I thought it could be interesting  to see some the best cycle touring days you guys ever had. I know it's tough, but try to pick 30-50 miles (roughly an easy day) you could say it was the best ride ever. Where was it? and why was it so special? a stunning landscape, an amazing encounter, an incredible meal, the magic of a sweet downhill, a great tailwind... a nice mix of those... whatever it is. And if you can't pick just one, write down 2!

OK I start:

It's taking place in august, in the Syrian desert. After a nice dinner made of mutton and camel milk (the milk was not that great) with the local Bedouins it was time for my wife and I to leave the oasis of Palmyra sitting in the middle of the desert. Cause of the painful temperature during the daytime, we decided to leave at dusk. What a great idea! We were heading north towards the Kurdish part of the country to go back to Turkey. The temperature was just perfect, the brand new asphalt felt like riding inside of a mall. The silence was absolutely perfect: not a single car, no clicking wheel thanks to my Shimano silent hub, just the smooth friction of the tires. Thanks to the very dry air, the full moon was astonishingly bright, so bright that we turned our lights off. The silence, the gentle breeze, the obscurity only broken by the moon, the easy ride... riding the immensity of a desert in those conditions was truly a beautiful experience.

Your turn now...

One of the best bike rides EVER is from Baños to Puyo in Ecuador.  You go down about 4000 feet through a narrow canyon with waterfalls every few miles and cliffs to throw rocks over and fruit stalls with incredibly delicious goodies...  It's FABULOUS!  We happened to climb up it, but even the climb isn't that bad - the road has a good grade and isn't too steep, except for a few short stretches.  Anyway - I've posted a slide show of the ride here:  http://www.examiner.com/examinerslideshow.html?entryid=968543

Peter, You were lucky to have the Mancha Barwa waiting for you like that! I actually camped 2 days at the top of this pass just waiting for the sky to clear so I could see this magnificient summit! There was no way that I could come all that way and climb that high without seeing it! Finally, after 2 days, we were running out of food to the point that we had to leave the very next morning. It was just before dark when it finally came out from behind the clouds, and it was a thousand times bigger and so much more impressive than what I was expecting. I was so happy that I waited! Sleeping at 4500m high was not very comfortable... but it surely was worth it! That climb you're describing was also a lot of fun going downhill! Nicely paved! It was Franz, 1 hour behind you, wasn't it?
Alvaro, I will get you some links ASAP.