27,28/6/2013 Puente Pachachaca to Abancay
D18, T2, Av 10.32, Max39 Tot16006, 5942
Hot and dry.
Interestingly, this song was written by King Crimson in the early seventies, also about the time of the Vietnam war, as referenced. From an old album of mine.
Now able to look at daily life in the 21st century from a very different perspective.
I feel the few lyrics in this song and the grating chaotic, frantic instrumental portions do indeed sum up much of the schizoid nature of daily life in the modern world as many people jostle for money, possessions, social status and the perception these things will bring happiness and an inner calmness to their daily lives.
Our "modern society" is really controlled by so few, and out of control for so many.
The lyrics, Innocents raped with napalm fire, today readily relate to all those touched by the greedy tentacles of Woolworths and their ally Coles in Australia. All those touched by them, suppliers and consumers alike are innocents raped with napalm fire.
Riding through the mountains of Peru,I feel the people living here are in every way physically above this mayhem and in so many ways above it spiritually and figuratively.
Cat's foot iron claw
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
At paranoia's poison door.
Twenty first century schizoid man.
Blood rack barbed wire
Politicians' funeral pyre
Innocents raped with napalm fire
Twenty first century schizoid man.
Death seed blind man's greed
Poets' starving children bleed
Nothing he's got he really needs
Twenty first century schizoid man.
A fair audience was in attendance whilst packing my gear. It was decided not to even have coffee but get out of here.
Interestingly all the guys worked in these private copper mines, where they man handle the ore in old synthetic rice bags.
So a smaller truck would turn up here and they would unload it onto a semi and the ore would then be taken to the plant.
The bags were unbelievably heavy. They were a happy bunch of guys. One started waffling on in Quechua. They asked if I understood, not word was my reply, they laughed.
Breakfast was enjoyed at the gas station diner.
On the road, there was a bit of a downhill run then all uphill to Abancay.
A rest was planned here. Coming to the hill it was enjoyable riding in the warm temperatures.
Riding on some guys were hualing gravel in a small truck going super slow.
They stopped at a restaurant. I asked them if I could hitch on the back. Not a problem. We ate together.
Heading off, my grip was a bit awkward, my arm was hurting. Anyway, my front tyre was going down.
They offered to put the bike on the back, I declined. So the next half hour involved fixing the puncture, that caused by a plant spine.
Further up the road a semi loaded with timber passed me going at a perfect speed.
I raced to catch up. Grabbing hold the driver signalled me in his mirror. Good, he knew I was leached on.
He was great, taking right hand corners wide and giving roadside debris a good berth.
Near the town limits of Abancay he pulled over. I thanked him heaps. He said he was going to Cuzco, did I want a lift.
I told him i was here for a couple of days.
This is only the second time this little bit of “cheating” so to speak has been done. The first in Nicaragua.
My mind was already wound down and in the motel room. So this option was taken.
It can be quite dangerous, especially with car doors being opened or encountering a rough bit of road, you have to concentrate, he pulled me up at about 17km/hr, quite fast up a hill.
Once in town, I pulled over at a gas station, cut a water bottle in half, got it filled with gas and gave the chain a well needed clean. Prior to this the bike had been washed at a roadside carwash. Where there is good gravity feed water, there are usually car washes.
When I had used the petrol, asking what to do with it they said spread it on the ground. Guiltily this was done.
Most reasonable size towns have vehicle repair shops on the approaches to town. There is oil and other petroleum waste everywhere. The road edges near these businesses are thick with years of spilt oil.
Again with developing countries, the environment tends to take a back seat with individuals, just trying to feed their families.
The hotel Arenas was found and booked, again with GL lodgings and great hot water.
Washing clothes in my Ortlieb folding bowl was done. This item is so important to me.
My time here would just be lethargic.
That it was. Wimbledon was watched, many ice creams were eaten, lots of skyping was done, coffee and hot chocolate drunk.
Two meals were had at the Chinese over the road. The Peruanos love Chinese. Chifa restaurants are everywhere.
Best of all some day time sleeping was enjoyed. Falling asleep infront of the TV, haven’t done this for ages!
The markets were visited, avocados and bread were also a staple snack whilst here.
Here’s what LP have to say about the town.
POP 13,800 / ELEV 2378M This sleepy rural town is the capital of the department of Apurímac, one of the least-explored regions in the Peruvian Andes. Travelers may opt to use it as a rest stop on the long, tiring bus journey between Cuzco and Ayacucho. Jirón Arequipa, with banks, is the main commercial street; its continuation, Av las Arenas, has restaurants and entertainment.
I can’t comment much, around my hotel was all I needed, the ice cream shop, bread shop, markets, Chifa restaurant and supermarket. My hotel was on Av las Arenas.
The people were friendly, it was a busy kind of town with many people eating out on both nights.
