So on our way to Huaraz the cops waved all coming traffic over so I pulled over and the cop turned his back from me and I crept forward and slowly kept going not sure what was going on then just kept going, The cop didn´t say a thing, thinking back on it that was a bad move. they came and got us. It was looking like a very big ticket for not stopping. . . . we showed them we did not have that much so they grabbed our money and said no problema and left. We´ll they didn´t get that much, a lot less then what we really could of gotten with a ticket. I still feel stubid for not stopping but it´s not the first time there is barricades every where and after pulling over or slowing down they wave us on only interested in the other cars. Oh wells.
The problem was, that it left us with no money and out of gas with no gas station that would take a visa. We had a few coins in our pocket to put a little gas in our tanks to get to a bigger town. Happens that only one out of the many ATMs in town worked and there was a big line. Finaly got gas and kept going.
Peru turned into Mongolia! We must have passed through a weird land bridge, its barren, cold and way windy near the coast with a lots of dunes. but not far to the west are the mountains.
So having an obsession with the mountains I have read a lot about the corrdilla blankas. I talked Matt into drive a two hour detour to see this town called Huaraz. Well two days later and a flat tire we made it back to the main road. However, the long drive did pay off, way cool town as well as huge mountains.
North America has a few mountains with a lot of hills but Peru has the real deal. there was several peeks surrounding the town over 20,000 feet. Dang, I will have to go back. It is not far from where the book and movie of touching the void happened. We did dinner with a climbing guide for Acanquagua. I lined up a trip for next Jan. . . He is the 2nd person only to have climbed Acanquagua from car to car in one day. He saw my bike on the street, he has the same bike. He had a friend who wanted two KLR, so I think we have a buyer. So someone has been saying their prayers, works out perfect.
So there was a big market and we saw lots of ginny pigs on a sack found out soon that the town had a taste for ginny pigs. Matt had to try one for dinner that night.
So today we drove all the way to Nazcar. Found the church, and will be headed to Cusco sometime tomorrow.
2 comments:
That peak was jagged..like the Tetons...looked like you got pretty close not like the highway north of Jackson Hole. I changed a rear tire on a KLR once-in my garage with all my tools handy-and it still took three hours and I ended up pinching a new tube in the process. I can't believe you did it in the middle of nowhere. I wonder how you are carrying all your gear: tools, sleeping bags, tent, maps, water,etc. I rarely carry more than a collapsible fishing pole and rudimentary fishing tackle. When I break down (broke chain, flat tire, mechanical problems, etc) I walk and go back later with the pickup truck. What sort of time/mileage are you making on a daily basis? What are the roads like? Some of those pictures show some dirt/sand/mud. What % has been paved? I've driven the roads out around Locomotive Springs at 75-80 mph; but I'm sure you're not going that fast since you don't know what is ahead of you. Have you run into any terrain that you would consider really challenging? What about traffic? Any yahoos coming the other direction? Stay safe. Bob B
We have been riding hard for a few days and then take a day or two off. Last two days we have put in 950ish miles. but that is has been more then anything we have done before. The roads in Peru are flat and good so you can go fast. Most everywhere else they are way twisty mountain roads. In Peru we have been going 75 80, but most places 45 to 60 tops. although Peru and Ecuador have a little beter roads, you better plan on dirt, mud and rock everywhere. The hard part is you will be going 50 around a turn on a good road and instantly it will be dirt. but over all the road are not as bad as people say. Matt and I have done a lot of technical dirt riding befor which helped a ton. Yes just yesterday someing went to pass another car and almost did a head on with matt. Most at night are drunk. I would take a very technical dirt road way over traffic. The hard part for me is finding our way in a big city. We thought we had good maps but we have ended up stopping to talk to a ton of people for directions. hope this helps. . .
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