¡Hola Gringos!

Today we arrived in Abancay, pretty easy day with 40 kilometers unpaved downhill, and about 15 kilometers climb to reach Abancay. So pretty easy, but to get here we had to climb yesterday about 40 kilometers to reach bushcamp at an altitude of 3600 meters in an eucalyptus forest. Yesterday morning started good, we had a nice breakfast, some eggs, nice bread and tea. The beds were good and I had a good night. Woke up early, so I left the room so that Martin and Ruud could sleep a bit more, and I checked my e-mails and read the Dutch newspaper, to see what is happening in Holland while I am not there. Around half past 6 I went back to the room to see if Martin and Ruud already woke up, so I could start packing my bags, and go for breakfast. Here we got the new map for the day from Wilbert, and we were starting with a long climb up to the pass at 4100 meters. The road was unpaved, some parts were like a washboard, some parts was ok, and good for cycling. after a couple of hours we reached the top, together with Gerard, he escaped the last kilometers, so the chalange for me to catch up with him. Unfortunately he had to stop for road work, so I was able to catch up with him, otherwise he reached lunch first, which is not strange, beacause he is much faster then me anyway ...

after lunch we I continued to goto the eucalyptus forrest bushcamp, the road was great, the scenery really amazing, and the weather perfect for cycling, so I took a lot of time to stop along the road and sat down to enjoy the scenery. In a couple of days we will goto the Alto Plano, so then the climbing and mounains will be more or less done, so better to enjoy the moment while it is still possible. After reaching bushcamp I put up my tent, and helped Francine and Edson with some cooking. Dinner was pasta with advocado and tuna, after dinner some pancakes with sugar, so with a full stomach to bed. After a few hours I realized that my matrass was probably leak, so I have to check that tonight.

Next morning I woke up, after a preyy good sleep. It was warm at night, but the tent was still wet, so first breakfast. The sun was shinning, so hopefully it was dry before I had to pack my tent. After lunch, it was still wet, so I had to put in the tent wet in the bag. Tonight I will get it out again, and let it dry in the hotel. Together with Gerard we start the decent, and all went fine, till Gerard decided to taste the local sand in this downhill. In a hairpin there was a lot of sand, and he took a dive into the sand. Luckily he was ok, except from send all over his face and body, but that is no problem. Almost at the bottom Rob van der G passed us, but we saw him again after 15 minutes, because he had a flat tire. All that was left was a climb of 15 kilometers to Abancay. We arrived here before 12 hour, together with Rob, Wilbert, Gerard, Erik and Filip. Rest of the day was relaxing and enjoying the sunshine ... later more !!

Adios !!