20/6/2013 Ayaucucho to the top of the pass before descending to Ocros, 4200m, camping
D70, T6.22/9.5, Av11, Max55, tot15682, 5617
Pleasant in Ayaucucho, slowly got cooler till damn cold late in the day, patchy cloud
Up and away about 0800, saying goodbye to my hosts.
The road took me through the burbs,I guess. Potatoes,, bread and milk powder were bought at a market on the way out.
Just the best breakfast was enjoyed at a corner stall the husband and wife a bit younger than me had a great business. There was up to 15 of us all sitting around talking and eating a potato and beef stew with rice , mine was enjoyed with chicha and finished off with a slice of water melon.
These situations are great Spanish practice.
From here the trip was 40km uphill.
One of the biggest smiles ever received , came today. Riding past a building site there was a toot, looking right, here was a boy of about 12 years of age driving a brand new backhoe from a building site onto the road.
I was classic, he was beaming with pride, projecting the biggest of smiles. I gave him the big thumbs up and laughed. It was a nice moment.
All the other workers responded with yells.
Hill climbing becomes enjoyable with interactions like this, infact at a slow pace greeting people can develop into short conversations as you ride by.
A decent yelling session was had with some guys harvesting potatoes below the road.
Soon hunger set in .There was water running in the gutter, it appeared very clean, however not wanting to use it for coffee till its source was revealed. Riding on, it just kept going, some 4 km up the road it finally had its origin. It was coming from the fields above.
Though clear it could have been dodgey. Some 100m up the road was a little water seeping from a cutting. This was to be my coffee base.
Lunch was had amongst a heap of roadside rubbish, this you get used to.
A stray dog hung about, a few rocks tossed saw him move on only to keep returning.
Finally the road leveled out at the pass, typically no trees, tarns and tussock.
Once again though the gradient is gentle you are always gaining altitude. With this come the fantastic vistas, those looking back towards Ayacucho, though not visible.
Always waving to truck drivers, they positively respond with the thumbs up or a big blast on the horn and a look of encouragement, often accompanied with similar gestures. Sometimes when coming down hill with a heavy load in the lowest of gears under heavy braking assisted by exhaust brakes they will yell ¿“Qué País”?
They understand and can relate to the intrinsicalness of moving loads up and down the roads here in Peru.
Still climbing, each corner with more high points behind it, one would think here is the top, but no.
The road just rolled through this high country.
A new blacktop had just been laid, which made for great riding.
Come 1430, though the sun was shining, it was getting very fresh. A full clothing change was made.
That of raincoat, longs, water proof socks and beany with thick gloves.
Hoping to descend to Ocros for the night, was not to be.
The sun had now gone down it was freezing.
I had minimal water. Some guys were seen at a construction dam, they kindly gave me some commercial water,
I had to find a camp, the options were limited, it was just open alpine country.
A roadside gravel pit was spotted. This had to do.
By now, it was nearly dark. A site below a mound of gravel was found. After the tent was set up, too get out of the cool breeze I went inside and fell asleep for half an hour. It had been a hard day.
Awakening tea was cooked. Running on the spot was needed to keep warm .
Light rain began to fall, it was short lived thankfully.
Boiled potatoes and soup were hastily prepared and eaten. A cup of tea was taken into the tent.
The sleeping bag was entered almost fully clothed, shit was it cold.
It didn’t take long to warm up.
It had been a rewarding day, hill climbing always provides these results.
Sleep was upon me, moments after the tea was drunk.
D70, T6.22/9.5, Av11, Max55, tot15682, 5617
Pleasant in Ayaucucho, slowly got cooler till damn cold late in the day, patchy cloud
Up and away about 0800, saying goodbye to my hosts.
The road took me through the burbs,I guess. Potatoes,, bread and milk powder were bought at a market on the way out.
Just the best breakfast was enjoyed at a corner stall the husband and wife a bit younger than me had a great business. There was up to 15 of us all sitting around talking and eating a potato and beef stew with rice , mine was enjoyed with chicha and finished off with a slice of water melon.
These situations are great Spanish practice.
From here the trip was 40km uphill.
One of the biggest smiles ever received , came today. Riding past a building site there was a toot, looking right, here was a boy of about 12 years of age driving a brand new backhoe from a building site onto the road.
I was classic, he was beaming with pride, projecting the biggest of smiles. I gave him the big thumbs up and laughed. It was a nice moment.
All the other workers responded with yells.
Hill climbing becomes enjoyable with interactions like this, infact at a slow pace greeting people can develop into short conversations as you ride by.
A decent yelling session was had with some guys harvesting potatoes below the road.
Soon hunger set in .There was water running in the gutter, it appeared very clean, however not wanting to use it for coffee till its source was revealed. Riding on, it just kept going, some 4 km up the road it finally had its origin. It was coming from the fields above.
Though clear it could have been dodgey. Some 100m up the road was a little water seeping from a cutting. This was to be my coffee base.
Lunch was had amongst a heap of roadside rubbish, this you get used to.
A stray dog hung about, a few rocks tossed saw him move on only to keep returning.
Finally the road leveled out at the pass, typically no trees, tarns and tussock.
Once again though the gradient is gentle you are always gaining altitude. With this come the fantastic vistas, those looking back towards Ayacucho, though not visible.
Always waving to truck drivers, they positively respond with the thumbs up or a big blast on the horn and a look of encouragement, often accompanied with similar gestures. Sometimes when coming down hill with a heavy load in the lowest of gears under heavy braking assisted by exhaust brakes they will yell ¿“Qué País”?
They understand and can relate to the intrinsicalness of moving loads up and down the roads here in Peru.
Still climbing, each corner with more high points behind it, one would think here is the top, but no.
The road just rolled through this high country.
A new blacktop had just been laid, which made for great riding.
Come 1430, though the sun was shining, it was getting very fresh. A full clothing change was made.
That of raincoat, longs, water proof socks and beany with thick gloves.
Hoping to descend to Ocros for the night, was not to be.
The sun had now gone down it was freezing.
I had minimal water. Some guys were seen at a construction dam, they kindly gave me some commercial water,
I had to find a camp, the options were limited, it was just open alpine country.
A roadside gravel pit was spotted. This had to do.
By now, it was nearly dark. A site below a mound of gravel was found. After the tent was set up, too get out of the cool breeze I went inside and fell asleep for half an hour. It had been a hard day.
Awakening tea was cooked. Running on the spot was needed to keep warm .
Light rain began to fall, it was short lived thankfully.
Boiled potatoes and soup were hastily prepared and eaten. A cup of tea was taken into the tent.
The sleeping bag was entered almost fully clothed, shit was it cold.
It didn’t take long to warm up.
It had been a rewarding day, hill climbing always provides these results.
Sleep was upon me, moments after the tea was drunk.
The 3 countries so far visited are carrying out huge amounts of road improvements, Peru is no exception.
Once on the tops this kind of riding can go on for miles before the descent.
These security guys turned up in the morning, here enjoying brewed coffee.
Plaza de Armas, Ayacucho.
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High country facial attire, the insides of my ears have been getting burnt in the clear sunny skies.
Late afternoon and time to find a campsite at 4000m
Plaza de Armas.
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