Rocks & Sucks in Colombia

It’s been a couple of weeks since I got back from Colombia and with starting my lecture tour*, I’ve had time to reflect on our adventures. Rather than write a long-winded summary of our trip, I thought I’d do something different and present the highs, lows and hilarity in a “rocks and sucks” run-down.

What Rocks: Paddling 45km in one day through several stunning gorges

What Sucks: The trailer breaking on the way to the put-in

What Rocks: Surfing big waves in 40 degree sunshine

What Sucks: Having to inspect your mate’s nether regions for ticks

What Rocks: Paddling through one of the most impressive multi-day canyons we’ve ever seen

What Sucks: Having to hike out of said canyon at the take out!

What Rocks: Fiestas in Latin America

What Sucks: Our attempts at Salsa

What Rocks: Nailing the line on a big rapid after long deliberation

What Sucks: 8-hour bus journeys while hung over

What Rocks: Going paragliding while your mates are sick

What Sucks: Being sick while your mates go paragliding

What Rocks: Incredible geography & geology

What Sucks: Your 4×4 & trailer sliding 10m sideways back down the hill, next to a large cliff

(OK, we don’t have photos of that dramatic moment)

What Rocks: Huge lumps of meat cooked on an Asado

What Sucks: Spirits that come in cartons

What Rocks: Getting silt beards while paddling the Rio Negro

What Sucks: Big holes & rocks hidden by the black water

(can you see me? I’m in the middle!)

What Rocks: Bar games that involve throwing stones at gun powder!

What Sucks: Spiky, spiny and sticky plants that rip your legs apart

What Rocks: Midnight skinny dipping

What Sucks: Finding the pictures the following morning

(Sorry, they are not going on here!)

What Rocks: Having mules to carry your kayak

What Sucks: Carrying your own fully laden kayak through the jungle

…or through fields, over barbed wire fences, along steep ridges, over huge boulders or down small cliffs…

What Rocks: A bus driver willing to try anything to get your boats on board

What Sucks: Finding that his efforts have ripped a deck, split a kit bag and gauged a boat

What Rocks: Bottom left

What Sucks: Top middle

What Rocks: Unbelievable kindness and instant friendships

What Sucks: Saying goodbye

For the full stories, check out our team blog at kayakcolombia.wordpress.com – or come along to one of our talks!

* Over the next few months I’ll be doing talks about or trip, including some impressive video footage and lots of photos, at various venues across the UK. Full schedule will be released soon, but if you’d like to arrange a talk near you (for a canoe club, group or organisation then please drop me an email on lowri@flowfree.co.uk)