Day 113 - Bucaramanga - Cucuta

(Ursula) Today we drove a long time on dirt roads passing through Aguachica and Bucaramanga. Then climbing rapidly to an altitude of 11,800 feet.

It was freezing up there. We reached the top with only a few drops left in the gas tank. Luckily, a truck driver shared some fuel with us. We need to purchase a 5-gallon fuel canister for emergencies. The closest gas station was two hours away in Pamplona, where we refueled and found a place to camp for the night.

Then a misfortune happened. Büsi was caught by the rear wheel when Heinz backed up the Camper at the gas station. Something is now wrong with his hind leg, and he is breathing heavily. Heinz feels terrible about it. Poor Büsi!

August 25th
(Ursula) We were finally out of the mountains, and hair needle curves were behind us. Now it was just a gentle downhill on a paved road that led through a long valley. We saw tropical plants and bright flowers again. The road followed the river and passed through many small villages until we reached the border town of Cucuta.

The town center was well-maintained, and people looked well-dressed for Sunday. The Tourist Office and Venezuelan Consulate were closed. We had to wait until Monday morning.

Luckily again, we found a restaurant parking lot where we could stay. Our Camper with the pop-up roof was a novelty in these parts of the world. People often stopped by to chat and satisfy their curiosity. It allowed us to ask questions, learn about the culture, get information, and practice our Spanish.

Stats: Miles 315, Expenses $16.20Read more