Chiclayo
A very unusual city , they seemed to have a fetish for things Roman
Next day we went out to the Sipan Ruins and Tombs
they discovered lots of gold artifacts , these dated back to the 100AD to 700AD century
When the Chief die they killed his youngest son and 2 of his wife's to go to the after world with him (what a prick!! ) . Above is one of the most important Tombs found
We took a short cut after leaving Sipan , which turned out to be a very long cut .
Terry's bike down in the sand (I'm pleased to say it was not me this time )
Next stop Huanchaco on the coast , nice little town with lots of great surf , it is believed that surfing was first practiced here
The next morning we stopped in at the ruins of Chan Chan Built around 1300 AD , the Incas conquered it around 1460 , but the Spanish looted all the gold . In its hay day there were around 10,000 structures and approx 30,000 people living here
On the road to Chimbote , this is a fishing town , with 1000s of fishing boats (which just stunk of fish) . But in saying that it was quite nice and we had a good Hotel
Above Chimbote
Great roads and heaps of sand
Amazing what a little water will do
On the way to Huaraz , through Cordilleras Blanca and Canon Del Pato , which is one of the all time rides ever
Click on the Videos of the ride opposite in the Canon Del Pato
There should be 2 videos , but there looks like only 1 so I will work on getting the other one up
Click on this link to view a good one
http://www.youtube.com/user/rwarnold100?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/hJNyGoqifbo
A little shop on the way for a drink , these little shops are in the most remote places , and always very friendly and happy to see us
Another Drink stop , it was very hot in the Canyon , the Canyon walls were vertical . The riding and views were amazing . There was dirt for around 90 kms and the rest was tar seal .The dirt was hard packed , but very lumpy and lots of very big rocks .When we first got to the dirt I thought shit here we go again "Mica" . But about a 1km in I relaxed and it was all go and we had a lot of fun , the Tiger loved it and handled great in the sand and gravel .
Canon Del Pato
Top and bottom
Terry with Bike trouble, just outside Huraraz , but the boys fixed it in no time , and we were on the way
Bottom leaving Huaraz
Top and bottom leaving Huaraz , in the Cordillera Blanca's there is over 50 pecks over 6000 mt above sea level
Top and Bottom Barranca
Another great city , there were bugger all cars , just heaps of Tuk Tuks 100s and 100s of them
Some were really up market and looking to get the edge
After Barranca we went out to Caral Ruins , one of the oldest known civilizations known in the Americas . Dated back to 2600 to 2000 BC with around 300 people living there .
On the way Dave decided to give this bike a wash in the stream , the road was very sandy for about 4 kms .
Caral Ruins Top and bottom
While we were at Caral Ruins a bulldozer decided to rip up the river crossing . Which made it a very dodgy crossing ,on the way back to the main road , appox 25kms
Back on the road to Lima and more sand
The riding through Peru and the desert is fantastic , big roads and lots of sand but just beautiful , I love it ( Peru is not all sand , they have vast areas of rain forest on the Amazon side of the mountains) . So if you are thinking of some where to go , come to Peru , you will love it . It doesn't matter if the people are rich or poor they are so happy to see you and really interested in where we are going . They are just such lovely people .
Coming out of Chimbote we were pulled over by a young guy, who with charades told us we were going the wrong way . Then he told us to follow him (which we did for 25kms ) to put us on the right road (how's that )
Desert Town what a great place to live , no worries about rain here, just a lot of dust