2,3/6/2013 Camping near Acobamba to Huánuco
D92, T6.42/11, Av13.57, Max46, Tot14956, 4892
Mid in the morning wet and cold at the summit, 4300m, then in Huánuco
There had been a heavy dew last night, condensation was within the tent.
Following breakfast in the mild conditions, we headed off, knowing we had a long climb ahead of us.
We both felt in good spirits, climbing asphalt was easy. We stopped for a drink and a fresh pineapple at Colquillas, a small pueblito, similar to many passed in the last few weeks. The people started asked questions about our relationship. I told them I was Deirdres son. They looked at us then twigged, very quickly, we all had a good laugh.
Generally they were only two streets deep off the main raid, had a tienda and little else. There were always people sitting at the front doors. The people we passed as we rode through the villages appreciated the Peruano music we had playing.
The word gringo and gringa is often heard. I cheekily yell back Peruano!!
Climbing so many times we have become aware of the need to put extra clothing on before you actually get cold.
Around 2600 is fine but once you get to around 3300, as soon as you stop and rest you get cold. At Chavinillo we stopped for lunch, here the altitude is about 3500. We were already riding in our jackets.
On our way up to Corona del Inca the temps fell markedly and rain started. Corona del Inca is at about 3800. Here the rain got heavier and colder. We wheeled our bikes into a tienda and got changed.
Conditions at these altitudes will change as I move further from the equator. Presently we only are at about 10 South.
Many of the men encountered were intoxicated, trying to understand them was well beyond me.
If you see drunk people about, it is usually on Sundays.
Having reached the top, we made the decision to try and reach Huánuco, it was all downhill, 60km of it.
Riding on it was bitterly cold and wet, the road was pot hole ridden and traffic, though not heavy was constant.
Deirdre on two occasions copped a face full of water as cars passed through puddles. One occasion was on purpose, some young yahoos found it rather amusing.
The country was so steep, again some road traverses were only just below each other.
The temperature was increasing throughout the descent.
We are now getting used to riding the right hand edge of the mountain roads where we are no more than a metre from sheer drop offs, some hundreds of metres down.
Half way down the rain stopped, we were soaked through, so changed again. Feeling was starting to return to my hands.
In the wet, my brakes were only just holding me up due to the total weight of me and the gear. They had to be adjusted on the way down.
Soon the temperatures were comfortable again.
It was sheer pleasure to be freewheeling for so many kilometres. We soon reached the river valley, it was time to remove clothing again.
By now it was 1730, light was getting low. We set up our riding lights, we really wanted to get to Huánuco and the comfort of a motel.
We also a heap of wet gear, clothing, tents, shoes etc.
Riding in the fading light along the Rio Huallaga was such an enjoyable way to end the trip. By now it was totally dark and balmy, soon we reached the city limits of this town of 170, 000 people.
We finally got into the city centre at 1900hrs.
The Hotel Imperial had ground level rooms. We booked a spacious room for 45S.
Within 5 minutes of moving in, lines were strung up, tents, tarps, gloves etc were hanging out to dry.
We had hot showers, afterwards we cast our minds over the last 10 days, what a variety of climates, emotions and experiences we had been through in that time.
Just today had seen us, warm, comfortable, freezing, and over hot.
3/6/2013 Huánuco, at the hotel Imperial
Today was a well deserved rest day. My washing was done in the room, whilst Deirdre got the motel to do hers.
We enjoyed breakfast in the central market, then headed to Cento Real, a new shopping centre that housed a very large super market, here we got Maggi soups and English breakfast tea.
One tienda near the hotel had Tabasco sauce, a couple of bottles were bought. Being glass they are quite heavy, one was decanted into a plastic container.
The front tyre I bought in Huallanca is too chunky, and catches on the wheel guard. On a muddy road it would clog up immediately. Luckily Deirdre has new finer tread patterns tyres on her bike. I bought one off her and fitted the local tyre on her bike. Her bike has no wheel guards.
