Day 340 Thursday 15th August Cajamarca to Trujillo 312km

Last night we went for a walk on the Plaza, where lovers were sitting, holding hands, mother playing with their children and people just enjoying the outdoors in the middle of their city. Vendors were selling food from trays and it just made me long for something similar back home, I can’t think of any safe space to go and walk the the public park or square and not have your gold teeth removed after handing over your cell phone.

We walked up many steps to the top of the hill overlooking the city where there was a church.

This city is at an altitude of 2700m and it is much colder here, see how the little Tuk-Tuks has changed :

Pochos are a big thing in South America, I bought one in Colombia which I wore often to watch TV  when I was too lazy to walk up-stairs to get a sweater, (Ponchos can hang on the Hat\Coat Rail at the Front Door,) and it is fun to wear as it tricks the dogs thinking you are an intruder.) I almost bought this one as I “have a body shape” for Ponchos, but I have absolutely no free space on the bike.

Quail Eggs are a very big thing in Peru, you see ladies selling these little eggs in every little town you pass through.

The Spanish unfortunately not only brought religion to this continent (and they did a damn fine job of that as there are churches everywhere and the people af this country are mostly Catholics and they are good Christian People.) Unfortunately the Spanish also brought with them the Blood Sport of Bull Fighting which is still practiced here:

We went for dinner in a small Pizza Restaurant, we were their last customers for the day, note how they prepare their pizza sauce by slow-roasting the tray of tomatoes with herbs and some onions over-night in the pizza oven.

After dinner we went for a long walk and stumbled on to pedestrian walkway where people and kids were doing traditional dancing. I got the feeling the kids came out to dance as a social thing and that there were a experienced dancer at each group dancing and then they watch the person and follow the moves, thereby learning the dance moves, enjoying their culture and also inter-act with girls or boys their own age.

Below are two videos, click on the image below and depending on your Download speed you could watch the videos instantly, if not, be patient and in future up-grade your wi-fi.

IMG_2128

IMG_2132

This morning our hotel had breakfast and a ladywalked past and commented on my South African Flag on my shirt, we started talking and she is an example of another huge loss for South Africa. She is in the mining sector and grew up in South Broom KZN and she now stays in the suburb where Tex’s daughter stays in Salt Lake City. She told us there was plenty of gold in Peru but it was getting to an end up the mountain and that was why she came to visit the mine. She also solved the mystery about the roads being gravel and tar at different section of the day’s ride, she says that sections of road is paid for by the mines to have tarred as that helps the mining activity if there are tar roads near the mine. Small World, they still own a holiday home in Pringle Bay near Hermanus, and she knows Elli, from the deli who went to school with me and which I saw last year at our Matric Reunion.

We rode up to 3500m and then spent the rest of the day getting down the mountains. The road was in good state and I spent half the day looking at the apex of a hairpin corner, watching at every turn how it became drier and the green gave way to dry shrubs and grass, and later just stones and sand. Look below at the GPS to see what the morning looked like:

But there were several Stop-And-Goes

Eventually we dropped down to only 200m and started following this river, with lots of Rice paddies and other farming taking place.

I was not expecting this dam with its Hydro Electric scheme below the dam wall.

And then 100km before the end of the ride our fun ended suddenly as we hit the main road and joined it turning South, riding in an ugly desert. What made it worst was that rubble and rubbish lined the side of the road for most of the way, the little towns we passed through were filthy, and the wind blew the desert dust over the mangily-thin-diseased-dogs running all over the road.

Peens and Danny-Boy had hooked up and booked our hotel for us and were waiting for us with a beer, Lekker:

There are a few Historical Inca sights near us which we will go and explore tomorrow and then decide where to next as this desert is no fun to ride in, straight highway road full of trucks.

Our bikes will be stored in Lima but we will go past it and head South as there are other interesting sights to the South of Lima, lost of Peru’s sights are to the East of Lima, but that will have to wait until Leg 21 next year.

I am glad to report that Tex’s foot which he hurt in the “tumble” is healing fast and he could walk up the steps with us last night.

Unfortunately his Camera Work has suffered greatly and I am still awaiting some ‘Action Video” from his to post.

Have a great Weekend

Fleisch