22/6/2013 cerca la cumbre a 5km sur de Puente Pampas
D68, TT3.5/ 7, Av17.42, Max 56, tot15750, 5685
Cold with light hail, wet much of the descent, mild and warm at Puente Pampas
Though it was cold outside of the sleeping bag, I arose early, looking forward to a day of downhill cycling.
Preparing my coffee, 3 guys came along. They were the security crew for the plant on the roadside.
One of them was the guy that gave me water last night.
They were good guy's we talked at length. They get S15 for a night camping up here. About $6 dollars.
I made them coffee to share and I had some biscuits to give them .I put some musica Peruana on the speaker and we hung around and had a good laugh.
It started hailing, granizo is the Spanish word, these encounters are great for my Spanish. Alot was learnt during this encounter.
We could have been in some lounge room for all it mattered. Though here we were at 4200m in Central Peru. I felt totally at ease in this gravel pit speaking a new language to three good buggers.
It is moments like this that will never be forgotten. We humans are all really good. It’s just money and material things that take some people away from this goodness.
Once packed we bade farewell, for me a short climb saw the pedals go into retirement.
Though once off the top road works began. This was a huge undertaking in this steep terrain. Along with the roadworks also started the rain. The road became a brown muddy slippery place.
Though being downhill it was totally tolerable.
All the way for 30 odd km there were workers and trucks. Greetings were many.
Again in the wet and grit, my brake pads were wearing fast, my left hand was frozen, consequently the pressure being applied to the brake lever could not be properly controlled.
Arriving at Ocros, a small pueblito, with a central park. Caldo de gallina was enjoyed at one restaurant while pollo frito was had at another. Supplies were bought, bread, toilet paper, onions, tomatos, sublime chocolate bars and galletas ( biscuits) for dipping in my coffee or tea.
They are full of sugar, but oh so nice following a partial submersion in the hot drimk.
On the way down clear skies could be seen in the valleys below. My long pants could get wet. My sandals were being worn with water proof neoprene socks, my feet were still quite warm.
Temperatures were rising as the descent continued. Arriving at Puente Pampas, it was so nice to be in the comfortable temperature again. An English guy, 65 introduced himself, he was an hydraulic engineer working for a German company. His role was to do feasibility studies on potential hydro power schemes.
he is hoping to do South America by pushbike at some stage, from what I had seen I felt north to south was the best approach.
They were looking at the Rio Pampas and had found a site that the water in the pen stocks had 1000m head before it hit the turbines.
He said environmental constraints were few, though improving.
The Rio Pampas is quite clean when compared to rivers near mining areas.
Leaving here, water was obtained from a house in a small pueblito some 4 km along the river valley.
The search was on for a campsite.
Finally a great site close to the road though concealed was found. Others had used it before. Mostly for ablutions. One is now used to turds in all states of decomposition along the roadside. Peruanos like to shit along the side of their roads.
Some unashamedly, prefer to deposit proceedings right on the black top. When my health is good you can stomach this. Though back in Huancayo feeling ill. Just the site of all the rubbish and dog shit everywhere on the streets turned me.
Having my health in perfect shape is pretty much what this journey is all about as far as continuation is concerned.
It is no longer taken for granted. Having smoked on and off for 40 years, my appreciation of every kilometre logged on the odometer cannot be overstated.
Back whilst boarding at Nelson College we used to sneak up the Grampions, a bush clad range behind Fell house. Here we had a flagon buried in the ground up to its neck to put our butts. Next to this was a long seat, here we would talk shit, smoke hurridly, whilst not appreciating the brilliant views over parts of Nelson.
In doing this, so as not to go unnoticed down at the house, we used to draw back on the durrys really quick and expel the smoke from our lungs just as quick.
A saviour in hindsight. I smoked like this all those 40 years.
Not like some smokers who let the smoke linger in their lungs, some three sentences later it is still being expelled. I feel this is when the damage is being done.
In hindsight one can look back on 70’s style school discipline and be thankful. Getting caught often meant some serious lesions on the bum!
Anyway camp was set up, it was just the best to be warm. Fried potatoes were had for dinner, along with numerous coffees and tea.
Under the stars with music playing on head phones, the moment was enjoyed to its fullest. What a contrast to last night.
It was close to a full moon my headlight was not needed.
D68, TT3.5/ 7, Av17.42, Max 56, tot15750, 5685
Cold with light hail, wet much of the descent, mild and warm at Puente Pampas
Though it was cold outside of the sleeping bag, I arose early, looking forward to a day of downhill cycling.