Her new tyre should see me all the way south I hope.
D92, T6.42/11, Av13.57, Max46, Tot14956, 4892
Mid in the morning wet and cold at the summit, 4300m, then in Huánuco
There had been a heavy dew last night, condensation was within the tent.
Following breakfast in the mild conditions, we headed off, knowing we had a long climb ahead of us.
We both felt in good spirits, climbing asphalt was easy. We stopped for a drink and a fresh pineapple at Colquillas, a small pueblito, similar to many passed in the last few weeks. The people started asked questions about our relationship. I told them I was Deirdres son. They looked at us then twigged, very quickly, we all had a good laugh.
Generally they were only two streets deep off the main raid, had a tienda and little else. There were always people sitting at the front doors. The people we passed as we rode through the villages appreciated the Peruano music we had playing.
The word gringo and gringa is often heard. I cheekily yell back Peruano!!
Climbing so many times we have become aware of the need to put extra clothing on before you actually get cold.
Around 2600 is fine but once you get to around 3300, as soon as you stop and rest you get cold. At Chavinillo we stopped for lunch, here the altitude is about 3500. We were already riding in our jackets.
On our way up to Corona del Inca the temps fell markedly and rain started. Corona del Inca is at about 3800. Here the rain got heavier and colder. We wheeled our bikes into a tienda and got changed.
Conditions at these altitudes will change as I move further from the equator. Presently we only are at about 10 South.
Many of the men encountered were intoxicated, trying to understand them was well beyond me.
If you see drunk people about, it is usually on Sundays.
Having reached the top, we made the decision to try and reach Huánuco, it was all downhill, 60km of it.
Riding on it was bitterly cold and wet, the road was pot hole ridden and traffic, though not heavy was constant.
Deirdre on two occasions copped a face full of water as cars passed through puddles. One occasion was on purpose, some young yahoos found it rather amusing.
The country was so steep, again some road traverses were only just below each other.
The temperature was increasing throughout the descent.
We are now getting used to riding the right hand edge of the mountain roads where we are no more than a metre from sheer drop offs, some hundreds of metres down.
Half way down the rain stopped, we were soaked through, so changed again. Feeling was starting to return to my hands.
In the wet, my brakes were only just holding me up due to the total weight of me and the gear. They had to be adjusted on the way down.
Soon the temperatures were comfortable again.
It was sheer pleasure to be freewheeling for so many kilometres. We soon reached the river valley, it was time to remove clothing again.
By now it was 1730, light was getting low. We set up our riding lights, we really wanted to get to Huánuco and the comfort of a motel.
We also a heap of wet gear, clothing, tents, shoes etc.
Riding in the fading light along the Rio Huallaga was such an enjoyable way to end the trip. By now it was totally dark and balmy, soon we reached the city limits of this town of 170, 000 people.
We finally got into the city centre at 1900hrs.
The Hotel Imperial had ground level rooms. We booked a spacious room for 45S.
Within 5 minutes of moving in, lines were strung up, tents, tarps, gloves etc were hanging out to dry.
We had hot showers, afterwards we cast our minds over the last 10 days, what a variety of climates, emotions and experiences we had been through in that time.
Just today had seen us, warm, comfortable, freezing, and over hot.
3/6/2013 Huánuco, at the hotel Imperial
Today was a well deserved rest day. My washing was done in the room, whilst Deirdre got the motel to do hers.
We enjoyed breakfast in the central market, then headed to Cento Real, a new shopping centre that housed a very large super market, here we got Maggi soups and English breakfast tea.
One tienda near the hotel had Tabasco sauce, a couple of bottles were bought. Being glass they are quite heavy, one was decanted into a plastic container.
The front tyre I bought in Huallanca is too chunky, and catches on the wheel guard. On a muddy road it would clog up immediately. Luckily Deirdre has new finer tread patterns tyres on her bike. I bought one off her and fitted the local tyre on her bike. Her bike has no wheel guards.
Her new tyre should see me all the way south I hope.