Ignorance is Miserable! Chaljuanca, Los Andes, between Nazca and Cuzcu
Flew over the lines - a little underwriting was the consensus the night before talking to those who had done flight and I agree. Need to see the images I shot in full size. The lines are great, the flight was a tediously staged event that was 90 minutes late - but you have to do it and they know it all to well.
Left the hot desert floor and immediately began climbing - had to add a layer of cloths at 46 km and 20 minutes later I added everything I had. Then it started raining and the secondary road turned into a bumpy mud hole, and then it got worse - single track at about 15 mph for 45 minutes as I passed through the clouds - then it fools you an it gets nice for awhile... Made good time but cold at 4000 meters (13000 ft) and then it starts snowing - and I forgot my snow tires and arctic cloths for my south-america-in-the-summer trip - silly me!
Too late to turn around so I press on - for hours - at 4550 meters (15,000 ft). Incredibly, the bike has great power and handling up here.
Were I to do it again I would park the moto and fly over as an excursion.
I stopped at a little village to warm up and take a foto and some guy wanders up, looks me and the bike over, and says "tres huevos" then wanders off.
I pressed on knowing I would make civilization before dark - ya right, but it depends on the definition of civilization. I never thought I'd be really happy to drop down to 3000 M altitude. It rained the entire time, it's raining now, it will rain tomorrow. Did I mention that the hotel has hot water but no heat?
I will put on everything I own that is dry and look for some better rain gear in the next town. I love my sleeping bag for times like this (there have been a few). Tried to give my tent away several times to backpackers - not needed - so I'll lug that anchor to argentina.
Sure seems like a xanax moment to me.
No data service so the pretty plane and blowing snow fotos will have to wait.
Nick
via BlackBerry
Left the hot desert floor and immediately began climbing - had to add a layer of cloths at 46 km and 20 minutes later I added everything I had. Then it started raining and the secondary road turned into a bumpy mud hole, and then it got worse - single track at about 15 mph for 45 minutes as I passed through the clouds - then it fools you an it gets nice for awhile... Made good time but cold at 4000 meters (13000 ft) and then it starts snowing - and I forgot my snow tires and arctic cloths for my south-america-in-the-summer trip - silly me!
Too late to turn around so I press on - for hours - at 4550 meters (15,000 ft). Incredibly, the bike has great power and handling up here.
Were I to do it again I would park the moto and fly over as an excursion.
I stopped at a little village to warm up and take a foto and some guy wanders up, looks me and the bike over, and says "tres huevos" then wanders off.
I pressed on knowing I would make civilization before dark - ya right, but it depends on the definition of civilization. I never thought I'd be really happy to drop down to 3000 M altitude. It rained the entire time, it's raining now, it will rain tomorrow. Did I mention that the hotel has hot water but no heat?
I will put on everything I own that is dry and look for some better rain gear in the next town. I love my sleeping bag for times like this (there have been a few). Tried to give my tent away several times to backpackers - not needed - so I'll lug that anchor to argentina.
Sure seems like a xanax moment to me.
No data service so the pretty plane and blowing snow fotos will have to wait.
Nick
via BlackBerry
