Angasmarca To Santa

With Maya back together the following morning we headed for Tauca, we pretty much had the road to ourselves bar a coupla trucks.

This section of the road (yes we are actually on a road this time) we were expecting to be rough but after yesterdays track it was a highway, conditions dry it was boney and again the sand and lime dust was 150 mm deep at times again hiding rocks with wrong intentions ...bastids.

The zig zag was ahead of us and did not disappoint, just incredible where the road went.

This is what we were in for...



This is what it looks like on the BIG screen



The full picture



Cleaning crud out of the radiator after softening it in a creek crossing



Our reward at the top of the hill for lunch



There are many mines up here in the tops




Arriving at Tauca there are two hostels, the owner of the good one was away so closed, the other we could not get Maya in and they didn't seem interested to even help solve/sort something... this is a church, slightly different than usual



An executive decision was made to carry on to Chuquicara to get gas and stay the night.

The mountains bleeding different colours depending on the minerals providing cool colours



An entire town of ruins from volcanic destruction



Down the valley was a totally different stone desert likes we had not seen before









Then the bridge, being repaired, 20 minutes she said, nearly an hour later we were on our way but their half done repairs nearly sending us overboard with the planks rolling under our wheels...FUCK.



After some heart stopping moments we got to the second bridge which was worse, with a strong crosswind Ellen got off to help, again more heart stopping moments we made it across and continued down the valley arriving at the bridge to Chuquicara....oh no the worst one.

This had boards missing and broken boards, in places there were holes 1 x 1 meter, we both hoped off and walked Maya across under power, 3/4 the way across a rotten longitudinal board broke under the front wheel dropping Maya into the bridge and onto the front disc, using the engine power we got her out only to have the back wheel drop in too, we made it finally, puffing like hell, sweating profusely and with full nappies.





20 meters can cause trouble, most of the boards were ok but some were rotten, not nailed down or anything, was very happy to have both of us and Maya on solid ground, then we found the gas station .....no gas .....nada, shit.... some days things just don't line up totally.

We had enough to get to the coast but not enough to go through to Caraz so we had no choice but to go to the coast to Santa, no biggy it was a real moonscape drive and stunning but blowing very hard sending us across the road at times.

Next day was NYE so we decided to get a rest day, we also managed to get a new MT21 front tire for Maya so I was happy about that, at least the tire god stars lined up, fitted the new shoe to Maya....sorted. Caraz here we come

We don't have a tiled floor in the garage a home

Cajamarca To Angasmarca

Ok, South that is the game plan and a nice clean road to Cajabamba, a trouble free and uneventful day saw us get to Cajabamba in plenty of time after a lunchtime getaway.

Seen this crap before Hektoglider



Cajabamba is a nice place with a good vibes and we bagged nice accommodation with wifi, this is a treat in Peru.

And it has a cool toy shop



This was to be our final civilized town with good services so we sorted everything before going awol.

Civilized ... tying them down is cheating



Santiago de chuca was the goal, we hit our turnoff just after lake Saucachoca, it was very loose and deep with sand and lime and hiding those lovely round marble shaped rocks within which made it interesting to say the least.

The start of the sandpit



We spotted a cool gorge so went for a look, wow it was cool, we carried on our way heading further and further up the valley, it seemed longer than on the map, stopping for lunch asking to confirm directions this did not seem right by our info.



Spot mini me and Maya 3/4 way down



Continuing out of the town Maya stopped, assuming we had just run the rear tank dry we switched the taps over but no go, I blew into the tank breather to make sure it wasn't just a vapour lock then she started, went half km then died again, sporadically she would go then stop, repeat .

By this time we had gone far enough to be very committed (and yes it was further tan on the map) thinking we were just near the top, the problem got worse to the point I was blowing into the breather every 200 meters to keep fuel in the carbs ... I was not enjoying this.

Especially trying to ride this stuff



Beautiful tho ....and worth every breath



Then it got worse, turning the corner we thought was the top of the valley it opened up to the next tier and even more difficult, we are now at 3900 meters, don't know where we are and still had to climb, committed we carried on to the summit at 4300 meters, we stopped at a cross track to gather, we established Santiago De Chuca was bloody miles away and we really had taken a short cut.....but to Angasmarca .... our next days ride

Cool mountain shapes



Few horses to keep us company



By this stage we are on a 4x4 style track with water holes 300 - 400 deep and muddy and it was dry (they would be 600 mm plus in the wet), we still had 50 km to get to a town assuming the road even existed, luckily it did and it took us onto a mining road for the last 12 km then down into Angasmarca.



The track sidled around the valley



Before dropping us onto this very loose and boney section



I continued blowing into the tank right to the plaza knowing we had to find accom.



Ellen got the hostel and it had a garage space so that was mint, off with the tank and pump, the points clearly weathering from bad power and a wire that was dislodged from its crimped keeper, it had not been crimped properly from new. ... now before anyone gets out the KTM gun the petrol pump is Mitsubishi .... so jappa.

Some sanding and filing of points and and crimping the wire properly we set her back together with life in our fuel pump, me I could run a marathon now with my lung training.

Cajamarca - Merry Christmas

Firstly if you organize an event you should turn up ....

We I did ... at least for part of the first night, James & Colleen Tucker, Tobius me and Ellen out for a snack



Christmas eve, all the crims had arrived and got sorted, we had a few grogs and went out for tea, we had Chinese and I got a bad batch of chicken, by later evening I was turning green, by midnight I was not feeling great but we went into town for a look around and got back about 1 ish.

Fours mysterious Ghosts



Cajamarca Peruvian crew on Christmas eve ... good times



Shortly after things went sour with No2’s going from cable to wifi and me talking to the big white telephone several times during the night, BIG discussions were held . (no photos)

So my Christmas present was food poisoning ... yay, Christmas day I was sub sheets all day, sweating, freezing, dunny, repeat.

Not sure what the others did so that is my Christmas report .

Boxing day I was still alive although heavily washed out and badly dehydrated so Ellen got some Gatorade to help refuel me then slowly on dry biscuits I got back into it.

Next night when I was fit and almost well Tobius, Devin Ellen and I went to a steakhouse for tea... outstanding it was too, incredibly nice and a treat after being so crook.



We did have time to take in the sights of Cajamarca finally, again Tobius, Devin Ellen and I take a ride to Banos Del Inca hot pools and the three lads got a massage too...awesome soak followed by a good beating.



Inca face carved into a tree, well done I say.



The local (crazy) market also providing some bulk entertainment it was hustle and bustle supreme, as luck would have it pretty much the best coffee place in town was two doors down.

The louts, Ellen, Me, Tobius and Devin



Merry Christmas with the ADV salute to go..



Tuckers away



Tobius away



As usual .. the kiwis ... first to get there last ones to leave