I find the high plains lovely and magical.
In one large town we were stopped by a parade.
Handmade beauty.
Confused or angry? I'm not sure.
I wish the camera could convey the vastness.
I had Mac model an alpacha hat I was going to buy. Note his enthusiasm.
Dot, dash, dot, dot....'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were shot dead today buy an overwhelming force of Bolivian Federal troops'
The Alpacha was larger than I'd expected and seemed like a cartoon character.
Vendors in the mountains.
One of the ever present mountains up here.Cusco to Puno - 250 miles
We had another stunning ride up and along the altiplano today. The road was at about 12,50 feet for 150 miles. The land was generally level but higher mountains were always off near the horizon. The land is mostly used as grazing land for sheep, goats, llamas, and cattle. All the way there were little wizened Peruvian women with their formal hats tending their flock.
The road was recently paved and superb for motorcycling. It was serpentine but not like a mountain pass. Rather than winding like a rattlesnake with many tight twists, it wasmore like a long, lazy Anaconda. Thus we were able to run at speed all day - it was a joy ride.
In the long altiplano there was a railroad line. I'm not sure if it is in use. I saw no trains all day. What I did see were the old telegraph poles still standing next to the track. The wires have been removed and there is a modern line of telephone poles adjacent to the road. What fascinated me about the telegraph poles is how long they've been standing there. We are very close to where the Federales shot down Butch and Sundance in neighboring Bolivia long ago. I can almost hear the Morse code tapping out the news that the 'Banditos Yankee' finally had been stopped. Rest in peace my friends, the telegraph poles and I will never forget you!
We had another stunning ride up and along the altiplano today. The road was at about 12,50 feet for 150 miles. The land was generally level but higher mountains were always off near the horizon. The land is mostly used as grazing land for sheep, goats, llamas, and cattle. All the way there were little wizened Peruvian women with their formal hats tending their flock.
The road was recently paved and superb for motorcycling. It was serpentine but not like a mountain pass. Rather than winding like a rattlesnake with many tight twists, it wasmore like a long, lazy Anaconda. Thus we were able to run at speed all day - it was a joy ride.
In the long altiplano there was a railroad line. I'm not sure if it is in use. I saw no trains all day. What I did see were the old telegraph poles still standing next to the track. The wires have been removed and there is a modern line of telephone poles adjacent to the road. What fascinated me about the telegraph poles is how long they've been standing there. We are very close to where the Federales shot down Butch and Sundance in neighboring Bolivia long ago. I can almost hear the Morse code tapping out the news that the 'Banditos Yankee' finally had been stopped. Rest in peace my friends, the telegraph poles and I will never forget you!
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