Today was the day we just got it done. We were both more than ready for a break and good plate of food, so it was head down and pedal hard.
The first 35km from Lampa to Juliaca were pleasant enough... If I'm honest I can't really remember much of the cycle, Ant and I were too busy putting the world to rights. But I know it was flat (we could talk), fast paced and fairly beautiful on a quiet road (with several llamas watching us go passed).
Juliaca is not a town I'd particularly recommend unless you need to take a flight... Industrial and very busy. Jigsawing our bikes through the lunch time heavily polluted traffic, is not particularly pleasant, but as always an hour later that was behind us and we were heads down again for the last flat 25km then up and over the last lump into Puno.
Except it wasn't quite that straightforward (when is it ever!). This time our enemy was a strong head wind whilst we rode in the hard shoulder of the 3S (which was busy here, trucks busses etc).
They were however laying a new road along side so we hopped over the barrier sneakily, and had the joy of a quiet 10km shared only with the gravel trucks. Ant lived this, slaloming all over the newly laid tarmac, I just wanted to get it done. Then the new road ran out so we hopped over the barrier the other side of the 3S onto a dirt track that ran along the other side (slower and more bumpy, but better than the heart pounding moments busses pass you at a lot more than the 80km/h speed limit!).
After what seemed like forever, we were on the final climb and I was suffering. But as always it came and went and we soon descended into Puno... Huraah at last!
and now we sit, in our gorgeous hotel, stunning hot shower, bath tub, feather clean crisp duvets, on two huge double beds (one each tonight I think... Starfish!!).
a well earned supper is about to be demolished (we've already decided to order 3 main courses!) and then we will probably stay flat for 24hours!
we made it... We actually cycled from Cusco to Puno... Yeah baby!!!
(Now bring me my food!)
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It just ate my long & witty comment. About how glad I was that you continue to escape the buses, and how you deserve every inch of the crisp feather duvets.
ReplyDeleteAlso think Em should buy one of those Bolivian hats...
Sorry Em. Google thinks I'm you. It's all right; you know I'm not you...
ReplyDeleteHa that's strange!!! Who is it? Xx
ReplyDeleteIt's me, Mary. Not you! How very weird that Google dogs my every footstep with unwanted aliases, and then thinks I'm you. It better go take a lie-down in a darkened room...
ReplyDelete