . . . that is upside down and by herself. Far from the protective oversight of her parents.

Puntzán Canopy occupies a section of the Andes mountains south of Quito where acre upon acre of forest hides small mud paths leading up and over tree roots to isolated zip line platforms. Several of them crossed entire valleys actively being carved by the rivers and streams. Within the first few lines, Sophie eagerly and bravely crossed a valley in the “monkey pose”. The rider, and in this case, my first daughter, crossed the valley upside down with her head closer to the ground than her feet.

When our two families reached the next wooden platform nailed in the tree canopy, Nadine slowly leaned over and looked me in the eyes, “That made me really nervous!”

Just as conspicuously, I leaned back towards her and with my eyes as large as they little slits will get, whispered, “Me too.”

Recycling Black Sheep

From Baños, our team boarded a more direct bus to Chugchilán and home to Oveja Negra. The Black Sheep EcoLodge is a hotel perched up in the foothills of the Andes overlooking the surround valley. This award winning ecolodge demonstrates its’ environmental friendly ways in a myriad of ways across the property. A solar pump helps water the surrounding gardens. All items are recycled like my jokes. Organic gardens circle the lodges while the local is reforested with indigenous species. They also educate the local about protecting the native environment.

Yet their most rewarding initiative laid inside the composting toilets, recycled New Mexican shit. Appropriately set next to the dry toilet was The Toilet Papers, reading material originated directly from the Albuquerque Library. This New Mexican literature described the ins and outs of “designs to recycle human waste and water, dry toilets and gray water systems and urban sewage.” Human waste is a theme New Mexico is well versed in. One can’t help but admire the lengths Oveja Negra took to help the less fortunate.

Oveja Negra also claimed to have the world’s highest frisbee golf course, but failed to mention that the course also contained the highest concentration of stickers on a single course in the world too. In edition to playing frisbee golf on the highest course in the world and soaking up the hot water in the sauna, Chugchilán provided the perfect jumping off point for the picturesque volcano of Laguna Quilotoa.

This caldera filled with rain water conveniently formed 800 years ago, before our visit to zipline Ecuador, and currently begged to be descended and subsequently climbed. All obliged willingly and made the 700 foot descent down to the shore where the towering volcanic walls framed perfectly the lake, the perfect arena to paddle a boat. The return ascent required more energy as the sky exchanged the chilling clouds of the morning for hot rays of bright sun.

Unfortunately Chugchilán and Laguna Quilotoa marked the end of our Cliff Notes eight day visit around central Ecuador, and just as brief as our drive past Volcán Cotpaxi and visit with Robyn and Nate, the White and Fry families departed this Andean country adventure.

Previous stop: Balancing Ashy Quito
Also: Sophie’s Perspective of Ecuador
Also: Dominic’s Perspective of Ecuador