SubscribeRoad construction is a different animal in South America. Drivers aren’t guided through the site with signage, warning signs and flaggers. A couple of cones casually sprinkled on the roadway means “Slow Down” or even “Road Closed.” Two hours east of Lima on a mountain road, the daylight melting away I needed to bluff my way through one of these closures.
Archive for December, 2011
Dec
9
Chincha Alta, PE (182 kms)
Easily one of the most interesting days of my life. Easily one of the most frustrating days as well. Waking up on a mountain pass, breakfast at 3800 metres, narrow mountain roads plummeting down through the clouds, and parking on explosives. Then after lunch…
Dec
7
Ayacucho, PE (358 Kms)
When I woke this morning I mulled over the events of the previous day. The road construction, protests and counterfeit money wore me out and at the end of the day my patience was thin. I took some time to relax, uploading photos, enjoying a coffee so I didn’t get away till noon. As I again climbed up the hills the bike laboured and for a moment I was concerned till I realized why. My patience was fine, the air on the other hand.
Dec
13
Cuzco, PE (599 kms)
I have had some requests from other riders and friends alike to post links from Google Maps to the roads I have been riding. Some are interested in riding them in the future and others are just curious where I am. The problem is that many of the roads, while on my ITMB maps are not listed on Google Maps. Fortunately after the ten hour ride from Ayacucho to Cuzco I was more then prepared to illustrate the route.
Dec
11
Cuzco, PE (- kms)
After the long ride the day prior I slept heavy and didn’t stir till mid morning. I hadn’t taken a look around the night prior and had no idea what was outside the room. My eyes still heavy I cracked open the door to the courtyard to the light chatter of the other travellers enjoying breakfast in the warm sun.
Dec
5
Aguas Calientes, PE (243 kms)
When I laid my head on the pillow I was reminded of the 1993 movie Groundhog Day where Bill Murray relives the same day over and over. After running from another protest (albeit small), delayed by road construction on a narrow canyon pass and listening to latin music far in the distance from a seedy hotel room I wondered if Peru had anything else.
Dec
21
Santa Teresa, PE (- kms)
Riding in the train to Aguas Calientes the day prior I caught a glimpse of Machu Picchu and wondered if all the talk and hype would be too much to overcome. Would I get to the ruins and be disappointed? If a picture tells a thousand words then what do you figure I’m thinkin’?
Dec
4
Cuzco, PE (227 kms)
It had rained most of the night but when I woke the sun was shinning. I slept well in the concrete stall under the grass roof with just a sleeping pad and sleeping bag. I started to pack the bike but got things together slowly. I was hoping Shaun and Dan would make coffee and a little time to let the roads dry wouldn’t hurt either.
Dec
2
Puno, PE (369 kms)
The mountain pass from Cuzco to Puno is a slow flat climb followed by the same slow flat descent and the high winds of the Andes and scattered snow flake put a chill in bones when I crossed. Now I was exploring the downtown of Puno looking to cure that chill with some hot soup when I stumbled on warm vibrant costumes dancing in the cold rain.
Dec
19
Copacabana, BO (160 kms)
When riding in Central and South America there has been a beacon in small towns and large cities alike. I tend to head for the centre of town which is marked by a tall church steeple and figure out where I will sleep from there. To date the routine has worked well but at 6:30AM the flaw in this plan became very evident. Continue Reading…