Pozo Colorado, Paraguay
After a shockingly easy exit to Bolivia (3 minutes and the guy stamped us out without even wanting to see us) we were met 200km later with an equally easy entry to Paraguay. Some frustating chain based delays yesterday left us with an optimistic 525km to cover today if we are to make Ascuncion in time for a G&T this evening. Half way there and so far so good...
Entre RÃos, Bolivia
So far so good. Despite some nervous moments through the night the intrepid sevensome are all alive and well and now full of tea and pasties. All being well we should make Ibibobo and it's associated petrol by late afternoon.@
Tupiza, Bolivia
So the striking miners have beaten us! After taking five hours to find 20 litres of petrol and needing 80 more we've been forced into a rather expensive alternative. $1142 has secured us a truck big enough to take our 4 mototaxis and the seven of us to the Paraguayan/Bolivian border at Ibibobo. Our emotional 16hr ride on the back of said truck starts in an hour. Wish us luck.
Tupiza, Bolivia
An epic couple of days. Has taken us two days to cover 200km from Uyuni to Tupiza. Atrocious roads with horrendous climbs upto an altitude of nearly 5000m took their toll on our steeds. A burnt out clutch led to us sheltering for a night in a Bolivian mining colony before towing and pushing one of the taxis for 60km to the next town. We now have a new clutch, a split group, and an assurance from at least a dozen locals that due to the blockades there is no way we will find any fuel here to replenish our now empty tanks. However we do have cold beer and a proper bed - so all is well!
Uyuni, Bolivia
OK. Strikes are proving problematic. Uyuni has seen no fuel for 12 days. We have managed to purchase 50 litres off a local for an extortionate price. We're going to press on to Tupiza with fingers crossed.@
Uyuni, Bolivia
No sign of any road blocks on the way into Uyuni, however the strikes mean the petrol stations have no fuel. Starting to run dangerously low, so fingers crossed we find some soon.
Colchani, Bolivia
What a night! Spent it in Hotel Salar Palacio complete with a hot shower, open fires and a three course dinner with a drop or two of vino. There appears to be some fairly severe strike action and road blocks which meant we only just managed to get off the salt flats last night.
, Salinas de Garcà Mendoza, Bolivia
Had an awesome day of 100km of dirt tracks and sand. Were hoping to make Jirira but didn't quite make it, so another night of camping! Ruth's cooking although tasty, didn't quite agree with Gilbey who is absolute baggage today.@
Challapata, Bolivia
Staying in Hotel Paradiso Mk 2! Haven't showered in nearly a week and once again the only hot food we could find was....yup...fried chicken & chips. Heard some bad news about road blocks and strikes on the way to Uyuni. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Calamarca Municipality, Bolivia
A long day! The excitement of being in Bolivia soon waned as Ruth's gearbox finally gave up the ghost 20km outside of La Paz. After a 20km tow, 4 hours of swearing and some borrowed tools we eventually had a fully working mototaxi and by this time we also had a fully working Jen Page, who had arrived at La Paz airport to be collected by mototaxi, of course. Now camping beside the main road 2km outside of Calamarca.@
