(Peru) Cycling in Andes Mountain

I start at an altitude of 3,400 m (11,154 ft). I have to go down to at an altitude of 3,000 m (9,842 ft) and then go up to an altitude of 4,300 m (14,107 ft) which is my new record with a bike. Can I do it?

This is my route for a week. I start from at an altitude of 3,400 m (11,154 ft). I am going down to an altitude of 3,000 m (9,842 ft) and I am going up at an altitude of 4,300 m (14,107 ft). Actually I am not sure that I can do it, because last week I almost died with altitude sickness. Anyway I will try.

I think he is holding sign which says don’t cross the middle of the road.

There is strong head wind. It is so dangerous that I can fall down very easily. I just push my bike at that moment.

There is some ruins. I am not sure that why bugs are at an altitude of 3,000 m (9,842 ft). I think it is not mosquitoes, but dayflies.

There is no stronger head wind, but I start pushing my bike again because it starts uphill. I meet Czech guys. They will travel for one month in Peru.

I arrive in Urcos before sunset. I ask church to set up my tent, because I see that there is the house beside the church. But they say no. I go to the police office, but they also say no. But police officers introduce one house.

It is beside the lake so that many dayflies are around me. There is no owner. Police officer says that he will find owner and come.

After some minutes, I meet owner. When I go inside, there are over six empty houses. I set up my tent at one of them.

I think the government support aboriginal people as giving house. But I am not sure that why houses are empty.

The owner can’t speak Spanish, but Quechua. She is Quechua which is called aboriginal people in Peru and other country. I ask her to write her name on my note, but she shakes head. I feel sorry to give her pen. (I think she can’t write.)

She shows me her house.

When I take the rest in the tent, she knocks on the door and gives hot tea and bread.

The next morning

When I leave the town, I find so beautiful lady that I follow her.

It is like a sunflower.

Why they are here?

I see many different traditional clothes so far, but it is the most beautiful clothes.

I talk with other people that they tell me why native are here. The government gives them money 200 sol (77$) every two weeks. They have a bank card but security guy get money for them and give it.

I have breakfast in the park.

Potatoes and eggs

It is a little bit flat but many dayflies bother me.

It starts going up. When I take the breath, I just find that people are rafting. Oh man.. I am so jealousy of them.

Cloud is super white! Yeah, I am at the high altitude.

I am a little bit nervous that I can’t find the town around the sunset. As I keep going, I see the town over there. It is called Combapata. I go to Police office, but there is no luck. I think it is not allowed in Peru’s police office. Over three or four times people don’t allow me to let me set up my tent at their yard. When I wander town, I see the children playing with an elastic string. Korea has also that playing!

Suddenly, a flock of sheep comes. I’ve seen little small poop on the road. Now I got that it is poop of sheep! The back road is covered with sheep’s poop now.

The owner of grocery lets me set up my tent at their garage. The next day she gives me hot tea and bread.

Again happy day starts. ‘Feliz Viaje’ means happy travel.

It is the cutest animal!

Today also dayflies love me. When I drink coca cola, sheep comes to inside.

It is totally like rural of Korea long time ago, but some people still use cows with their farm in Korea.

Most of the houses are built like this way.

Isn’t it sheep? Around the mountain there are much sheep.

Today I have to go up to an altitude of 4,000 m (13,123 ft). It is too hard to ride a bike. When I stop pushing my bike, I just find broken spoke. When was it broken? I am not sure when I can fix it at the next town. Do I have to hitchhike? It will make worse? I am not sure, but I will try just keeping going.

There is the road which I have to go.

Local people with Andes Mountain

Keeping pushing my bike, I just find hot spring. Yeah! My worries is no more today!

I see the similar thing in Korea. Usually there are sweet potatoes and it is sold in winter in Korea. I want to see what there is. But When I go back to them after taking shower, they are gone.

Such a cute girls

5$ for one night

Water is from the ground but smell is strange.

