17th February Columbia – Papayan 181 miles

Left nice and early this morning and did the 30 odd miles to Pasto. Found a tyre shop and asked for tyres for motorbikes and yes no problem that was until they saw the size we wanted. None of that size in Pasto but there will be some in Cali.
We stopped and had a bit of breakfast and then got some money before heading off towards Cali. I got some guidance from a policeman and we found the road no problem, that makes a change, however a mile down the road and it is closed off. The police were just waving us away but I asked how we get on the Cali road and a minibus pulled up next to us, the policeman spoke to the minibus driver and gave him some instructions and then told us to follow him. Well we ducked and dived down all sorts of side streets and then came out on the Cale road but right by another lorry blockade, which must be why the road was closed further back. We managed to get through by driving down the drainage gully and we were on our way, wow!
Further down the road at the first peage, it was coned off but we were allowed through and there was a massive queue of lorries the other side I guess trying to get into Pasto to try to close it down. Further outside the town was a car park choc a block with coaches and a gas station full of lorries. We will see what the rest of the journey is like.
We have made good progress and stop for a bite to eat and just before we leave Martin has a chat with a local who tells us Cali is still 4 hours away, we are not going to get there then so plan B is Papayan.
As we arrive in Papayan we see a Yamaha dealer and a Honda dealer with a tyre supplier in between them. We enquire about tyres but nothing that big in this town but should be fine in Cali. Thats fine it was just a chance anyway having seen the stores.
We have found a hotel and should make Cali tomorrow where we will probably spend a couple of days.
We have now run out of time to enable us to get to Central America and do it justice so we will probably stay in Columbia and tour around and explore it thoroughly, we may even go to Venezuela but we will see how time goes and where we need to ship the bikes back from..