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Day32-The Road to Nazca, Fri, Jan 28, 2001

Start & Stop: Lima, Peru to Nazca, Peru,

Mileage: 425 miles

Hotel: Hotel Alegria, JR Lima No. 166, Nazca, Peru (Copas Waypoint), $33 USD

Fuel: 95: $11-13 Sol/gal or $5 USD/gal

Currency Exchange: $1 USD = 2.74 Peruvian Nuevo Sol

PanAm Toll:  Nada for motocicletas. Bear right at each toll gate to find a narrow passway for motocicletas.  Unlike Colombia which the motocicleta lane was well defined, Peru’s are different at each toll booth.

Lisa: We got a super late start today because we were too late getting back to pick up our clothes at the laundry. So we were there at 9 am sharp, when we were told they open. Many times on this trip I have remarked that I feel like we are somewhere in Europe – the roads, the food, the scenery. Today I thought we were in Mexico.  At 9:15 someone (not Senora who took our clothes) opened the door and took our ticket.  She was in the process of getting our clothes when Senora appeared, a little frazzled.  As I went through everything to make sure each item was returned, it quickly became apparent that 1) not everything was actually DRY and 2) not everything was there.  Si, si, she said and then a bunch of stuff I don’t know and don’t care.  Well, it became apparent that the last load JUST got put in the dryer 1-minute ago…sigh…ooookay, I’ll return.  Back we went to the hotel to start in trying to waterproof this stuff masquerading as gear.  I say TRY because it is now apparent that then entire huge aerosol can of waterproofing did pretty much squat.  But we gave it the college try.

After all that wasted effort, we packed what we could and I walked back over to get the reaminder of the items.  By the time we packed and left it was 11 am. Jeez, half the day is gone.  We got out of town rather slowly but finally headed south along the beach, once again experiencing Peru’s strong ocean winds.

Dean and new friend in Nazca.

Dean: We were given direction out of Lima but ended up going in big squares for an hour before we were able to get on the PanAm Sur Hwy.  Half the day we scooted along the coast on a divided 4-lane then at Pisco we turned east inland on a much slower 2-laner.

Arrived in Nazca around 4:30 PM and had a possible hotel out near the airport.  It didn’t pan out so we returned to the main traffic circle in Nazca and found the Hotel Alegria.  No in-room internet.  Very basic rooms, hot shower, but no closets or shelves.  All riding gear layed out all over the floor.  Secure moto parking.  The hotel featured a very nice common/open air dining area that had excellent internet.

Nazca is famous for the Nazca Lines.  It is one of the world’s greatest archaeological mysteries.  There are over 800 lines, 300 figures and 70 huge animals that can only be seen from the air.  Tomorrow we’ll go to the airport and observe these wonders.

Lisa: someone posted somewhere that it looked as though we were riding across the moon. It felt like that.  So far Peru has be brown and windy, but i know change is a’comin’

Nail revealing it's ugly head.

The dastardly N-A-I-L! But no leak. Checked air pressure several times and it's good so far.

Another day for chain cleaning and lubrication.  Both bikes need a very minor chain tightening.

As I inspected the rear for nails … I FOUND A DANG NAIL!!!  Aaaaawwk!  I marked the tire side, carefully pulled the nail out noting the direction of entry and it was only in the lug.  No penetration into the inner tire, no leak, no bubbles.  I’ll check this tonight.

Lisa: It got late on us again and I still feel awful. We ended up eating in the hotel, more soup for me and shrimp for Dean.

5 comments to Day32-The Road to Nazca, Fri, Jan 28, 2001

  • Jeff Gallagher

    Grat picture of you and the little girl, Dean. I happen to have a juvie in my unit right now who is…. Peruvian! Told him about your trip. Have fun and keep up the description of your hotels as we may want to travel down there someday.

  • TurboDave

    Lisa and Dean, really enjoying your reports. Hope all continues well without illnesses. I lived in Argentina from 1998-2000 and did lots of work in Chile. I strongly suggest that you visit the highest peak in Western Hemisphere:
    Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas at 6,962 m (22,841 ft). It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the Argentine province of Mendoza. The summit is located about 5 kilometres from San Juan Province, 15 kilometres from the international border with Chile and about 50 miles northeast of the Chilean capital of Santiago. It lies 112 kilometres (70 mi) west by north of the city of Mendoza. Aconcagua is the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. It is one of the Seven Summits.

    Aconcagua is bounded by the Valle de las Vacas to the north and east and the Valle de los Horcones Inferior to the West and South. The mountain and its surroundings are part of the Aconcagua Provincial Park. The mountain has a number of glaciers. The largest glacier is the Ventisquero Horcones Inferior at about 10 km long which descends from the south face to about 3600m altitude near the Confluencia camp.[2] Two other large glacier systems are the Ventisquero de las Vacas Sur and Glaciar Este/Ventisquero Relinchos system at about 5 km long. However the most well-known is the north-eastern or Polish Glacier, a common route of ascent.

    The mountain was created by the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American plate during the geologically recent Andean orogeny; however, it is not a volcano.[3] The origin of the name is contested; it is either from the Arauca Aconca-Hue, which refers to the Aconcagua River and means ‘comes from the other side’.

    Also if you visit Argentina, suggest going to wine country around Mendoza and when in Chile checkout Vina del Mar and Valpariso, Chile. Beautiful country and terrain and plant life very similiar to our southern CA as the latitude down there is exactly the same as southern CA but southern latitudes(34 00south).

    Look forward to more great stories.

  • Jim Mulcahy

    Lisa and Dean,
    I just found out about this blog a few days ago. I was on a trip this weekend and so I started reading your blogs. After about 3 hours of reading about your trip, I was finally caught up. Wonderful reading, keep up the good work. I felt like I was right their with you (and I wish I was). I don’t know how you find the time to write but I’m glad that you do. I hope that you get to feeling better Lisa. You need to take better care of her Dean. :-) How else are you going to get through the border crossings. I hope that you both get back in time for the party in Jacksonville. Ride safe! Looking forward to more great stories.

  • Puppychow

    By the number of nails in the tires that you are collecting, I am thinking you are wishing you had take Brian R. along to plug the tires! :)

  • chuck hickey

    no penetration…..
    How did you all know that this would also be a new rule at the White Stag?

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