Day 22 (Sunday 4th December 2016)
Puno to Cusco 410 kms
This morning we received an amendment to the road book advising that it was market day in the town of Juliaca (about 50kms from Puno), that it would be busy and indication arrows would be in place.
Busy was an understatement - it was chaotic. Bumper to bumper buses, mini buses, trucks, motor bikes, motor taxis (strange 3 wheelers, something like a tuk-tuk). This was just on the roads. The sides were lined with market stalls, produce and everything else.
We caught up to the Cadillac on a busy section - they had overheated and wanted water which we gave them.
Eventually we reached the passage control and the marshall wanted to know where all the classic cars were as none had come through. The arrows were of little use as they could not be seen if a truck, bus or van was in front of them.
Coming through a town on the way to the first Regularity, a marshall van came the other way and wanted to know was there a problem as no classic cars had come through. We told him about the situation in Juliaca and cars would be coming through soon.
This Regularity was Pico Mocco, at 60kph, mostly uphill to a summit of 4,100 mts.
The Time Control was at Pucara (only 260 kms to Cusco) which had excellent coffee and very clean toilets (cost one sol for use).
Two things are noticeable in this area- the awful speed humps on the road and the number of stray dogs. We go crash bang over the humps. It is particularly bad if you do not see one, or it is bigger than expected. As either of us spotted a upcoming hump, we would shout "hump" so the other was aware.
A guide told us that several villages around here sell roasted lamb (take away) to passing cars. The passengers throw the bones and scraps out the windows so the dogs know to lie in wait. Peru, or the parts of it we have driven through, seem to have a huge stray dog problem.
The scenery here is coarse tufts covering rocky mountains. We climbed to 4, 400 mts.
Through a police check, a policeman tried to extract money but we said no and drove on. We later learned that he did it with other rally cars too.
Coming down to a lower altitude it was so good to see trees, pine forests and eucalypts after the dry barren terrain we have been seeing for days. The ground is more fertile now with maize, potatoes and other crops growing in small plots. A lot of timber felling is also going on here.
Arrived in the historic city of Cusco without much drama. The rally cars are garaged several kms away as the old monastery hotel in the city centre has no parking.
Puno to Cusco 410 kms
This morning we received an amendment to the road book advising that it was market day in the town of Juliaca (about 50kms from Puno), that it would be busy and indication arrows would be in place.
Busy was an understatement - it was chaotic. Bumper to bumper buses, mini buses, trucks, motor bikes, motor taxis (strange 3 wheelers, something like a tuk-tuk). This was just on the roads. The sides were lined with market stalls, produce and everything else.
We caught up to the Cadillac on a busy section - they had overheated and wanted water which we gave them.
Eventually we reached the passage control and the marshall wanted to know where all the classic cars were as none had come through. The arrows were of little use as they could not be seen if a truck, bus or van was in front of them.
Coming through a town on the way to the first Regularity, a marshall van came the other way and wanted to know was there a problem as no classic cars had come through. We told him about the situation in Juliaca and cars would be coming through soon.
This Regularity was Pico Mocco, at 60kph, mostly uphill to a summit of 4,100 mts.
The Time Control was at Pucara (only 260 kms to Cusco) which had excellent coffee and very clean toilets (cost one sol for use).
Two things are noticeable in this area- the awful speed humps on the road and the number of stray dogs. We go crash bang over the humps. It is particularly bad if you do not see one, or it is bigger than expected. As either of us spotted a upcoming hump, we would shout "hump" so the other was aware.
A guide told us that several villages around here sell roasted lamb (take away) to passing cars. The passengers throw the bones and scraps out the windows so the dogs know to lie in wait. Peru, or the parts of it we have driven through, seem to have a huge stray dog problem.
The scenery here is coarse tufts covering rocky mountains. We climbed to 4, 400 mts.
Through a police check, a policeman tried to extract money but we said no and drove on. We later learned that he did it with other rally cars too.
Coming down to a lower altitude it was so good to see trees, pine forests and eucalypts after the dry barren terrain we have been seeing for days. The ground is more fertile now with maize, potatoes and other crops growing in small plots. A lot of timber felling is also going on here.
Arrived in the historic city of Cusco without much drama. The rally cars are garaged several kms away as the old monastery hotel in the city centre has no parking.
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