I really don't know how I could enjoy myself more on a bicycle. This last stint of cycling has really just been so eptastic amazing... Its silly.
I'm kicking the pedals and tackling passes these days with
Cass Gilbert. Never before have I ridden with someone so experienced and like minded in the ways of knobby tired travel. We have gotten into some beautiful, ungringified out-thereness! The kind of bike touring that has you bug eyed, grinning from ear to ear and sleeping well at night from the effort.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCNxPTTqbexn8PcwqIg_DhC2HbT93SD3j2D6Z-zbOIueZO8njl5x4VvbILaLn6E6KkKKbVK8z7mS5QQRCE07ydoSN56IlIyGxN2Pkr1swGzqGGRNgh-_RFTXQ0bpHN_gx2VcokYUL19o/s640/DSC06921.JPG) |
An unloaded day ride out of Huaraz. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVyvSav04XYHJNcvNWvuP1lD3_87NROk2eRP4a0sALBOhQhCVsqb2p5fiolOyiVd66atBMZgMGGtFz_qGC6DrGKbZRTXAYQSiAT9_oC7pvb6o26g7CInhDp9M0046iVqQ0CdotUkROqw/s640/DSC06924.JPG) |
The crew of traveling cyclist at Joe's Place in Huaraz. This was my send off photo. I left a day before Cass (back row in green) He caught up to me the next day farther South. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcLWrguftg2C83n2yom2jz8VBUakOAQOJLzkLV0c97ogGRKPqqLn8UHPYTRcVshcobvk4MdATuXPXaDVgWT1-HYyASWvZFXmA0VVcL_hfUQ2Jo1IjfJig4BhLGGxiiBReUFtMx2SZa6s/s640/DSC06932.JPG) |
A cold persistent rain had us duck into these first class abandon digs for the night. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr-yftd5VtzxU0A4rxcY8rJqgwd341AULZh_1KJrCCfurqsTg1xt7j0JNPgKzeJ-YJX3bQgTwZjOgZXmFtF7O6j03o5b0r_YoLFw07NyyaBGlZZ6yU1XNx5-uwyyH-U5zxQfh3P3f0hY/s640/DSC06935.JPG) |
The next morning loomed bright a sunny! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x60McZ6NACtqaCwYc8B7Qk6mAa5Khy3904h5n8BZ1F8PsBZR_NUeefL3K_Hweqs_IacpBSA-YfYiBNClSVCbMiBLqp4TDsL8y4PvOiIPDg6TVWjRVSL0DBttPGfvMMEkI6p4Ydjn8Qw/s640/DSC06951.JPG) |
A very friendly and optimistic woman in Ticllos told us there was a route through to Llaclla. It started out nice and easy. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJ1I59JjJ8jat8-n2GVdkBI4yzhJoSHDKOfgESLHBQgBJQjRmTYsgY9UjFtr3V1pOw3BuOTIa90gyS31-7TgmFWZi0kONGnN65BNJwPd-x2sz_gJG_GlDVuoI5w_ppp9WYZ_pr9LN688/s320/DSC06957.JPG) |
but soon got a bit trickier |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8bcK9sMBPlyRNmGkuGnur_1xBXukyQ1tID7oaSXLA8pMNDI8M30akx0-uWigW5O0CLFL-JIdf7u9BvI9a_YZ1GuUlvKcGWcOz7XzPu3EFC0ZE0uF23jklaOj62lTLg6QlA5BaDnc-Zc/s640/DSC06964.JPG) |
Eventually we wound our way down through the brush. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDdzlYp2JaMbSwet1tSKEsZs32VPSt19xiROdt-3RnUrlOgDWo1dYOCNGVkb57mru5rYMLut58G54iYlZyCm_1qQ2C3xpKgBpQfR1vWe4geBEEdCTmg6n9aJ9DScLKX1paNncmJX1MVM/s640/DSC06967.JPG) |
After Llaclla, we bumped into this obstacle. A bit swifter than we wanted to carry bikes through. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzO7a8gS3Uvhies6kw8An0MzvMgBlCk57GEVbp5zBexsorDK2EIaK_6gnsumxebOMae4c2z8tguWMzrGMrGWfEEERN46FQsQpuvn1KeD8vuWVdq-kKneiUoYBAC6u6PgUjkCYw1wjbvY/s640/DSC06970.JPG) |
The next morning we were so nicely guided... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdd4hwR1MYYIFPMehHWgF8jFai3vc1EDwZ2GC4adDJTRh-kpbtKceQDMlauVIO3YQNobdYnbtUPXSxvtIy64hn4fULau6SDTHIoF_a3vyzyTeyV2Vs-IO0D3zKICkrNNNDdzmA77otZ4/s640/DSC06969.JPG) |
down this trail |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKNFPwyCBYovY52GBtJTcv9m-p2ZS96ROpBDeFfd27-rbAOSc4cmcuE4OLmiE7jhOpuHwu9XOErKPmmtD_RycciqUBon8tuQSMbTF-IwtHXR3JTcSHWP5KTVzMUDQS1P82tc6WUMj5Js/s640/DSC06974.JPG) |
To this bridge. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fDMEeOlHaIJoIUbrte00sR8vvvfve1XfFvL2W2EO90g_srfd-DcNVE_S5FTVgsrF9dR7qkcfTmDRkMzJ96cLGxIDn65ofMoPiMIs60zYfghLtYFoOPrbrJGnGyQT4nNRhyphenhyphenA9uOCL-VI/s640/DSC06978.JPG) |
