SMS Update

After an eventful few days, including major breakdowns, our first tow and a crash narrowly avoiding a cliff edge, we've made it through the andes to villamontes with the paraguayan border in sight. Pushing for ibibobo tonight and maybe on if the customs are open. The chaco calls...

SMS Update

After a day at the mechanics we made it 5k before the hole in the gas tank. Another drink in uyuni, can't be too bad.

SMS Update

Fantastic day on the salt flats. Only a few mechanical problems and lots of sun. Time for some pizza and beer.

SMS Update

Day full of breakdowns but made it to Huari. Pushing for Tahua tomorrow ready for crossing the salt flats on monday.

SMS Update

In Oruro at the mechanics again. Maybe salt flats tonight?

To the border

After leaving our firefighter friends behind in Sicuani we set out on the frigid road to Puno early yesterday morning. Luckily within about an hour of leaving town we came across some hot springs by the side of the road and stopped to hvae a well earned bath (the attendants were a little shocked at the state of us) and some brekfast before pushing on.

We ended up tking it relatively easy with many stops to relax in the sun and eventually made it to Puno by about 6pm. We're staying down by the bus station so it's not the best part of town and there is hardly anything to do around there except buy chicken and chips. We'll survive though.

This morning Mimi and Ben jumped on a bus to La Pz to hopefully sort out some Praguay visas while the rest of us are taking care of the admin and repair side of things. After jumping through a few little hoops and parting with a whole bunch of cash we're ready to head to the border and jump through som more hoops - only this time much bigger and hence slower ones. What would this adventure be without the odd administrative gymnmastics.

The others are off getting the bikes looked at and hopefully we cn hit the road very soon. After two full days without a breakdown we're all feeling very optimisitic. Let's hope it's not just a false sense of security.

With a little luck the next update will be from Bolivia (or perhaps the weigh station at the border).

Nick

SMS Update

Staying with the firebrigade in Sicuani. Just had to move our dinner out of the way to let them out on an emergency. Pushing for Puno tomorrow.

SMS Update

Great day of driving with almost no problems. Met some gold prospectors at the top of a mountain pass and drank whiskey with them at 9am - nice!

On our way!!!!.....Kind of.

A day and a half into our junket, and we´ve made it to Ayucucho. Guys just checking over the bikes now, although most of the mechanics work so far has been done by us! 2 Tyre changes, a chain adjustment, and numerous other uneducated tinkerings. Mototaxis are fun.

Yesterday was our first full day on the road, after an initial 3 hour night-time jaunt out of Huancayo. The scenery, the people, and the experience so far has been out of this world. However, there have been a number of quirks.

One particular event that stands out took place amidst an epic tropical downpour, on some seriously dodgy mountain roads. Sheer drop to our right, horrible mud track out in front, but little did we know that the real danger would come from the otherwise inconspicuous rock face to our left. Although we should have known better on a road reknowned for landslides, we only cottoned on to the dangers brought about by the rain when we were in between two streams of bounding boulders. After a few moments of the most ill advised discussion we´ve ever had, (during which one taxi got hit by a, mercifully small, rock), we realised we had no option but to continue, through the rocky gauntlet ahead.

A mile down the road things cleared up, and it was plain sailing for a good few hours....until of course the next breakdown. The 125cc runt of the convoy is proving to be particularly problematic (our two 150ccs are playing ball at the mo, despite a cactus thorn destroying one front tyre). As night fell we were forced into an open air roadside habitacion for 5 hours "slumber" to avoid the less than enticing prospect of further night driving.

So, hopefully get back en route today, but will be taking it slow n steady after hearing some uninspiring news about the quality of the road to Cusco (the next leg!)

 More to come when we next find internet thats online more than one day per week!

 

  

 

 

SMS Update

Finally on the road. Made it to Izcuchaca. Time for beer and food.