Well it chucked it down most of the night but was fairish to start so I didn’t put on my full waterproof onesie. I asked for directions from the hostel and they pointed me in the opposite direction than I thought. So I asked at the filling station. Same way. Off I went down this muddy pothole road. I asked a taxi driver. Yes this was the correct road. There were other vehicles on the road so it must go somewhere. On the map I had to pass the airport and turn left. I was climbing all the time. I never saw the airport. So again just to be sure I asked some workmen. Still getting the same answer. By this time I was on tar with yellow lines down the middle so it was a main road. I had been too optimistic about not needing my wetsuit so I stopped at the side of the road and put it on

This had just not long happened. I’m glad I wasn’t passing at the time. For all anyone knew there could be a car under there.

A diversion was set up. I didn’t look at the other end. It was longer and steeper to get out but I managed. The car behind got bogged down and had to get pulled out by a 4×4 .

Coming round a hairpin bend to discover this is not good. Either that or the you find a car on your side of the road avoiding the rubble. I had passed this but all along the road this is happening. This new road has only been made in the last two years so I suppose a lot of the rock is still loose. Previously it had only been single track gravel road which I assume would have taken about three days to do. Maybe more. I passed two cyclists today. One going my way and the other going the opposite way. They were well weighed down with their panniers. I was taking anything from one to three hours to climb up through the bends. They must have had to camp halfway up.

Just some views into the valley.

It’s not as clear as I had hoped but there is a town in the middle of the picture. That is were I was heading. It doesn’t seem that far away but according to the odometer I still had 25 miles to go. By the time I had zigzagged down the hill gone up a valley and round the back of another hill the odometer was correct. As the crow flies or a condor neither of which I have seen, the distances between places is not that great. However getting from a to b takes a lot of time.

If this is meant to be a condor it might be the only one I see.

The Christmas tree is not much better lit up.

It’s a fact of life here that travelling on the roads is dangerous. There are many of these shrines all along the roads. There are signs up saying  “respetar el derecho a la vida”. Respect the right to life. I’m not sure many drivers here pay any heed. My journey here is nearly over. I am cutting it a bit short due to the weather and I’m sore. My shoulders are stiff. My hands are numb. As for my backside!
Tomorrow I head for Cuzco where you can’t walk ten yards without being offered a massage. £5 for half an hour.