Leaving Coda Vista
Saying goodbye to Swiss couple, Peter and Anita and to our hosts Andy and Gaby, we set off down the mountainside. Andy had given us directions to get to Cotopaxi National Park on a small road. Traffic in the city was quiet and we were out of the metropolis in no time at all. Not sure if this was due to Andy’s directions or because it’s Sunday.
We stopped at a fruit and veg shop and I bought tomatoes, potatoes, onions, nectarines and peaches. There was such a variety of everything, but there is a limit to what we can store.
The road to Cotopaxi National Park
The road soon turned into a horrible track. Made of stones, but with accompanying potholes. Very steep in places. Poki didn’t like it and neither did Dennis. Poki was not performing well at all. Power was limited and she is belching black smoke through over fuelling.
The weather was also not being kind. The day had started sunny and we had managed to dry out the tent after yesterday afternoon and last night’s rain. Andy says the rainy season has come a month early. Just our luck.
It had started to rain again and was very murky, so visibility was limited. When we got to the Park entrance we decided not to go in but to take the track back to Machachi and the main highway.
This was slow progress as it continued to be a horrible stony track. All we could see of Cotopaxi was just up to the start of the snow line. The bulk of the volcano was hidden by cloud.
Eventually we were back on the main road and made good progress south. We turned off for Latacunga, but I couldn’t find any acceptable accommodation here, so we continued to Ambato.
Ambato
We are now at the Hotel Versaillles in Ambato. It is a very average roadside property but has parking. When we arrived we parked in front of the hotel. After cooking dinner in Poki, when we came back into the hotel, the receptionist had changed. The new one spoke English and advised us it was better to park at the back of the hotel.
He opened the gates for us and we noticed they were electrified and topped by several strands of barbed wire. It made us wonder how safe a place Ambato is. Anyway, our room is fine and has all the usual facilities, so we are quite comfortable. It is raining again, so it’s better than camping.
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Sounds like you are going to have to sort the over fuelling issue out bro. Better in civilisation than the middle of nowhere, and you have lots of uppy downy bits in front of you. Bite the bullet (says an Isuzu owner).
The question is, What’s causing it? It could be one of a number of things. Defining which one, is not easy. The dangers in a diesel engine are not as serious as a petrol one, unless diesel reaches the sump. I suspect it’s electronic and will get it tested when able. Altitude is exaggerating the problem. Will keep you posted. Isuzu, what’s that? They are all Chev’s over here. Even Suzuki Vitara’s.
🙂