(July 8 – written by Dave) We had a nice restful night in San Marco - the hotel seemed busy but it was really quiet. The only problem for me was someone making coffee at 5AM and the smell waking me up. I didn’t get up and find the source but life could be worse … Continue reading Bunch riding – San Marco to Cajabamba (61k/17,156k, +4000ft)
Month: July 2018
More cycling friends – Cajamarca to San Marco (64k/17,095k, +4800ft)
(July 7 – written by Dave) (posted on July 8) Today starts with last night and a fun dinner with bike packers Hanna, Mark and Richard, plus we met another cyclist from France named Natalie. It was Mark’s birthday so we celebrated at a nice fish restaurant. We left after dinner as we were riding … Continue reading More cycling friends – Cajamarca to San Marco (64k/17,095k, +4800ft)
End of the Inca and other tales from Cajamarca
(July 5-6 – written by Dave) We’ve had a couple nice days off here in Cajamarca. It’s a nice little city, 200,000 people, or the 13th largest in Peru. More on what we’ve been up to later but first I have to start with the amazing “end of the Inca” story. I always wondered what … Continue reading End of the Inca and other tales from Cajamarca
Happy Independence Day – Celendín to Cajamarca (105k/17,031k, +4800ft)
(July 4 – written by Nancy) Happy 4th of July to our friends and family in the US! Have an extra hot dog, some macaroni salad and a piece of pie for us. Instead of hanging out with family and eating the time-honored foods of the holiday we instead had another longish day today, over … Continue reading Happy Independence Day – Celendín to Cajamarca (105k/17,031k, +4800ft)
Celendín – Hats, corn and a festival
(July 3 – written by Dave) The town of Celendín is home to roughly 25,000 people. It would appear that about 25% of them regularly wear traditional straw hats that the town is famous for. The hats are made locally, woven from toquilla straw, the same that is used in Ecuador to make “Panama hats”. … Continue reading Celendín – Hats, corn and a festival
Endless Climb – Balsas to Celendín (58k/16,926k, +7800ft)
(July 2 – written by Nancy) We survived our night in Balsas – thank goodness we had a fan in our room! It wasn’t the best room we have stayed in, but I don’t think it was the worst. Dave’s Macgyver efforts with the towel over the open window did the trick to keep the … Continue reading Endless Climb – Balsas to Celendín (58k/16,926k, +7800ft)
Calla Calla Pass – Leymebamba to Balsas (92k/16,868k, +4800ft)
(July 1 – written by Dave) (posted on July 2) We made it over Calla Calla Pass today. And what a pass it was. The going up was not as hard as we thought it might be but it went on forever, or rather, it went on for 29k. There were no downhill bits, just … Continue reading Calla Calla Pass – Leymebamba to Balsas (92k/16,868k, +4800ft)
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