We left Huaraz fairly early on the Monday morning and set off for our return to Lima. We were stopped twice again by the Police, both sets of Police had already stopped us on the way up too ! The first was very friendly and warned us about possible dangers from people enjoying a Fiesta, the second seemed intent on trying to scare me....as he kept saying he remembered me....as if I´d done something wrong the last time we met...this went on for a while until I started to have enough, so I told him I rememebred him too 
and helped conclude the converstaion so that we could be on our way.
The first 150 miles leaving Huaraz are spectacular and the scenery has four distinct changes from mountains to huge lakes to valleys and finally to desert.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156710339.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
One of the mountainous views we saw leaving Huaraz.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156706993.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
A very green valley in an otherwise dry and sunny valley.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/9361025/156704377.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Chilli drying on a huge scale !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156712879.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Just an inch or two off the top and a three razor on the sides please Guv´nor !
The ride was largely uneventful otherwise except that we saw an amazing cloud formation that hung below the road we were riding on and gave the effect of a carpet leading to the sun. It was incredible, and we with a few other motorsists stopped to take the sight in and a few photos too.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156707093.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
John´s (rear-for the non-bikers) footrest alteration !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/9361025/156704362.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The cloud carpet.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156717484.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/9361025/156704387.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
A firing house for firing bricks..they are quite a sight when full and on fire.
Finally we arrived back in Miraflores at about 20:30 through the normal Lima Leming traffic, having a few heart stopping moments along the way.
On the Tuesday we had a fairly easy today relaxing and sorting a few bike bits out. After the main stand incident, and the chain adjusters, I managed to find a hardware shop that specialised in nuts and bolts, and another “welding shop” that made me a temporary chain adjuster plate...That was after the main man who I´d spoken to didn´t bother
but his “partner” finally worked with me to create something suitable. Various bits and pieces greased and fitted, the bike was ready for the off again, this time South.
Today we left for a route through Nazca, Aeroquipe and Culca Canyon. After an awful nights sleep, courtesy of a group of very inconsiderate Israeli’s kept John and I awake until 3:30
, despite me shouting 
into the communal bathroom at about 01:00 that we were trying to go to sleep whilst she was singing ! She seemed to get the message although I think I was sworn at in Hebrew but she finally quietened down. The rest though were in a pretty arrogant world or their own and I complained to Mariano, one of the owners of the Hostal in the morning, who agreed that their behaviour was unacceptable and would have a word.
John and I set off from Miraflores earlier than Phil and agreed to contact each other along the way(by text message) to meet up, however the way things worked out, we ended up sending him details of the Hostal we´d found. Phil turned up about two hours after us having had a puncture on the way ! Avon Gripsters ! Pah !! >8;O)
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156707984.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
These are people homes on a slope to the side of the Pan American highway.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156708018.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
People also live in these lighweight lodgings made from weaved dried leaves, although these looked uninhabited.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156708211.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Inca Kola, sweet - a cross between cream soda & Vimto. Not bad if ice cold on a hot day.
The 4th is Phils Birthday so we give him the option of spending the day as he fancies so we took flight over Nazca lines in the morning and visited a cemetry in the afternoon, where the bodies had been mumified. Pretty gory but Phil was happy !
The flight is quite shocking as the pilots job is to effectively try and hover over each drawing as a helicopter would do, but without a hovering ability, so,.....they basically cut the engine speed to a minimum and bank the plane as far over as it can manage...we heard the stall alarm for quite a bit of the flight. Quite a few people are apparently sick on these flights but we were lucky enough to enjoy the experience.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156708178.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The Birthday boy himself.....30 something !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156708272.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
One of the Nazca line drawings, this one of a hummingbird.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156708051.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
This one of a monkey.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156711256.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
A view from inside the plane, note the artificial horizon ! (Blue and black ball)
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156711265.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
...provides a more hands-on view of how far over we were at times..and this wasn´t the steepest it got !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156712791.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
View of surrounding country side from the plane.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156712779.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Land based viewing point that we return to later on in the day on the bikes.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156710363.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The Pan American highway across the desert.
But back to the cemetry visit, the last 7 km approaching it were on sand...not something I´d done a lot of one-up and so two-up with John made for an interesting challenge and we weaved about at very few miles an hour.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156707023.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The cemetry area, which is home to a number of open graves with partially preserved bodies and hair. Quite grim....Phil´s Birthday treat !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156707054.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
One of the less gruesome displays...yes, that is real hair on the wall !
Later I got to practice on my own and managed in excess of 30mph but it was hairy with the front wheel only half complying with my steering requirements, however it helped me, if not the tyres, get a bit of a grip on sand riding. John watched on and took photos. I later discovered that Phil was priming John for a faster ride back which he duly got !!
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156711290.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Me attempting to break the front wheel wandering fear barrier !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156711312.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156710417.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Phil, as we leave the cemetry for the road again.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156934391.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
John and I with my new and improved sand-riding technique !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156934386.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/9361025/156704298.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The bikes parked at one of the viewing points for the Nazca lines around sunset.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156710409.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Phil enjoying his Birthday sunset from a viewing point for the Nazca lines.
