Up 1,530 meters; down 2,440 meters.
We all had a very disturbed sleep with roosters crowing and dogs barking most of the night, and a generator that kept turning on and off. Riders who had camped on the grass area also had problems with the wind trying to lift their tents up.
Just out of camp I had a run in with the very same dog as yesterday! But I picked up a rock and he took off.
A number of riders throw rocks at dogs, but I always worry that it will make them more angry, but with this dog I had already seen that it worked.
Leaving camp today (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Out of camp it was up for about 2 kilometres and then mostly down with a few ups until lunch at 60 kilometres.
Wonderful sky this morning (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
After lunch we rode down for about 10 kilometres, then 12 kilometres of up – some hills felt really steep – then rolling, and then down. Once again with great views and lots of brightly colored birds – bright orange, blue and green.
What views today (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
There were some unusual looking trees too, we think called Baob trees? There are trees that look like these in Australia called Baob trees.
Fabulous tree (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
(Editors note: I’m not sure if these are the trees Kaye is talking about)
The views once again were magnificent and the riding was great. I can see a big difference in my riding in getting up hills and generally feeling fitter. In saying that, I still had to stop a couple of times on the 12 kilometres uphill, but managed to ride most of it.
On the road today (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
At 72 kilometres I checked my notes and was delighted to find we were riding 85 kilometres, for some reason in my head it was 95 kilometres (Editor’s note: According to Sue’s blog it was 94km . . . ). I had another run in with a dog near the top of the hill and once again I had to get off my bike. I hope the dogs in Peru are bit less aggressive. A number of the riders had problems with this dog.
I got to camp at midday, so plenty of time to rest do washing etc. Some of the riders went into the town but it’s Sunday and most things are shut. No alcohol is served on a Sunday in town, although they are selling beer at the camp. No wifi and no phone service again (hopefully Kelly won’t worry that we have been delayed by protesters again, on our last day in Ecuador).
Lower tent city (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Tomorrow we cross into Peru. Quite a short day and only 600 climbing.
Later in the evening my phone got service so I was able to send a txt to Kelly. Dinner was grilled chicken with quite a nice sauce, rice and stir fry, plus rock melon and pineapple for dessert.
Banana trees growing right by the tents (Photo and caption credit: Sue’s blog)
Kaye's Awesome Adventures 