Day 89/164: Challapata to Crater – 107km

Once again it was cold during the night, but warm with the new blanket. The worst part of getting up each day is having to take down the tent.

Today we were cycling 107 kilometres, and climbing 930, and down 930.

Today I also have stomach cramp which is making it hard to ride. The asthma has improved but still have the cough and breathless.

The first part of the ride was straight road with a gradual climb, then a steeper climb up to a village.  The countryside is still quite bleak, lots of small farmlets with the same small herds, mainly alpacas and some sheep, and someone there watching the herd.

A lot of the countryside has ploughed fields, although it is hard to imagine what would grow here, but then we haven’t seen it in the rainy season so could be very bit different then? There are lots of deserted villages, lots of old rock walls. It is very dry.

Stone walls are nothing like those at home (Photo credit: Sue’s blog)

The last 15 kilometres was not paved and had construction vehicles, lots of dust and was steep, sandy, rocky, and not at all pleasant riding.

We are bushing camping again and staying at a crater site where a meteor landed. The camp is just past a large crater and is rocky and windy. The wind blows until about midnight. The wind makes it really cold. As soon as we have eaten we are all in our tents. Day 4 with no shower! I guess we all will be smelling as bad as each other.

First sight of the meteor impact crater (Photo credit: Sue’s blog)

Dinner truck at crater camp cold and windy (Editor’s note: I accidentally posted this on yesterday’s blog)

Day 88/164: Oruru to Challapata – 132km

It was cold getting up this morning, and ice on the tent! The first part of the ride was getting through a crazy town in rush hour traffic, spotting flags, and making the tight turns in the chaos! The traffic has no regard for traffic rules, and certainly no one considers cyclists.

There is a weird system where the traffic can either go on a side road or straight ahead so you constantly have buses and trucks, plus of course the usual mini vans, driving straight at you. A few cyclists got lost in the chaos and ended up spending even longer in the city.

Once out of the city the countryside was pretty much the same as the last two days, so not much to comment on.

Lunch truck on the side of the road

I am still coughing and breathless due to the altitude, but the asthma seems to be settling. Feeling nauseous and have a lack of appetite still due to the altitude. At least we are staying about the same evaluation which hopefully will help.

I got to see the first small patches of salt today. I am looking forward to seeing the salt flats. Not a lot of energy and enthusiasm for riding. Thankfully the last 30 kilometres had a bit of a tailwind and a slight down gradient.

We are bush camping again in a field, so once again no shower or toilet facilities.

Dinner was Chicken, pasta, broccoli, garlic bread, and water melon and feta salad.

Dinner truck at camp – cold and windy

Our campsite tonight (Photo credit: Sue’s blog)