In the evening we had Phils Birthday dinner at the Taverna and we all managed to stay up until about 10 !
Mike.
and helped conclude the converstaion so that we could be on our way. The first 150 miles leaving Huaraz are spectacular and the scenery has four distinct changes from mountains to huge lakes to valleys and finally to desert.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156710339.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
One of the mountainous views we saw leaving Huaraz.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156706993.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
A very green valley in an otherwise dry and sunny valley.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/9361025/156704377.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Chilli drying on a huge scale !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156712879.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Just an inch or two off the top and a three razor on the sides please Guv´nor !
The ride was largely uneventful otherwise except that we saw an amazing cloud formation that hung below the road we were riding on and gave the effect of a carpet leading to the sun. It was incredible, and we with a few other motorsists stopped to take the sight in and a few photos too.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156707093.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
John´s (rear-for the non-bikers) footrest alteration !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/9361025/156704362.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The cloud carpet.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156717484.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/9361025/156704387.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
A firing house for firing bricks..they are quite a sight when full and on fire.
Finally we arrived back in Miraflores at about 20:30 through the normal Lima Leming traffic, having a few heart stopping moments along the way.
On the Tuesday we had a fairly easy today relaxing and sorting a few bike bits out. After the main stand incident, and the chain adjusters, I managed to find a hardware shop that specialised in nuts and bolts, and another “welding shop” that made me a temporary chain adjuster plate...That was after the main man who I´d spoken to didn´t bother
but his “partner” finally worked with me to create something suitable. Various bits and pieces greased and fitted, the bike was ready for the off again, this time South. Today we left for a route through Nazca, Aeroquipe and Culca Canyon. After an awful nights sleep, courtesy of a group of very inconsiderate Israeli’s kept John and I awake until 3:30
, despite me shouting into the communal bathroom at about 01:00 that we were trying to go to sleep whilst she was singing ! She seemed to get the message although I think I was sworn at in Hebrew but she finally quietened down. The rest though were in a pretty arrogant world or their own and I complained to Mariano, one of the owners of the Hostal in the morning, who agreed that their behaviour was unacceptable and would have a word. John and I set off from Miraflores earlier than Phil and agreed to contact each other along the way(by text message) to meet up, however the way things worked out, we ended up sending him details of the Hostal we´d found. Phil turned up about two hours after us having had a puncture on the way ! Avon Gripsters ! Pah !! >8;O)
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156707984.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
These are people homes on a slope to the side of the Pan American highway.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156708018.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
People also live in these lighweight lodgings made from weaved dried leaves, although these looked uninhabited.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156708211.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Inca Kola, sweet - a cross between cream soda & Vimto. Not bad if ice cold on a hot day.
The 4th is Phils Birthday so we give him the option of spending the day as he fancies so we took flight over Nazca lines in the morning and visited a cemetry in the afternoon, where the bodies had been mumified. Pretty gory but Phil was happy !
The flight is quite shocking as the pilots job is to effectively try and hover over each drawing as a helicopter would do, but without a hovering ability, so,.....they basically cut the engine speed to a minimum and bank the plane as far over as it can manage...we heard the stall alarm for quite a bit of the flight. Quite a few people are apparently sick on these flights but we were lucky enough to enjoy the experience. <IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156708178.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The Birthday boy himself.....30 something !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156708272.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
One of the Nazca line drawings, this one of a hummingbird.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156708051.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
This one of a monkey.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156711256.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
A view from inside the plane, note the artificial horizon ! (Blue and black ball)
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156711265.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
...provides a more hands-on view of how far over we were at times..and this wasn´t the steepest it got !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156712791.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
View of surrounding country side from the plane.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156712779.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Land based viewing point that we return to later on in the day on the bikes.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156710363.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The Pan American highway across the desert.
But back to the cemetry visit, the last 7 km approaching it were on sand...not something I´d done a lot of one-up and so two-up with John made for an interesting challenge and we weaved about at very few miles an hour.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156707023.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The cemetry area, which is home to a number of open graves with partially preserved bodies and hair. Quite grim....Phil´s Birthday treat !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156707054.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
One of the less gruesome displays...yes, that is real hair on the wall !
Later I got to practice on my own and managed in excess of 30mph but it was hairy with the front wheel only half complying with my steering requirements, however it helped me, if not the tyres, get a bit of a grip on sand riding. John watched on and took photos. I later discovered that Phil was priming John for a faster ride back which he duly got !!
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156711290.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Me attempting to break the front wheel wandering fear barrier !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156711312.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156710417.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Phil, as we leave the cemetry for the road again.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156934391.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
John and I with my new and improved sand-riding technique !
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156934386.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/9361025/156704298.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
The bikes parked at one of the viewing points for the Nazca lines around sunset.
<IMG SRC="http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL784/4062504/10708027/156710409.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosting by PictureTrail.com">
Phil enjoying his Birthday sunset from a viewing point for the Nazca lines.
In the evening we had Phils Birthday dinner at the Taverna and we all managed to stay up until about 10 !
Mike.
