landslides!
saturday 13th November. Come to a huge traffic jam and make our way to the front, theres been a landslide that covers the road. We have to wait about an hour for diggers to clear a bit and then bikes can pass. Park bikes that night in a hotel corridor with a pristine floor (not for long)! Scenery stunning still, just so green with amazing views across the andes. Pass a bike with the chap on the back holding upright a shower cubicle frame with door, mad! Head south to try and get out of rain. They ve had 60% more rain than normal here already! Stay in a rough border town as its to late to cross over to Ecuador and meet the nicest drug dealer who speaks english. lived in manchester for 21 years! He gets drunk on local 'moonshine' and we make our escape when he wants to take tim to see the local ladies of the night! Cross border, no problems just some paper work. Meet few other bikers there and have a chat. Scenery changed, more arrid and people native american. Much cheaper here for petrol (which is blue!) and accomadation (still not any campsites) Stay in Otavalo a really nice market town and have a day off looking around the place, wish we had room to buy more! thusday 18th, reach 13350 feet then head down the east side of the andes to try and escape the rain on some smaller roads. Stunning views and scenery with sunshine! the road follows a river along the side of a national park close to the Jungle, the road is really twisty! . Friday 19th, get to Banos, a touristy town famous for the thermal volcanic baths. Do some off road riding without luggage, quite good tracks, which they are in the middle of cobbling for some unknown reason. Ride back through a thunderstorm and flooded roads. Have a soak in the baths to warm up, looks very yellow (could be the kids)!