8/5/2013, 9 km north of Cajabamba to Laguna Sousacocha
D59, T5.33/8, Av10.69,Max50, Tot14089, 4024
Wet morning, cleared but very cool about 14-15°C
Camping on a slope provided for a great sleep. Looking to have my upper body elevated is now a priority when camping, as is ground floor motels.
It rained early morning so all was wet, though the Hillberg tarp kept the tent dry.
Gheyner had school at 0800, needless to say he rode.
I was 9km from Cajabamba, it was all uphill, no way would arrival had been made yesterday without suffering considerable stress, both physical and physiological. A tent provides so many options.
In town breakfast was had, new reading glasses bought and a bread supply.
I have now decided that the stove needs replacing, the only country to sell Primus products in SA is Chile. I have been in contact with the importer. We are trying to work something out. I won’t be in Santiago for months.
Friends of my parents whole are coming here on Monday were contacted to get one in CHCH but it was too short a notice.
My stove was not up to it so I packed up with the help of other kids and said goodbye.
The ride today for me was about acquainting myself with the practices of the local farmers. A lot of stopping and chatting was done.
They use broom for fences. Maize negro is exported to Japan and other countries to make Chicha, the drink that is great for circulation and the kidneys,
Sacks piled up at most houses, contained abono which is a natural cook shit based fertilizer, grain husks are in it also, it is used when planting the potatoes.
Many people were harvesting grass for cuy fodder.
Cuy were being transported on car roof tops. I tell people only keep them for mascotas in Australia. Personally, they are like eating rats
The shoes many farm people wear are called llangues, they are made from old tyres and last for ever.
Looking at the hands and feet of many of the woman and men in traditional hat, dress etc, life was hard and mostly outdoors, many had no power and weren’t keen on cold showers
The day was so enjoyable talking with these rural people, many were shy, though those that spoke were very warming.
This whole area is covered in Eucalypts which they copice. The poles are used for everything from fences, construction, bridges and the leaf is used to start fires. The smell of burning gum trees was everywhere. All the charcoal is also Eucalypt.
They must have stripped the native veg years ago.
How Eucalypts have helped them. Literally they dominate the tree species.
One paddock had at least 40 people in it harvesting potatoes. I yelled up to them they all looked, they explained what they were doing.
It is probably not very Spanish but I always say “Ustedes disfrutas suyos dia”. To a group. People seem to warm to this gesture, often with buen suerte, gracias, igual,or bien viaje.
The verb disfrutar, to enjoy, is such a lovely sounding word. For example, estoy disfrutando su compañia,= I am enjoying your company.
This whole day was a pleasure, riding was for the most part easy and every corner provided wonderment at life here.
Men were ploughing fields with bulls, it appears most properties are only a few acres.
They bring their animals home at night, that is the people with little land, then in the morning the walk them always on ropes to feed on the roadside or wherever.
It was quite cold always about 12-15 degrees.
Soon at the top of another range two boys that rode with me for a few km told me about a lagoon further on, there are trucha there they said, good I thought.
I am now out of sync with the towns so camping is having to provide accommodation each night, it is so enjoyable.
Reaching Laguna Sausacocha, it looked like a perfect place for the night. I headed down to a day shelter by the Laguna before town and chatted with some kids who were fishing. There are trout farms on the lake. Soon a boat with a couple of guys came ashore.
They kindly gave me two fresh trout and would accept money.
Peru, now for me is such a special place where traditional life is experienced in so many places, the people are so kind and those not shy, are so welcoming.
I feel the topography travelled through to date, helps preserves this way of life. It is a way of life were much land is part of the community, where if you only have a house you can own a sheep or two and walk them to a bit of grass each day. Woman are especially shy, many will walk off the road to avoid contact.
For me, even asking to photograph some people is so rude and degrading, the photos I have taken here have been done so following conversation or those where the people are unaware of it.
Lonely Planet says that you must expect to pay some people for the privilege, I think this is such a stuffed up view for travellers to have when visiting places where people dress or live differently. In my mind you need to earn that privilege with a respect towards the person you want to photograph, not just pay someone for putting on a costume or behavioral display.
Personally I very rarely use these books, except for things to do or visit in a place. They unfortunately can give people a preconceived opinion of a place. It is better if you make up your own mind. As far as accommodation is concerned, they are the last thing I need, having found great places and enjoying the search.
Though if you want to find things you are used to, i.e. food, bars, western style accommodation, totting one of these, “bibles” will keep you on the “straight and well worn trail, of hotel, bars and attractions. They have a market and they serve it well. Enough said.
Heading into town I decided to camp under a rancho at the lake front in town.
The trout were cleaned all prepped, with the herbs done, and low and behold the bloody stove would not even boil water for a coffee, bread and tuna was had for dinner.
All night there were dogs barking. It was full on dog wars in this town, the roosters may have been the audience because they were going 10 to the dozen also.
