Around the Block Moto Adventures/ Huanuco-March 29-2018

Just an update on my bike and Around the Block....this company tears both new and returning bikes completely down and rebuilds for the next rider...I observed this last week while I was there...now Athir a fellow Canadian from Toronto who is going on his own 20 week journey has sent me a picture of my bike being refurbished...... When I left on Tuesday it was sitting waiting for it's turn and in 1 piece.........motor is also getting a rebuild. Now Luis is ready for the next step....put it back together.

Julya has had problems and needed a lift to get her bike,which broke down in a remote area. After 2 mechanics unable to sort out the problem ....had to hire a truck to transport 100k to Riobamba. She was hopeful that  the bike would be ready today.

                

Huanuco-Lima-Home March 26/27 2018

Taxi picked me up at 1pm on the 26th for the trip to Huanuco Airport. Athir dropped by the hostel to wish me a safe journey and I wish him one as well...we will get together this summer and share our take on Peru/Ecuador.
The flight was only 45 minutes to Lima over some amazing mountain road scenery....it was interesting to see the roads below zigzagging as they made their way up and down and through the valleys.

 My ride taxing into the small Huanuco Loading area....ticket $79.00 US plus $11.50 Soles airport departure tax....taxi ride out was$18.00 soles and $0.31 US = $1.00 sole.

My wait at the Lima airport was tiring as it was from 5pm until boarding at 1 am this morning. Both flights were smooth very little turbulence....arrived on time in Toronto at 10:15am....customs was a breeze. My friend Doug and his wife Vickie were waiting at arrivals to pick me up and deliver me home safely. I dropped my bags inside the door...crashed upstairs and slept 4 hours...I as totally knackered.....it is -3 on my arrival and I have been accustomed to + 30....a bit of a shock.

My son and his girlfriend Laura left a welcome home Easter Basket of Chocolate which I am enjoying as my dinner.

Thanks Laura and Corey.......

 When you are away for 4 months the mail piles up...this is only one stack...Doug delivered an earlier stack to my sister and she had to pay my Motorcycle Insurance...so before Hockey in the morning I will drop in and settle up...collecting the rest of God knows what in bills...lol

Yes, hockey...last skate before the ice is taken out and my only opportunity to see if I am fit to go to the Tournament in North Bay next week...my left leg is still swollen from my header in Peru...not with a another vehicle but the ground when I lost control in mud and went down HARD...1st hitting my head and some how hitting my shine on the bike ...though I had full body gear....the guards didn't work.

All in all...I had a great time ...met many people who I consider friends and felt the warm hospitality of every South American , I had the pleasure of meeting...some for only a few minutes....and of course my friend Julya..from Kazakhstan who showed me around the outskirts of Canoa and led me most of the way out of Ecuador....I enjoyed her company very much and will miss the camaraderie.

A BIG THANK YOU TO DOUG and VICKIE for looking after my home and for retrieving me at the airport in Toronto and to MY SISTER RUTH for taking me to the airport last fall and Paying my cycle insurance.

   

Huanuco-Chilling March 22/25 2018

I have been busy wandering about Huanuco from here to the central square and Real Mall which is much like a small Canadian indoor mall.
On my 2nd day here, I met a fellow Ontarian from Toronto Athir who is on a 20 week trip using a bike he bought from Toby. Athir has no set agenda....just looking forward to experiencing the Peruvian culture and scenery from a bike.

 Athir on the left getting set to go with a staff member of Around the Block, Raymundo, for a test spin........

 on route to el centro 

 central park

 waiting for breakfast 

 Less than $ 1.00

 cuy ready for the grill

 fresh fruit and veggies

 porky sleeping

 boiled Quail eggs

 need your scissors sharpened

 a fellow missionary of Toby's with Raymundo

Tocache-Huanuco Peru March 21 2018

 Rained all night....heard thunder and rain beating down on the roof...actually enjoyed the sound but feared what morning might bring. Awoke to a steady drizzle and left in the same about 8;30am, . Road conditions for the 1st hour where sketchy with short gravel sections and numerous potholes....the rain making it difficult to see the hazards at speed....lento pero seguro...

I stopped for breakfast at an outdoor cafe in the pueblo Aucayacu...2 eggs on a bed of rice with 2 fried plantines, coffee...$5.00 soles=$1.55 US.

A chap on a bicycle stopped and sat at my table talking Spanish...I said ...lo siento no te entiendo...but he smile and I caught that he wanted to know where I was from...CANADA...his eyes brightened and with a big smile held out his hand welcoming me to his country. He wanted his photo taken with both our bikes....then another hand shake and touching of our rings he was off.

 I was surprised at the size of Tinga Maria and noted that it was a clean prosperous looking place with numerous large hotels, restaurants and of course traffic. I would soon enter the mountains and more rain but as I descended to the lower elevation just before Huanuco it stopped.

 What is it...he waived as he passed

This mode of transportation is common and I note that from here on the tuk tuks will be hard shelled..the northern ones are all canvas.

 Would soon enter the mountains and more rain.

 Saw many of these along the way/drying beans

 Descent begins ...another 2 hours before Huanuco

The welcoming crew at Around the Block Moto Adventures who purchased the bike and prep ed it for my journey....missing are Toby & Sarah Shannon who are currently in the USA.

Today, I will take a Tuk down town to Star airlines and purchase a ticket for a flight to Lima on the 26th as I fly home to Canada early ( 1:30am ) on the 27th....... 

 Julia on route to Cuenca in better weather than my ride to Huanuco.

   

Moyobamba-Tocache Peru March 20 2018

On the move at 8;15am in 30 degree weather but once I was moving it was comfortable.....the drive was scenic passing by a number of rice fields....stopping to watch workers kneeling or bending in a foot of water planting the plants. Near Bellavista, another road block....this one with tires and men.....they all surrounded me talking....had no idea what they where saying...closed for 6 hours was my understanding....Por Favor, necesito ir Huanuco volar Lima ahora....was all I  could say in Spanish and they relented moving one tire so I could pass. This was the last larger town before I ran into heavy construction on the mountain........it was stop and go from 1pm on.....then 3 I/2 hours with 90k still to go.......30 of that would be course gravel and mud.....which had me extremely tense as I had gone down hard in mud yesterday hitting my head, spraining my wrist and cutting my shin....plus being pushed by traffic.......1 1/2 hours in the dark. I could not believe that they would allow 2 way traffic with single track sections many without 2 way control. A Peruvian biker noted my distress and though we had a language barrier he had me follow him and he guided me all the way to Tocache....I never want to have this experience again of night riding in those conditions. At one point I felt the bike wobble and slide to the right...it felt like it was about to flip....by the grace of God.. I throttled up and the bike righted....I do not believe I played a part in that until after....so strange.

 View this morning from the hotel terrace

 

 Breakfast on the terrace

 That was close

 Road hazard...no earlier warning...do not drive at night in South America

 1st stop

 Stopped 3 1/2 hours

 Mud Ahead

 a better section in the earlier riding

 Julia letting me know that she has arrived back in Loja and will head for Cuenca today the 21st..........she had major work completed here with new shocks...previously she thought the rough ride was normal...lol

 

Typing this morning and wondering if I should stay another night as it is raining hard and I have about 6 hours to go with more construction ahead........