Welcome to Peru! Been a while since we've had internet decent enough to post pictures on the blog. So now that's we're resting up in Puno, about 2 days ride from the Bolivian border, figured we'd better let you see what we've been up to for the past 2 months...
Peru started with five days of rest, waiting for our friend Jared to fly in from Oakland and join us on the road. While we had some down time we were able to join probably the world's newest wheelchair rugby team for a practice in Trujillo.
When players are this new to sport, strategy and tactics take a back seat to the basics, like how to get in and out of your rugby chair...
how to help transfer someone...
and how to flip somebody who's fallen over back up.
Of course, actually banging around a little bit never hurts. Unfortunately, the Trujillo team only has a few players that will class into the sport. For now, they're being helped by some players with more function, and able-bodied volunteers so they can actually play and learn the game. Here's hoping they can coax some more quads out of the woodwork.
In case any of you were waiting for a pic of Seth surrounded by a hefty helping of half-naked man meat. (#28 coaches both the able-bodied and wheelchair rugby teams, and invited us to a practice in Huanchaco.)
Here'`s the Alto Mayo (tall mayonnaise) that we'd been waiting for. Jared doesn't do well in the heat, so he had to get creative with his cooling strategies.
We'd heard the Peru's northern coast wasn't the nicest place in the world, but it's hard to prepare for the desolation of desert poverty.
This guy wins the award for most amazing truck load so far.
It's barely 10am and the shade patches are already starting to get pretty skinny.
Us with some French cyclists who are doing a similar South American tour, and a local cyclist from Trujillo. Don't let Jared's smile fool you, he's roasting from the outside in, hating the world, and wondering why in the hell he paid to fly halfway around the world for a self-induced sufferfest. Welcome to cycle touring ol' buddy!
Not much to say, that's just straight sexy.
Aren't deserts supposed to have cactus at least?
Sometimes the only shade...
also features a dehydrated cat.
The Alto Mayo needs his rest.
The kitchen in our Chimbote hotel room.
Oh lonely clown.
Yep, still nothing out here.
Reed house, reed fence, plastic water jug. Living's pretty cheap out here.
Still nothing.
Jared wasn't very happy with the angle of this hammock, but he managed to make the best of it.
Probably the nicest spot we found on the northern coast, Schwansky gets to enjoy some beach time.
Jared gets to take some pictures.
Nice sunset, but Jared's about to get peed on through his tent by a roving dog. Que será, I supopose.
Treking back to the main road from the beach.
Always nice when you have lush scenery to distract you from the hills.
Here's the morning of a 104km day. For about 80km there's was a brand new freeway running next to the old one, only still closed off to cars, Jared takes advantage.
Of course in the afternoon it gets really damn hot and Jared and Kelly improvise a shade system for Seth. Luckily the nasty headwind makes holding the shade jacket a little easier.
Fantastic anti-theft system at one of our hotels.
Lounging on one of our toughest days of the trip so far. 74km, a few thousand feet of climbing, headwind that'd blow you backwards on a flat, lunchtime sandstorm, oh and...
Here's Jared resting, unknown to him he has a flat tire, and he watches us ride away, sure he'll catch up in no time. Not so fast Jared, not so fast.
Anybody fancy some flies with lunch?
Last day before Lima. The guy standing next to the giant is Freddie, who was very excited to provide a space to store our bikes so we could sleep in a love hotel for the night. Jared's room even had it's own Chicken Roaster for a balcony.
Through the ringer... But made it to Jo and Mareika's apartment in Lima.
They're friends of Jared's he met in San Francisco who opened their home to us while we waited for Dylan in Lima. More on that part of the Peru adventure to come shortly...
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