9/8/2013 Nth of Ayo Ayo to south of Villa, camping
D105, T7, Av21.24, Max71, Tot17461, 8293
Unusually mild, though very cold in the early mornings
Good tail winds from the NE
Another comfortable night in the tent was had, we both slept well, it was as usual good to be out of a motel room.
The wind abated as the sun went down.
So all was intact the next morning.
Up early we were bathed in the first sun, though it was a bit cloudy.
The major problem camping here on the altiplano is the species if tussock grass.
The clumps are often close together and each blade is extremely pointy and very sharp.
To put our tent footprint on them they have to be cut at ground level.
This is where having a good quality pocket knife with a rescue type serrated blade is an excellent accessory to carry.
We have had to do this on every occasion whilst camping up here.
These blades also make cutting bread rolls very easy.
Heading off we got back on the newly constructed road running parallel with the old one, it had a tar surface and was great vehicle free riding.
It was easy with little or no wind and generally flat.
Trucks here in Bolivia, and buses for that matter belch huge amounts of diesel fumes in their wake, even in this vast landscape in close proximity one has to hold your breath while it dissipates.
Lunch was had in Patacamaya, another through town busy with trucks and highway roadside stalls.
There were many stalls selling good luck paraphernalia, dried llamas, armadillos and these plates of
We ate at a roadside affair having a mutton stew, though nice my piece of meat, the rib cage was great enjoyed by an eye balling pooch.
We were now riding on the at times narrow shoulder making great time in the good tail winds and mild afternoon.
We spent a short time talking with a Japanese cyclist, who was battling the head winds going north.
As said before, all things so far point to an easier passage in South America if heading south.
Head winds to date have only been encountered on one or two days and downhill rides seem greater in a southerly direction.
Approaching Villa was one big gentle downhill run. Here I went to get water. The pueblito had no reticulated water so a boy led me to a family house that had a well.
Water was drawn from it with a bucket.
The lady asked for 5 Bolivianos, it was a surprise but we payed gladly. There was little water available here.
Still descending to a small salt fringed lake on our left it was time to find a camp.
On our left was an old church, on investigation, a new one was being constructed to the rear.
It was nearly 1700hrs.
Two guys were still working there, they let us set up camp in one of the roofless rooms.
It was a wind trap so they helped us barricade the open door ways.
Deirdre is gaining weight and now has her appetite back. All is good.
I had scrambled eggs and bread with onion and tomato for dinner.
The wind abated and it eventuated into a rather mild evening in our little room.
It took awhile to get the small space organised, we used cement bags to soften the hard dirt floor.
We started watching a movie but both couldn’t last the distance. Haz clic aquí para modificar.
D105, T7, Av21.24, Max71, Tot17461, 8293
Unusually mild, though very cold in the early mornings
Good tail winds from the NE
Another comfortable night in the tent was had, we both slept well, it was as usual good to be out of a motel room.
The wind abated as the sun went down.
So all was intact the next morning.
Up early we were bathed in the first sun, though it was a bit cloudy.
The major problem camping here on the altiplano is the species if tussock grass.
The clumps are often close together and each blade is extremely pointy and very sharp.
To put our tent footprint on them they have to be cut at ground level.
This is where having a good quality pocket knife with a rescue type serrated blade is an excellent accessory to carry.
We have had to do this on every occasion whilst camping up here.
These blades also make cutting bread rolls very easy.
Heading off we got back on the newly constructed road running parallel with the old one, it had a tar surface and was great vehicle free riding.
It was easy with little or no wind and generally flat.
Trucks here in Bolivia, and buses for that matter belch huge amounts of diesel fumes in their wake, even in this vast landscape in close proximity one has to hold your breath while it dissipates.
Lunch was had in Patacamaya, another through town busy with trucks and highway roadside stalls.
There were many stalls selling good luck paraphernalia, dried llamas, armadillos and these plates of
We ate at a roadside affair having a mutton stew, though nice my piece of meat, the rib cage was great enjoyed by an eye balling pooch.
We were now riding on the at times narrow shoulder making great time in the good tail winds and mild afternoon.
We spent a short time talking with a Japanese cyclist, who was battling the head winds going north.
As said before, all things so far point to an easier passage in South America if heading south.
Head winds to date have only been encountered on one or two days and downhill rides seem greater in a southerly direction.
Approaching Villa was one big gentle downhill run. Here I went to get water. The pueblito had no reticulated water so a boy led me to a family house that had a well.
Water was drawn from it with a bucket.
The lady asked for 5 Bolivianos, it was a surprise but we payed gladly. There was little water available here.
Still descending to a small salt fringed lake on our left it was time to find a camp.
On our left was an old church, on investigation, a new one was being constructed to the rear.
It was nearly 1700hrs.
Two guys were still working there, they let us set up camp in one of the roofless rooms.
It was a wind trap so they helped us barricade the open door ways.
Deirdre is gaining weight and now has her appetite back. All is good.
I had scrambled eggs and bread with onion and tomato for dinner.
The wind abated and it eventuated into a rather mild evening in our little room.
It took awhile to get the small space organised, we used cement bags to soften the hard dirt floor.
We started watching a movie but both couldn’t last the distance. Haz clic aquí para modificar.
This native tussock is as tough as this land and sharp to go with it. A hazard for air beds.
Witches stall Calamarca, a spell bound llama
The builders wife and their third poppet.
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A rescue knife bought in the US. So handy on so many ocassions.
Japanese cyclist, battling head winds and terribly cracked lips.
Great shelter, setting up was like decorating a room in a house, space was limited.
Ready to roll
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