Ecuador Bike Tour: Apuela

		Pichincha / Imbabura
		Ibike Ecuador

		Dispatch 7 - Apuela

		Left: Church on the main square in Quiroga. Right: Young female bicyclist in the main square in Quiroga.
		Left: Harvesting corn. Right: Stacks of dried corn stocks for future cattle consumption.
		Left: Rose being grown in a green house near Quirogo. Left: Lagoon Cuicochi and Mt Cotacachi (mostly obscured.)
		The high county south of Mt Cotacachi.
		To the west, the countryside get more dramatic and ruggedly scenic.
		The school in San Miguel de Pecara. The students seem to be practicing and end-of-the-year program (right).
		A stone road winds through the lush countryside of the tributaries of Rio Apuela. Ecuador use stone roads a lot for secondary roads. Ask to a motorist and the will say the road is great. Ask a cyclist and they will talk to you after they find the filling that was shaken loose. The secret is to find the smooth part along the edge -- which don't always exist.
		A few of the people we met along the way. I don't get pictures of most of my new acquaintances.
		Small community church in Alto Pecara.
		Left: Looking down into the valley of Apuela. Right: Looking down on to the school in Apuela.
		Left: Main street of Apuela. Right: Main square and market of Apuela.
		Left: Wall mural illustrating dental health and oral hygiene. Right: Small hotel and restaurant in the Rio Apuela valley.