Time Out
Trip Start
Oct 20, 2008
1
27
41
Trip End
Feb 28, 2009
Casma,
Peru
Saturday, December 13, 2008
A nice sunny day with a cool Breeze. We left our over priced hotel and headed for Trujillo We stopped to refuel the motorcycles and a Peruvian fighter plane flew past us very low. The engines noise is so loud it hurt my ears. We carried on riding through the desert, the landscape slowly getting greener.At one point I stopped to snap a photo because in the middle of the desert there was irrigated fields of corn, hot peppers and flowers as far as the eye can see. Not what I expected to see. I made a road side stop later in the day, an Aussie traveling around the world on his BMW stopped and we chatted for several minutes. We knew we were very close to the beach town called Huanchaco and decided to try our luck and find a hotel there rather than being stuck in another city. We entered the town and I was highly unimpressed. The buildings in very rough condition and there is nothing here. We asked a boy about a hotel. He pointed up the highway saying 5 minutes.We carried on and found a fun surfing town. We booked ourselves into a hotel room and found a place for dinner. Just as we were finishing dinner we met a woman from Russia (fluent in English) who is traveling through South America. We arrange to meet her the following evening for drinks.
Thursday Dec 11th
The weather here is perfect, warm with a nice cool breeze blowing off of the ocean. Over breakfast this morning I met an American, Canadian and Brit who are all here to learn how to surf. This beach has an excellent left handed break that is perfect for new surfers to learn how to surf. I spent the rest of the day relaxing on the beach the cool mist caused by the waves breaking against the shore reminded me of a freshly poured glass of pop and how the spritz tickles my nose as I drink it. Late in the afternoon I watched the local fisherman paddle their reed boats called caballitos back to shore, their nets full of purple crabs. I decide I am going to get a ride in one of these boats tomorrow. After supper we met our new Russian friend Ellana. We spent a couple of hours explaining to each other what our countries are like and our trips. She is an interesting woman, she has swam with piranhas and tried one of the local Shamans hallucinogenic medicines.
Friday Dec 12th.
Another perfect day. I finished reading my book on the beach and arranged to go for a ride in one of the caballitos. It was a great way to travel in the water. The older gentleman guides us through the water his experience guides us both, the little boat bobbed up and down in the water, my bum soaked from the ocean but the rest of me dry. They glide over the waves and when coming back to shore the waves push this little boat to very high speeds. What a terrific experience. We spent most of the evening planning our route and time frame from Lima to Santiago Chile.
Saturday Dec 13th.
Our goal today was to reach the town of Huarez. We get some breakfast into us and start another day of adventure. The fog is heavy this morning until we pass Trujillo. We continue driving through desert, another adventure traveler turned around and I stopped to chat with him. He is an eccentric Puerto Rican also riding a 2001 KLR with over 200,000 kms on it. He just had it rebuilt in Lima. He also warned me that the Pan Am highway 100 kms south of Lima is blocked right now because of a protest. Mike who didn't realize I had stopped to talk to this fellow finally returned. We pushed on and WOW what is that smell, I am gagging as the fish smell is over powering my nose as we enter the town of Chimbote. It seems this town relies heavily upon fishing. I can't wait to get out of here. We realize by two o'clock we will not make it to our goal of Huarez the high winds blowing us around and tiring us out which also reduced our travel speed. We stop at a little seaside village called Tortuga but do not feel this is our best option for the night and move on to Casma. Several fishing trucks pass us on the highway and my senses are overwhelmed again with the nasty smell of Chimbote.
For the 1st time in this trip we successfully find a good hotel recommended by the Lonely Planet in Casma. We will head for the Huarez in the Andes tomorrow.
Comments
boat ride
Did they not let you wear any clothes in that 'sea horse'.... hahaha.
Boat
Hi: Looks like the boat trip agrees with you.
Great picture!
I like the look of the taxi also, but not much good here. I see by the road in front of it'big hole'.
'All Treat' probably has very little smell compared to what you quys are getting.
Did you take nose plugs with you?
HOpe you have a great day ahead.
THinking of you both.
S