21/7/2013 Santa Rosa to Juliaca
D142, T8, Av21.75, max57, Tot16631, 6564
Cool morning, brilliant day about 22°C
The hostal we booked had a lot of rooms, we were the only guests, there were dozens of core samples from road construction. I figured the place had been built to accommodate road workers during the highway upgrade a few years back.
Facilities were primitive and the bed like a hammock.
Needless to say we were up early and on the road by 0700.
There was a mild frost, it was cool, once one the road the chill factor coupled with motion was very cool.
The day ahead of us had started with just the most beautiful colours of the yellowish tussock grasses and hues of blue, brown and cream painting the ranges on both sides of this high plain.
The road gently sloped in our favour all day, we were blessed with a tail wind out of the north west.
This was riding at its best.
We were on our big front cogs, cruising at speeds around 25 to 30km/hr.
As usual Deirdre started shedding her gear long before me.
The height of this road was about 3300m.
The road in most places was dead straight, so we were riding off the shoulder and on the road.
Lunch was enjoyed on the roadside in a dry creek out of the wind which was quite noticeable when stopped.
The crystal clear blue sky enveloped this world of ranges east and west of us and an endless plain ahead and behind us. This Altiplano was so much more hospitable than that near Cerro de Pasco and Junín.
Once again the Peruvian landscape took us to an astoundingly new canvas. The local people don’t do much to change it, in that regard protecting it.
We now knew we could make Juliaca, it would be a big day, though easy riding.
Most activity on the roadside consisted of men and women tending reasonable flocks of sheep and cattle.
The fall of this plain saw that all waters drained in to the Rio Pucará and on into Lago Titicaca.
There were dogs hanging along the road at regular intervals, apart from the road, not much else offered much variety. We were fair game for many of them. Though like on almost all occasions not were interested in biting.
None were interested in biting Deirds, for fear of catching rabies!
On approaching Juliaca we saw wasps on the road. It was obvious that a fairly large wasp nest was present in the city.
Also of interest were the many tricycle taxis, these are a much more passive mode of transport to have within a city.
Arriving in Juliaca, the traffic was mayhem.
Juliaca 051 / TRANSPORT HUB / ELEV 3826M The region’s only commercial airport makes Juliaca, the largest city on the altiplano, an unavoidable transit hub. The city bustles with commerce (and contraband) due to its handy location near the border. Daytime muggings and drunks on the street are not uncommon. Since Juliaca has little to offer travelers, it is advisable to stay in nearby Lampa or move on to Puno.LP
At the Plaza de Armas, a guy moving his tricycle onto the road caught Deirdres back wheel causing her to fall of in front of a large audience, we made no big deal of it. She was unhurt and the bike was fine.
It took us sometime to find a hostal. Luckily we found one in a quiet street.
Really this town is just a huge hustle and bustle.
It vibrancy is stimulating. Lonely Planet steer people away from here. Again this makes the city all the more authentic.
People are friendly.
It had been a satisfyingly big day.
D142, T8, Av21.75, max57, Tot16631, 6564
Cool morning, brilliant day about 22°C
The hostal we booked had a lot of rooms, we were the only guests, there were dozens of core samples from road construction. I figured the place had been built to accommodate road workers during the highway upgrade a few years back.
Facilities were primitive and the bed like a hammock.
Needless to say we were up early and on the road by 0700.
There was a mild frost, it was cool, once one the road the chill factor coupled with motion was very cool.
The day ahead of us had started with just the most beautiful colours of the yellowish tussock grasses and hues of blue, brown and cream painting the ranges on both sides of this high plain.
The road gently sloped in our favour all day, we were blessed with a tail wind out of the north west.
This was riding at its best.
We were on our big front cogs, cruising at speeds around 25 to 30km/hr.
As usual Deirdre started shedding her gear long before me.
The height of this road was about 3300m.
The road in most places was dead straight, so we were riding off the shoulder and on the road.
Lunch was enjoyed on the roadside in a dry creek out of the wind which was quite noticeable when stopped.
The crystal clear blue sky enveloped this world of ranges east and west of us and an endless plain ahead and behind us. This Altiplano was so much more hospitable than that near Cerro de Pasco and Junín.
Once again the Peruvian landscape took us to an astoundingly new canvas. The local people don’t do much to change it, in that regard protecting it.
We now knew we could make Juliaca, it would be a big day, though easy riding.
Most activity on the roadside consisted of men and women tending reasonable flocks of sheep and cattle.
The fall of this plain saw that all waters drained in to the Rio Pucará and on into Lago Titicaca.
There were dogs hanging along the road at regular intervals, apart from the road, not much else offered much variety. We were fair game for many of them. Though like on almost all occasions not were interested in biting.
None were interested in biting Deirds, for fear of catching rabies!
On approaching Juliaca we saw wasps on the road. It was obvious that a fairly large wasp nest was present in the city.
Also of interest were the many tricycle taxis, these are a much more passive mode of transport to have within a city.
Arriving in Juliaca, the traffic was mayhem.
Juliaca 051 / TRANSPORT HUB / ELEV 3826M The region’s only commercial airport makes Juliaca, the largest city on the altiplano, an unavoidable transit hub. The city bustles with commerce (and contraband) due to its handy location near the border. Daytime muggings and drunks on the street are not uncommon. Since Juliaca has little to offer travelers, it is advisable to stay in nearby Lampa or move on to Puno.LP
At the Plaza de Armas, a guy moving his tricycle onto the road caught Deirdres back wheel causing her to fall of in front of a large audience, we made no big deal of it. She was unhurt and the bike was fine.
It took us sometime to find a hostal. Luckily we found one in a quiet street.
Really this town is just a huge hustle and bustle.
It vibrancy is stimulating. Lonely Planet steer people away from here. Again this makes the city all the more authentic.
People are friendly.
It had been a satisfyingly big day.
cattle, sheep and Alpaca enjoying the water weed.
Juliaca, traffic was chaotic to say the least, though a challenge.
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Lunch was had away from the roadside culvert. It had been visited for other uses.
We are now well acclimatised to the altitude, elevations similar to this will be the norm for sometime now.
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