SEPTEMBER 17 - LAKE CAMP TO SOCCER FIELD IN COTARSE

Awake and up at 0430.  One feature about being in the mountains is that there is some twilight.  Near sea level near the equator there is no twilight - once the sun goes down, it is like the lights are switched off and it is instantly dark. Here, the sky is starting to have some colour at about 0500.  

Back to getting up.  the wind had died down and skies cleared, but it was cold - minus 5 Celcius according to those with thermometers.  Get dressed, use the little "dunny" (don't ask) I dug the day before, pack up and go down for coffee and breakfast.  Morning at the Lake camp.


Lots of people suffering from the altitude, so many choose to ride the bus to lunch, including Laura.  Bikes are loaded on top of the white bus and it leaves about 0615.  they have to make sure they set up lunch before the first riders arrive.  With our schedule, 'lunch' is often at 0830 or shortly after, and last until the last rider arrives, possibly as much as 2 - 3 hours later.

I get an early start and head out.  Today's run is 110 km, 1250 meters of ascent, but a whopping 2300 meters of descent, so we should have some good downhills. We start out still climbing, but not steeply. 

A roadside Alpaca near Negro Mayo, our highest point today.  I believe he / she is an Alpaca because Llamas are larger.


We start down a 9 km descent and the scenery changes.  Deep valleys and interesting rock formations





















Unfortunately, the 9 km descent is followed by a 7 km ascent (not steep, 4 - 6%).  A real grind at these altitudes.  I caught a photo of a lady in traditional clothes and the bright shawl carrying a baby.








A group of us are riding together, stopping often for photos & wondering where the lunch truck is - we're hungry and tired.  We've only gone 70 km, but the altitude is taking its toll.








Finally, the lunch truck at 75 km in a village and another picture of some traditional dress.










Laura joins me riding and we take off.  Up a bit and then a spectacular downhill.  I keep saying "these have to the craziest switchbacks ever, but I'm always wrong.  Check these out.








There's Laura, scooting down ahead of me.











Look at the amount of work that went into terracing this hill.












Through the canyon











We reach camp - a soccer field in the village of Cotarse.  Main street










A bunch of schoolgirls watching Marina set up her tent.


Enough for today - bedtime