On the other side. We did a little of this... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk59S89dDiBOUItFCmsWIfDNDUgofuQMz3xpdAvIb6ULggYxKSQz0OE2yTLEhLqnh0774kF-qTGLeics0jtIp52t8PjbcoMpLbiCIRiwOOpYilKzZXDhoWS1SkUmPdFrn1Y_1uP7R1pr0/s640/DSC06980.JPG) |
... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4EUWBbnU6Mz4yK482AyOZ9ffni71TkPfKUbRx_2Bs7SIgWm6pOScR5z1sadTaFI26fYPMyvUKMpgxM1vLT6-J92T0_zoCMbtmszsp73pdL4O33zesFfLAkZ-ldLrBgL5odjHgbsSmME/s640/DSC06982.JPG) |
and bit more this |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuKwVnOrt_AQYazo5H2jO053HjREcSnoEvbT_ySS521Xqr-9ZkzU2HCLSB4pvLvYG_Hrr7Vis254Ch7Po5SnEkyShBDA2t1VxtTUGxl5ZRDp7LbAKW33w3U7Xi9ogHABQ0F3j0-6o-q4/s640/DSC06991.JPG) |
...And rest. Yes, that's my left pedal strapped to the bike. I didn't need it for a while. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlPTy-T5S6EniUUJiSgbt42NN5IXnlXRp-ik7sUm5ilcTnb8jW5TOzxI6GF0RSLcq3iVih-vGn6ti4SiYK1K9eRB6nD5Sz8m-gONIt4dcLhXjs5DFHQzzKBxFc9xVWBe7EEPx3HdL8AM/s640/DSC06995.JPG) |
Our little lunch pal in Gregorio |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1N_i1lH_Z8u9O6PBkm_OHS4AFwfAXYfCaPqy9AKQYi0UJFclLEaoSHCAkaUVy-tts0f4FrXUH_DAGhY4uxfOulL_lB-JXQ8tyriMYslOgvptSbHe_6YvUd-RYq_DsPkkZxrCPibD8nk/s640/DSC07009.JPG) |
We escaped that cauldron of fire and descended the road on the far canyon wall |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-jsyJXZF-qQS5kzJdJ06lD4SLunrPKgoEgC2DvDYJG6Blp61c2QJCaCODx5lWo_pa0dlKzgXnw6ihIKN5C6c5VSpW7uzQKmGgNqigWTr11_qPCYbpGrkB9QGv1ExxFnfzYX1oei8Kjs/s640/DSC06998.JPG) |
Ol' buddy has seen a better day |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpx-GVbyW033qAm0PkHOnYihn-SAR_vrCEmOFtUO7e5bGC3qiQN16RoUBTSNSM7o1KRSCU2Xo9oWM0OjBgX6E5xlcYeF6qTP_Mka9KDa6slSpbEs0h_FqHbKY8iHv5s7Ni28CV3O7Uhs/s640/DSC07002.JPG) |
Two Surlys in the village of Mangas |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbFQslusmJvbMfgn1mi0PamATgrw8AX2rkqGJTBgQdfIjGeXaOwhi_VDUeCy5Yao0-C6IdvKEsAgh9bG7jK9u6Fylg8SLGk3WXWE9u_VJTnNFWfYCqjkPQ8fy37XE3q7IYAMjaGBqjRE/s640/DSC07037.JPG) |
Why stay to the roads when you don't have too? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rUfUQL1NrR86bPpojw_GBvqK6QOJkv6qpM_EBtNiNBAbCK2Z2H7oP0loVc66dN_r46YqQAPL9t_OTBciw6bsJUn7ywagr1UNt8oYSefn4RkXJPqsr4ZKi1R-Mvtx2wNP4G0ZKXdzJ04/s640/DSC07039.JPG) |
Power food for the monster climbs! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURcmgE2nDnyZzZ1DfxHX6qS5jM7ONTJXF143810rKhG5YgeNTXXWTqTMbjehNoGJejjMqdWfPZzXPYLins3XtZ1pY7HklzE8vclDHeigHpoOyD_KEWlzcL7LjC2H5HqTlLe2rFAWnrlo/s640/DSC07041.JPG) |
Abandon mine on the way to Oyon |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbT5nv1CtcpI01OXH4qWoq2gJtCLwf0JXqDCvXUXHcYgAGsE9FaJ2aRC0xZQU50hZ29GUdN71M73HJ2uHPieXUUQCybGUGonstgTutGzwaVxU7R39jn7es9Gro4W1jd0mHfVe-MFnyF_k/s640/DSC07025.JPG) |
Like I said... Just silly! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiHL-a_XHnVZkVme3Un6FjeWUoQgbQnu4-iCQSjjt7FVWh_WKSTMqHpgVSxehMuxGJxIIbcbAnSs3sSre6n190kPpq-Lww_m5KOeHdpvukusd2pOJORKaW1oZvc31LVIYihqqxNhJyRk/s640/DSC07033.JPG) |
When darkness catches you on a long climb, sometimes its best to just see what morning brings. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhWzB_ZwaAPln_kwQeK8VLKtXZMSJAoJuVKFN7HLn1dJrTMvyqXArKa3VHc3qu1YfjzLFiIb4r9EYdk2oNx6LoATjTGlfGx_zP_QDMcCVp1HmUlM3mzODFK4j4WCqqLVp6J2Pu_BnLDE/s640/DSC07054.JPG) |
Our last few day have left us grinning like this, most the time.
We are following roughly (except for our own single track long cuts) a route laid down by the Pikes. Who are just ahead of us, also swooping and grinding these gorgeous Peruvian highlands. |