There are big hot springs for everybody and for private. It is at an altitude of 4,000 m (13,123 ft) so that it is not easy to breath. I could not stand long. When I take the shower, water is like ice!!!! Why not hot water from tap! :-‘(

Broken spoke is not beside cassette so that I try taking off broken spoke. But it is not possible. I learn now one thing that if spoke is broken at rear rim, I have to take off everything. I need special tool for cassette, but of course I don’t have it. Tomorrow I have to ride with broken spoke again.

Just in case I stand my bike on the door that if somebody touches my door, I can hear.

It is pepper spray which my dear friend whom I met on the third day on traveling gave me. I always place this one around my head.

The next day stream is around the hot spring. Smell is like breaking wind. It is chilly.

In front of the hotel

Today I start at an altitude of 4,000 m (13,123 ft). I have to try to go up at an altitude of 4,300 m (14,107 ft) today.

When I try looking at farther, it seems that there is no road. But when I just keep going as looking at in front of the road, then I can see the whole road.

It looks there is no road, but if you carefully look, then you can find it. I will pass that road alone like yesterday, like the day before yesterday, like everyday…

Snow mount

Always snow mount makes me so flutter. When can I climb snow mountain?

It is not possible to ride a bike to me. Just push my bike to summit.

Yeah! I made it! It is my new record! 4,300 m (14,107 ft)!!! I feel awesome.

People selling many things on the top

I’ve seen llama many times, so I buy it to send my home.

‘Are you taking picture of me?’

‘Just moment’

‘I am so pretty sheep’

‘But I am not easy sheep’

Alpaca is sooooooooooooooooooooo cute!

I sing at downhill.

I just find small town. There is one bike repair shop, but he says he can’t fix my broken spoke. I don’t know why not. I have lunch and buy water and other things at the town.

Quiz! Where is the road? I pass the road on the above picture.

Today it is 6$ for one night. (Peru has own their money, sol. But I usually calculate with dollar for later.)

There is a big church. Owner says some Korean live in the town.

Finally it is time to fix. I just learn another thing that one broken spoke don’t make worse for two days.

The back road

The next day I meet other cyclist. He is coming from opposite way.

He is Going up? Or going down?

Lunch. Soup is the first

The next is main dish. Taste is so-so.

When I get out of the town, I see people spread sand. When cars pass, sand bounds to me and it makes me too hurt. I am wondering why the road needs sand. I ask him, but I can’t understand his Spanish. As I am far from the town, there is no more sand on the road.

But there is other big problem. Asphalt is melting!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My wheel is covered with Asphalt. What the strange experience ever!! I can’t go faster because I am riding at an altitude of 3,800 m (12,467 ft).

In the late afternoon road is going better. I meet French couple. Their wheels look fine. I think I was too slow and I rode a bike with the hot sun.

It left 15 km (9 mi) to next town, but it is getting dark. Even thunder and raining with strong head wind are starting. I am too panic.

There is no choice that I run to the small town. I see the church but it is closed.

Suddenly one local guy opens the door to me. He says his wife and children are coming with animals. I wait setting my tent until they come. But later I find that I misunderstand. He and his family live in the other house. He just comes here to get his stuff. He gives me lock and gone.

Too scary..

Every sound hears bigger.

I start use small lock for zippers to get relax. I am nervous that I turn on the light until morning, because in the night I hear some sound. The first time I am too scared about that sound, but later I can guess that there are mice. Anyway I can’t sleep well all night.

Finally here the sun comes to me.

There are two doors. The local guy put the rock with stick on a door. He gave me lock for the other door.

I slept at there alone.

I arrive in the big city which I wanted to come to yesterday. But it is the worst city that traffic is terrible like hell. The town is called Juliaca.

I feel so relax as getting out of the town. The tire doesn’t look bad. Asphalt is almost taken off.

Photo for 10,000 km (6250 ft)

I love rocks wall, because it looks like Jeju Island which I love.

I am closed to lake Titicaca which is often called the highest navigable lake in the world

Puno is located at an altitude of 3,800 m (12,467 ft). But the first I have to go up to 4,000 m (13,123 ft) and then go down to Puno. I am so exhausted.

It is Titicaca lake.

TiTicaca lake

On the Titicaca lake

Park in Puno. Andes is so beautiful, but it is hard to ride a bike. Anyway I made a new record. It is time to take the rest.