D59, T5.33/8, Av10.69,Max50, Tot14089, 4024
Wet morning, cleared but very cool about 14-15°C
Camping on a slope provided for a great sleep. Looking to have my upper body elevated is now a priority when camping, as is ground floor motels.
It rained early morning so all was wet, though the Hillberg tarp kept the tent dry.
Gheyner had school at 0800, needless to say he rode.
I was 9km from Cajabamba, it was all uphill, no way would arrival had been made yesterday without suffering considerable stress, both physical and physiological. A tent provides so many options.
In town breakfast was had, new reading glasses bought and a bread supply.
I have now decided that the stove needs replacing, the only country to sell Primus products in SA is Chile. I have been in contact with the importer. We are trying to work something out. I won’t be in Santiago for months.
Friends of my parents whole are coming here on Monday were contacted to get one in CHCH but it was too short a notice.
My stove was not up to it so I packed up with the help of other kids and said goodbye.
The ride today for me was about acquainting myself with the practices of the local farmers. A lot of stopping and chatting was done.
They use broom for fences. Maize negro is exported to Japan and other countries to make Chicha, the drink that is great for circulation and the kidneys,
Sacks piled up at most houses, contained abono which is a natural cook shit based fertilizer, grain husks are in it also, it is used when planting the potatoes.
Many people were harvesting grass for cuy fodder.
Cuy were being transported on car roof tops. I tell people only keep them for mascotas in Australia. Personally, they are like eating rats
The shoes many farm people wear are called llangues, they are made from old tyres and last for ever.
Looking at the hands and feet of many of the woman and men in traditional hat, dress etc, life was hard and mostly outdoors, many had no power and weren’t keen on cold showers
The day was so enjoyable talking with these rural people, many were shy, though those that spoke were very warming.
This whole area is covered in Eucalypts which they copice. The poles are used for everything from fences, construction, bridges and the leaf is used to start fires. The smell of burning gum trees was everywhere. All the charcoal is also Eucalypt.
They must have stripped the native veg years ago.
How Eucalypts have helped them. Literally they dominate the tree species.
One paddock had at least 40 people in it harvesting potatoes. I yelled up to them they all looked, they explained what they were doing.
It is probably not very Spanish but I always say “Ustedes disfrutas suyos dia”. To a group. People seem to warm to this gesture, often with buen suerte, gracias, igual,or bien viaje.
The verb disfrutar, to enjoy, is such a lovely sounding word. For example, estoy disfrutando su compañia,= I am enjoying your company.
This whole day was a pleasure, riding was for the most part easy and every corner provided wonderment at life here.
Men were ploughing fields with bulls, it appears most properties are only a few acres.
They bring their animals home at night, that is the people with little land, then in the morning the walk them always on ropes to feed on the roadside or wherever.
It was quite cold always about 12-15 degrees.
Soon at the top of another range two boys that rode with me for a few km told me about a lagoon further on, there are trucha there they said, good I thought.
I am now out of sync with the towns so camping is having to provide accommodation each night, it is so enjoyable.
Reaching Laguna Sausacocha, it looked like a perfect place for the night. I headed down to a day shelter by the Laguna before town and chatted with some kids who were fishing. There are trout farms on the lake. Soon a boat with a couple of guys came ashore.
They kindly gave me two fresh trout and would accept money.
Peru, now for me is such a special place where traditional life is experienced in so many places, the people are so kind and those not shy, are so welcoming.
I feel the topography travelled through to date, helps preserves this way of life. It is a way of life were much land is part of the community, where if you only have a house you can own a sheep or two and walk them to a bit of grass each day. Woman are especially shy, many will walk off the road to avoid contact.
For me, even asking to photograph some people is so rude and degrading, the photos I have taken here have been done so following conversation or those where the people are unaware of it.
Lonely Planet says that you must expect to pay some people for the privilege, I think this is such a stuffed up view for travellers to have when visiting places where people dress or live differently. In my mind you need to earn that privilege with a respect towards the person you want to photograph, not just pay someone for putting on a costume or behavioral display.
Personally I very rarely use these books, except for things to do or visit in a place. They unfortunately can give people a preconceived opinion of a place. It is better if you make up your own mind. As far as accommodation is concerned, they are the last thing I need, having found great places and enjoying the search.
Though if you want to find things you are used to, i.e. food, bars, western style accommodation, totting one of these, “bibles” will keep you on the “straight and well worn trail, of hotel, bars and attractions. They have a market and they serve it well. Enough said.
Heading into town I decided to camp under a rancho at the lake front in town.
The trout were cleaned all prepped, with the herbs done, and low and behold the bloody stove would not even boil water for a coffee, bread and tuna was had for dinner.
All night there were dogs barking. It was full on dog wars in this town, the roosters may have been the audience because they were going 10 to the dozen also.
The waters in streams with this colour have seen their fair share of domestic duties.
Everyone loves a bit of waffle. We had a few laughs here
Laguna Sausacocha, trout farms on the water .
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weighing black maize for export to make chicha
Cuy fodder
Adono ready for a new crop of potatoes.
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Never a dull moment
