We left Cartagena shortly before Christmas heading east along the Caribbean Coast in search of kite beaches. The currents were too dangerous at our first stop, Casa Grande, but it gave us a great taste of what to expect and after a quick overnight in Taganga, we headed into the desert of La Guajira, arriving in Cabo de la Vela as the sun was setting on Christmas Eve.
We opened presents on the beach Christmas morning and as the wind was blowing, Declan got out the kites and the fun began, or should I say the kite-mares (for me - Rachel). Cabo de la Vela was quiet over Christmas but quickly filled up with a boisterous crowd from Bogota and Medellin over New Year. The local kids were great fun, always trying to sell us something or secure some sweets. We met a lovely family from Barranquilla and Bogota, with an aunt in from Miami, all sleeping in the hammocks on the beach for New Year's Eve. Amazing how one night there could be hardly anyone in the palapa but somehow Jose would manage to squeeze hammocks in to fit, the most we counted was 37 one night! That's Jose with the New Year goat, Rico. We also met a lovely couple, Lidda and Guillermo from Bogota, who helped us with the engine battery. Hoping to see them again when we head south.
We left in the New Year for Riohacha and Italo at Nina Kites managed to get me up and riding on the board. We also met up with Marcus and Julie, who we'd bumped into on our last day in Cabo. They were our first British couple in a truck. They have been travelling for four years and have a great website, check out www.tuckstruck.net
From Riohacha, we headed for Santa Marta where Emily Morgan, the boat we crossed the Atlantic with, just happened to be in port as part of their 2018 ARC World trip. Great to catch up with them and wishing them fair winds as they set off westward bound.
Puerto Valero, La Boquilla and Manzanillo were a few of our final stops as we headed back along the coast to Cartagena. A big thank you to Julie for the great shots of me finally riding!