Today has consisted of 468kms. of mountain roads from Nasca to Abancay. First came a climb out of Nasca to a pass at 4,550 meters and then we dropped down to around 3,000 meters for the rest of the day. Finally Peru is looking like what I was expecting.

Yesterday was a rest day in Nasca and I flew over the Nasca Lines.

Yesterday we drove from Lima to Nasca. The last day of dessert in Peru. From Lima to Pisco was dull, but on realising that the first day of next year's Dakar runs through the dessert from Pisco to Nasca, Francis and I went off road and did our own mini Dakar. Great fun!!!

Apologies for not keeping up to date. The last two days have been hectic. On Sunday we drove from Trujillo to Lima. I never imagined there was so much dessert in Peru. This was the third day of driving through the dessert. On arrival in Lima the Asociación Cultural Peruano Britanica threw a party for us at the Orient Express Miraflores Park Hotel.

 

 

We thought today might be quite a boring drive with a couple of archqueological sites en route.

However as it turned out we had 14kms of stage rally type roads through the dessert and a visit to Chan Chan, the remains of a 30,000 inhabitant town and the best site so far. So we had quite a lot of fun. We are now in Trujillo, Peru.



Today consisted of a quick 200km drive through the dessert from Piura to Chiclaya in Peru and a visit to the  excellent Pre-Columbian Museum which houses the tomb of the Lord of Sipan, from the Moche culture, who was buried in 290AD.

Today we had a two and a half hour drive to the border between Ecuador and Peru. To get everyone cleared into Peru took six hours. The changes from country to country are amazing. If Ecuador is like Cantabria, Peru reminds me of Morocco. Driving in Peru is like what I remember of driving in Morocco in the 60's. Chaotic. Donkeys, goats, bicycles, tuc-tucs and people all over the road!!
We are now in Piura, down on the coast.

Today we spent the morning in Cuenca, which is famous for its Panama Hats. Then we had a fun drive to Loja on a good mountain road with very little traffic.

So far, yesterday was THE DAY!
We set off at 6am with a small splinter group to climb as far up Chimborazo, 6310 meters, as one can in a car, getting to 4850 meters. A Porsche on top of the world!! Then we came down to spectaculer scenery, identical to Cantabria, but with the base at 3,000 meters. In the afternoon we visited the Inca site at Ingapirca.

Todays drive from Quito to Riobamba, down Volcano Alley, was light both for the cars and the drivers

Today Sunday has been a day of rest in Quito.

Last night the party on one of these musical buses in Quito was great fun!

We have just reached Quito, capital of Ecuador and have a rest day there tomorrow. The frontier crossing was far quicker and easier than expected and the drive over the Ecuatorian 3000m. plateau with volcanoes in the distance was beautiful

Now we are really up in the Andes. Today we drove from Popayan to Pasto. Tomorrow we cross over into Ecuador and as of tomorrow we stay at 3,000m. plus for the next five days.

Yesterday was spent in a very pleasant monastery hotel in Popayan, resting and getting minor matters sorted. The weather was not great, as it spent most of the afternoon raining very hard.

Yesterday we were above the clouds at 3,500 m. between Ibague and Armenia. Had lunch in Cali and arrived in Popayan. Spectacular scenery and most enjoyable driving so far. We had a police escort for part of the way, who set a cracking pace.

Yesterday spent the morning with Francis's friend Camilo Steuer, who has a fantastic car collection, including here the Cadillac in which he won the Carrera Panamericana. Then after being escorted out of Bogota by his team through horrendous traffic, Francis drove to Ibague on the best road we have seen yet in Colombia. The hotel in Ibague was modern, practical and very comfortable. Had a good fun dinner in an Argentinian restaurant with members of the local car club, who were charming.

Yesterday was a long day. We left Barrichara to go to the Finca of a major Colombian car collector for lunch near Villa de Leyva. Spectacular country, some poor roads. After lunch a reception in the Plaza Mayor de Villa de Leyva. Another beautiful colonial town, with architecture that reminded one of Santander - Cantabria. Then we were guided into Bogota by members of the Colombian Classic car club. A nightmare trip in the rain at the end of a puente weekend. Hours of traffic jams. Arrived late to have to make a quick change to go to dinner with our car club hosts at And'Res DC above.
No time for blogging last night as crashed exhausted.

This is the blog I should have posted on Sunday, but the internet at the hotel did not work. Don´t worry if I miss the odd day or two, as this problem may be recurring.
The trip from Aguachica to Barrichara was more interesting than the day before as we started the climb. Barrichara is a beautiful small colonial town and the Hotel Mision Santa Barbara was just what I had been hoping for.

This morning we left Cartagena to come to Aguachica via Barranquilla. A long day on pretty good roads. The caotic traffic, motorbikes and pedestrians all over the place reminded me of driving in Morocco in the 60´s. You just have to look ahead and go for it.

Today was another long day in the port, and now I have my car, as does everyone else. It is packed and we are ready for the off tomorrow!!

Today has been a long day of waiting. Late this evening some cars were finally released. Ours not yet. So tomorrow hopefully we will get the rest.

A fantastic first day in Cartagena. A friend of Francis´s invited us out to Isla del Rosario and sent one of his boats over to pick us up. First rum and diving then lobster at his beach club "Punta Iguana".
Tonight dinner at La Vitrola.

We all arrived at the Hotel Santa Clara in Cartagena tonight. The flights were smooth and on time.
Hotel excellent. Humidity and heat something else.

8th October, Francis Tuthill (centre) arrived in Madrid. (Photo: Cena de despedida en La Castela).
Tomorrow Francis and I fly to Bogota and Cartagena de Indias with everyone else who is taking part in this adventure.