Into Chile
Wednesday, 17 February 2010 18:12
We made it to Chile last night with a 300 mile ride from Puno, Peru. Route PE-38B started off looking like a good road that would lead us to the border of Peru and Chile as it climbed into the Andes.
Leaving Puno for Chile on PE-36B
Peruvians along PE-36B
Sheep Crossing
Great Peruvian Roads
The scenery is fantastic and impossible to capture on a camera (a good reason for everyone to make a trip down here).
We found a thermal geyser along the road but I was not able to locate any hot pools for soaking.
Thermal Geyser in Peru
Wendy likes thermal water even if you can’t go for a dip
As do birds; there was an abundance of them hanging around the area
It was totally amazing to be riding in these mountains and come upon herds of Llamas, Alpacas, or Vicuna - each with the ever watchful eye of their shephards - or find a person walking along the road in the middle of nowhere.
We are entering a section of road that, on the map, is defined as Main Road/Surfaced All-Weather. I wondered what this would mean and we soon found out that for this road, it meant gravel.
Which in itself is not a problem, but when you start adding roadwork, things can get interesting
Loose Stuff for a Road
Fun
Streaching the Legs
Detours can mean the addition of river crossings or “large” gravel
The road continued to deteriorate due to construction until you had a choice of 3 or 4 paths that crossed the large sand dune area. At one point we even wondered if we were on some road back to a sandpit for the construction site and no longer on the "detour.".
I didn’t want to stop as the Beast does not like sand at low speed. I told Wendy to grab the back hand rail as I was going to be standing for awhile. Oh, and if we fall don’t put you arms out to try and break your fall as that can lead to damaged body parts. I heard her mutter a few words in the intercom about airplanes and falling and then I turned my attention to picking the least sandy path.
About a hour later, we exited the construction zone and rode a bit down the pavement before I asked if she took any pictures of what we has just gone through. Again, there was some muttering about airplanes or busses and I decided to ask, “Where was it that we just rode through?”
It was down there
The road started its decent from 14,500 feet to sea level
and the terrain became drier and drier as we entered the Atacana desert.
And entered Tacna
The border crossing between Peru and Chile was the easiest yet, taking only 1 hour to clear both customs and immigration for Peru and Chile.
Arica is the northern most port town in Chile, just 20km from the border. For a border town, its very nice.
View to the north
View to the south
Unfortunately, Wendy ate something last night that did not agree with her stomach so she is not up to sitting in the sun.
Full Peru update still to come
I hope your lady is good by now .