Bike repair in Puno


Back yard welder fixing my rack

A sweet view of high snowy peak of Cordillera Real


The city of Puno and Lake Titikaka


We arrived in Puno at sunset, so we spent the night. We met Eamon along the road, his bike (KTM) was running a little sick so he asked us if he could tagged along incase he would break down.
Puno is a very hectic city on the edge lake Titikaka. The reason tourists would come here is to visit the Lake and to visit the floating islands on the lake . * These islands are made and re-made from the totora reeds which provide home, sustenance and transportation for their residents. Home of the Uros tribe, one which pre-dates the Incan civilization. According to their legends, they existed before the sun, when the earth was still dark and cold. They were impervious to drowining or being struck by lightning. They lost their status as super beings when they disobeyed universal order and mixed with humans, making them susceptible to contempt.*
We didn't go visit the islands, we thought it was nothing but an expensive tourist trap.
Instead, we paid a visit to a local welder... my bike rack was cracked for the 4th time from all the vibrations of bad roads.
He fixed my bike for $3... (he wanted $1.50 but gave him $3) a job that would cost me at least $40 in Canada!! got to love these countries!
The rack was solid again, ready for more beating in the worst roads of Bolivia..
Off we went for another border run to Bolivia.

Cusco to Lake Titikaka



mmmm... where can we go next? you think we can sneak in their trunk?

ahhh yes, another happy tourist... that will cost you 5 Bolivianos please



A tourist market in the middle of nowhere... at a high pass of 4360 meters

Machu Picchu, Peru

There are several ways to get to Machu Picchu, ...
# 1 - The deluxe way.... take an expensive train, the *Hiram Bingham* at $750 us from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. Then lazy way on a bus up the 8 kms zig zag road to the ruins.
# 2 - The Vista Train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes for approx $150 us ...
# 3 - The cheapest way... take a bus from Cusco to Santa Teresa ( 8 hours) then walk the train track for 12 kms to the base of Machu Picchu then climb up the trail for 1 hour.

We went the middle class way, time was getting short on our bike permits and we were also getting anxious to get to Bolivia.
The 7 hour ride with our bikes to Santa Teresa didn't appeal to us after the long journey from Huaraz, also we were told there was lots of rain that way. It would take us 3 days, one day riding, one day to visit Machu Picchu, one day riding back... too much time for what we had.
Looking at our options, we found out if we took a taxi to Ollantaytambo for 5 bucks, once there we catch a backpackers train to Aguas Calientes for $35 us one way! ( still expensive, but fast ) That way also allowed us to spend the night in Aguas and get up early to hike to Machu Picchu before the thousands of other visitors got there and get back to Cusco the same day.

We left for our trek at 4:30 am... * forgot our headlamps!* luckily other hikers were coming behind us with headlamps.
Brightness of the day soon came and we could see the steps. 1 1/2 hour later, we were in the line up to get our tickets @ ($40 us each) Rain started to come down - thinking what a waist of money!! coming up here to stand in pouring rain.
As we entered the ruins, the clouds lifted and got a view of the famous Machu Picchu. It was a spectacular site!
After 5 hours of walking around the rock pile ruins, walking an hour up Huayna Picchu (young peak), it was time to walk back down.
By that time the crowed was in the thousands.
Now we can say... been there... done that....


















The view of Machu Picchu from the top of Huayna Picchu

Cusco, Peru

It was a relief to finally get to Cusco after a long journey thru dusty roads. It didn't take us long to find *Hostel Estrellita* a friendly place to stay and safe parking for our bikes in front of our room. We unpacked our bags and spent hours cleaning the caked mud and dust from our bikes and bags, did laundry .... and yes... the hot shower felt good!
We spent several days walking the narrow cobble stone streets of the city. It was the most touristy place we had been to in Peru. Everywhere we walked in *Plaza Armas* we would get harassed by massage parlors or restaurant servers. After a while it got overwhelming so we decided to make a trip to visit the famous Machu Picchu...







Hot, Cold, Rain, Dirt, Dust, Mud, Landslides, Potholes, Trucks, Dogs,.. long road from Huaraz to Cusco

We finally left Huaraz, a long journey ahead to reach Cusco.... over 1500kms (800+ of dirt, bad roads)
Too many stories to tell...


Angela's bike was having a hard time with altitude, but thanks to * Herbert *.... who decided to do some mechanic work on the side of the hwy, where we met him on our way to La Union, we made it.


Beautiful windy road surrounded by snowy peaks.




Angela navigates through her first "huaico" (quechua word for landslide).


And they call this "dry season"...


Taking a break to enjoy the colors.


Refill in the middle of nowhere.


Dirt road heaven!


Oh-oh!!


There is always a helpful hand nearby.


Another high pass, 4586 meters...cold one!





Dirtiest girl ever! ... She was helping her dad with the harvest...



Touching the sky??


Surf clouds!!