Urubamba, Peru
We have crossed the finish line! Over 2000km, countless tiny dirt tracks, two weeks above 3000m, and a lifetime worth of engine failures we are done. Thank you to everyone who sponsored us. We're off for a well deserved pisco sour or two now...
Abancay, Peru
Engine in bits all over the road again, this time innnnn... Abancay! They should make our mototaxi part of the national mechanics curriculum, based on how many have tried and failed to find a fix that lasts more than 40km.
Santa Rosa District, Peru
Sodding. Mototaxi. Engine. Third day in a row it has died. Onto our fifth mechanic and 10.000th hour of hanging about...
Chalhuanca District, Peru
Waiting all day to get our engine fixed we worked out a way to adjust for Peruvian travel time estimates. Add together the two parts of the estimate, so "it'll take 30-45 mins" is actually 75 mins, then multiply by the locals' description of the road quality: Very good=2. Good=3. Bad/road not on map=10+ Hey presto, you have your likely travel time!
Chalhuanca District, Peru
Good news is the back wheel is all fixed and back on. Bad news is mechanic is still stumped by engine issue. Popping coming out of air filter at around half maximum revs, also coinciding with sudden slowing of engine with each pop? Mechanics of the world;text me any ideas!
Puquio, Peru
Engine fixed! Climbed from 600m to 4390m yesterday in just a couple hours. Mototaxi has seen better days but she soldiers on.
Nazca, Peru
Engine won't start - no idea why. Pushing it around town in search of a garage. Not cool.
Chimbote, Peru
Discovered several bridges today clearly designed for 2 or 4 wheeled vehicles, but definitely not 3. Rickety wooden logs with lots of gaps in between meant we basically carried the old dear across the bugger. Excellent.
Cabana District, Peru
Tagged the 4200m mark several times yesterday, then spent the night driving through utterly rubbish mountain roads to find a truck driver, after Missing Peoples clutch went at about 7pm in the middle of nowhere. Local priest found us a pickup truck, drove for an hour and a half to pick up the buggered Mototaxi, fed us, and put us up for the night. And wont take any money for it. Incredible.
Cajamarca Region, Peru
Over 24 hours on dirt tracks (that apparently are main roads) and passing the 4000m mark has left our mototaxi with a fuel tank that covers the driver in petrol over bumps, several lights that don't work, and a tendency to veer heavily to the right under braking. All things considered, faring really quite well. Praying for some tarmac today.
Strengths: Unlimited enthusiasm, navigating, going forwards.
Weaknesses: Unlimited enthusiasm, navigating to a particular destination, turning.
