Where the 'bike love' happens, the workshop, la Casa de Ciclista, La Paz
Old and new friends in the Casa de Ciclista of Christian in La Paz
Wim and Tom cooking up a 'belgian storm' and raising the bar of culinary excellence in the 'casa'
Ali, Anna and Jan perousing the menu...mmm Belgian meatballs in tomato sauce
Anna y Anita
'Zebra crossing' to help educate drivers and pedestrians on road safety (only in latin america!), La Paz (pic courtesy of Nancy Vogel)
'La entrada folklorica' and some Tarabuco style 'Pulljay', La Paz
ahhh..our favourite, 'the banda'
the 'world's most dangerous road'...not dangerous at all, just very very wet...riding under gushing waterfalls, past lush tree ferns, brightly coloured birds and not seeing any view at all!
the 'boys mountain bike ride' Christian, Ali, Davy, Daryl, John (in front), Wim, Tom and Jan (yep we all squeezed into the kombi!) on the way up the hill
Ready to ride, starting at 4300m we rode under the watchful eye of Nevado Illimani for 34 clicks descending nearly 2000m
Plaza Murillo, La Paz
'All of our action is a cry of war against imperialism'...Ché Guevara mural La Paz
Witches market, La Paz "anyone for a dried llama foetus?"
Museo de Instrumentos musicales, the 'Charango', La Paz
Anna getting 'high' on coca cake and tea...Museo de Coca, La Paz
Evo Morales 'the coca grower' president
Leaving El Alto, La Paz (in the canyon below) and the Cordillera Real behind
amazing red rock scenery on the road to Sajama near the Rio Desaguadero
'Chullpas' or funerary towers on hillside near Rio Desaguadero...not so ancient, these ones still had bones inside
Ali in a 'Chullpa'
'Carpinteros' on top of a Chullpa, near Rio Desaguadero
Lorenzo, a Basque cyclist on the road for 12 years..."see mum, 2 years is nothing!"
'Chullpas' and 'llamas'
Beware the two-legged llama called 'pitchoune'!
spines of folded red rock and llamas, near Curahuara de Carangas
Volcan Sajama
Getting lost on the backroads
...still lost, but meeting some friendly locals and practicing riding in deep sand
abandoned village of Ojsani
cockpit view wheeling into 'Tres Volcanes' wild camp, Parque Nacional Sajama
The dirt road around the back of Volcan Sajama through the National Park. Beautiful quiet riding, no traffic, herds of vicuñas, pretty good dirt, views of three snow capped volcanoes...this is what it's all about!
"it's like herding llamas"
'llareta' cushion plant, a hardy survivor up here on the dry and freezing cold altiplano
Iglesia de Tomarapi, Volcan Parinacota and Chile in the background
Iglesia Tomerapi and Sajama
Volcan Sajama, the highest peak in Boliva at 6542 metres and the forests of 'Queñua' trees some of the highest growing trees in the world
Anna reduced to pushing into 80 - 100kmph headwinds and sidewinds from Lagunas to Tambo Quemado. We walked nearly 10km this way and were exhausted when we finally arrived. Strongest winds of the trip so far...and we are not even in Patagonia yet!
Sand blasted and exhausted by the wind storm and with grit in our teeth we found refuge in the new hospital being constructed in Tambo Quemado as the hostals were all full with overnighting truck drivers. Hoping the wind dies down tomorrow so we can leave this s@#!t hole and ride into Chile. Funny my beard caught all the dust so it looks pretty thick and what do you think of my goggles? Great for the sand storm and the salares to come!
