We’ve just taken off from Bogota and I’m headed for Panama City (again).

I really wanted to ride from Bogota to Quito but I’ve decided I am not brave enough to ride through the areas south of Cali. Even though the road is heavily patrolled by the army and there hasn’t been an incident for several months I know I wouldn’t handle being kidnapped very well.

I’ve decided the risks outweigh the excitement of the ride.

The advice I received was to only ride in the mornings, starting as early as possible, from six am and then stop at midday. Find a hotel and get the bike out of sight as soon as possible. With brown hair and blue eyes I do not exactly look South American.

Even though I know two friends who have done it recently I decided to err on the side of caution and spend more money getting to Quito. I interpreted the cock up in getting my bike to Bogota and a few other occurrences as ‘signs’ that it was not meant to happen.

It just didn’t feel ‘right’. Normally when I do things like this there is no hesitation at all. I just do it. I had an interesting experience riding north from Nairobi on the Marsabit road to Ethiopia in 2003. I didn’t mind guns being pointed at me or the possibility of being robbed but kidnapped – no. I resolved to listen to my feelings and bail out of Colombia.

It will still be there in the years to come.