It was a great relaxing time here.
D18, T2, Av 10.32, Max39 Tot16006, 5942
Hot and dry.
Interestingly, this song was written by King Crimson in the early seventies, also about the time of the Vietnam war, as referenced. From an old album of mine.
Now able to look at daily life in the 21st century from a very different perspective.
I feel the few lyrics in this song and the grating chaotic, frantic instrumental portions do indeed sum up much of the schizoid nature of daily life in the modern world as many people jostle for money, possessions, social status and the perception these things will bring happiness and an inner calmness to their daily lives.
Our "modern society" is really controlled by so few, and out of control for so many.
The lyrics, Innocents raped with napalm fire, today readily relate to all those touched by the greedy tentacles of Woolworths and their ally Coles in Australia. All those touched by them, suppliers and consumers alike are innocents raped with napalm fire.
Riding through the mountains of Peru,I feel the people living here are in every way physically above this mayhem and in so many ways above it spiritually and figuratively.
Cat's foot iron claw
Neuro-surgeons scream for more
At paranoia's poison door.
Twenty first century schizoid man.
Blood rack barbed wire
Politicians' funeral pyre
Innocents raped with napalm fire
Twenty first century schizoid man.
Death seed blind man's greed
Poets' starving children bleed
Nothing he's got he really needs
Twenty first century schizoid man.
A fair audience was in attendance whilst packing my gear. It was decided not to even have coffee but get out of here.
Interestingly all the guys worked in these private copper mines, where they man handle the ore in old synthetic rice bags.
So a smaller truck would turn up here and they would unload it onto a semi and the ore would then be taken to the plant.
The bags were unbelievably heavy. They were a happy bunch of guys. One started waffling on in Quechua. They asked if I understood, not word was my reply, they laughed.
Breakfast was enjoyed at the gas station diner.
On the road, there was a bit of a downhill run then all uphill to Abancay.
A rest was planned here. Coming to the hill it was enjoyable riding in the warm temperatures.
Riding on some guys were hualing gravel in a small truck going super slow.
They stopped at a restaurant. I asked them if I could hitch on the back. Not a problem. We ate together.
Heading off, my grip was a bit awkward, my arm was hurting. Anyway, my front tyre was going down.
They offered to put the bike on the back, I declined. So the next half hour involved fixing the puncture, that caused by a plant spine.
Further up the road a semi loaded with timber passed me going at a perfect speed.
I raced to catch up. Grabbing hold the driver signalled me in his mirror. Good, he knew I was leached on.
He was great, taking right hand corners wide and giving roadside debris a good berth.
Near the town limits of Abancay he pulled over. I thanked him heaps. He said he was going to Cuzco, did I want a lift.
I told him i was here for a couple of days.
This is only the second time this little bit of “cheating” so to speak has been done. The first in Nicaragua.
My mind was already wound down and in the motel room. So this option was taken.
It can be quite dangerous, especially with car doors being opened or encountering a rough bit of road, you have to concentrate, he pulled me up at about 17km/hr, quite fast up a hill.
Once in town, I pulled over at a gas station, cut a water bottle in half, got it filled with gas and gave the chain a well needed clean. Prior to this the bike had been washed at a roadside carwash. Where there is good gravity feed water, there are usually car washes.
When I had used the petrol, asking what to do with it they said spread it on the ground. Guiltily this was done.
Most reasonable size towns have vehicle repair shops on the approaches to town. There is oil and other petroleum waste everywhere. The road edges near these businesses are thick with years of spilt oil.
Again with developing countries, the environment tends to take a back seat with individuals, just trying to feed their families.
The hotel Arenas was found and booked, again with GL lodgings and great hot water.
Washing clothes in my Ortlieb folding bowl was done. This item is so important to me.
My time here would just be lethargic.
That it was. Wimbledon was watched, many ice creams were eaten, lots of skyping was done, coffee and hot chocolate drunk.
Two meals were had at the Chinese over the road. The Peruanos love Chinese. Chifa restaurants are everywhere.
Best of all some day time sleeping was enjoyed. Falling asleep infront of the TV, haven’t done this for ages!
The markets were visited, avocados and bread were also a staple snack whilst here.
Here’s what LP have to say about the town.
POP 13,800 / ELEV 2378M This sleepy rural town is the capital of the department of Apurímac, one of the least-explored regions in the Peruvian Andes. Travelers may opt to use it as a rest stop on the long, tiring bus journey between Cuzco and Ayacucho. Jirón Arequipa, with banks, is the main commercial street; its continuation, Av las Arenas, has restaurants and entertainment.
I can’t comment much, around my hotel was all I needed, the ice cream shop, bread shop, markets, Chifa restaurant and supermarket. My hotel was on Av las Arenas.
The people were friendly, it was a busy kind of town with many people eating out on both nights.
It was a great relaxing time here.