Preparing my coffee, 3 guys came along. They were the security crew for the plant on the roadside.
One of them was the guy that gave me water last night.
They were good guy's we talked at length. They get S15 for a night camping up here. About $6 dollars.
I made them coffee to share and I had some biscuits to give them .I put some musica Peruana on the speaker and we hung around and had a good laugh.
It started hailing, granizo is the Spanish word, these encounters are great for my Spanish. Alot was learnt during this encounter.
We could have been in some lounge room for all it mattered. Though here we were at 4200m in Central Peru. I felt totally at ease in this gravel pit speaking a new language to three good buggers.
It is moments like this that will never be forgotten. We humans are all really good. It’s just money and material things that take some people away from this goodness.
Once packed we bade farewell, for me a short climb saw the pedals go into retirement.
Though once off the top road works began. This was a huge undertaking in this steep terrain. Along with the roadworks also started the rain. The road became a brown muddy slippery place.
Though being downhill it was totally tolerable.
All the way for 30 odd km there were workers and trucks. Greetings were many.
Again in the wet and grit, my brake pads were wearing fast, my left hand was frozen, consequently the pressure being applied to the brake lever could not be properly controlled.
Arriving at Ocros, a small pueblito, with a central park. Caldo de gallina was enjoyed at one restaurant while pollo frito was had at another. Supplies were bought, bread, toilet paper, onions, tomatos, sublime chocolate bars and galletas ( biscuits) for dipping in my coffee or tea.
They are full of sugar, but oh so nice following a partial submersion in the hot drimk.
On the way down clear skies could be seen in the valleys below. My long pants could get wet. My sandals were being worn with water proof neoprene socks, my feet were still quite warm.
Temperatures were rising as the descent continued. Arriving at Puente Pampas, it was so nice to be in the comfortable temperature again. An English guy, 65 introduced himself, he was an hydraulic engineer working for a German company. His role was to do feasibility studies on potential hydro power schemes.
he is hoping to do South America by pushbike at some stage, from what I had seen I felt north to south was the best approach.
They were looking at the Rio Pampas and had found a site that the water in the pen stocks had 1000m head before it hit the turbines.
He said environmental constraints were few, though improving.
The Rio Pampas is quite clean when compared to rivers near mining areas.
Leaving here, water was obtained from a house in a small pueblito some 4 km along the river valley.
The search was on for a campsite.
Finally a great site close to the road though concealed was found. Others had used it before. Mostly for ablutions. One is now used to turds in all states of decomposition along the roadside. Peruanos like to shit along the side of their roads.
Some unashamedly, prefer to deposit proceedings right on the black top. When my health is good you can stomach this. Though back in Huancayo feeling ill. Just the site of all the rubbish and dog shit everywhere on the streets turned me.
Having my health in perfect shape is pretty much what this journey is all about as far as continuation is concerned.
It is no longer taken for granted. Having smoked on and off for 40 years, my appreciation of every kilometre logged on the odometer cannot be overstated.
Back whilst boarding at Nelson College we used to sneak up the Grampions, a bush clad range behind Fell house. Here we had a flagon buried in the ground up to its neck to put our butts. Next to this was a long seat, here we would talk shit, smoke hurridly, whilst not appreciating the brilliant views over parts of Nelson.
In doing this, so as not to go unnoticed down at the house, we used to draw back on the durrys really quick and expel the smoke from our lungs just as quick.
A saviour in hindsight. I smoked like this all those 40 years.
Not like some smokers who let the smoke linger in their lungs, some three sentences later it is still being expelled. I feel this is when the damage is being done.
In hindsight one can look back on 70’s style school discipline and be thankful. Getting caught often meant some serious lesions on the bum!
Anyway camp was set up, it was just the best to be warm. Fried potatoes were had for dinner, along with numerous coffees and tea.
Under the stars with music playing on head phones, the moment was enjoyed to its fullest. What a contrast to last night.
It was close to a full moon my headlight was not needed.
El parque, Ocros
A cosy little spot. The road was only 10m behind me, colour coordination with the environment is important, that also goes for clothing.
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El valle de el rio Pampas, 1900m
Keeping my blog up to date is time consuming, though enjoyable, relaxing and offers a vehicle for my opinions and thoughts. It also provides an invaluable record of this special period in my life.
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