Day 6 Huancayo to Junin

Day 6 started slowly. as planned we used Huancayo (big town) as a place to restock on spares and sort out problems with the mototaxis. Jon and Meg had their buckled wheel replaced, and Chris and I used the opportunity to buy a new chain, spokes, oil and some decent goggles to make driving at night in the rain a bit less unpleasant.

I used the opportunity to update the website with some narrative and pictures; something that seems a real time-drain when on the trip itself, but is invaluable for the friends and family following proceedings back home.

Our group grew as Dougie and Dave (Aussie lads) and Nick (from the UK) had caught us up the previous evening and in the morning, and so we headed out of Huancayo on good roads. the dynamic of a 4 mototaxi convoy was a bit different with 4 in the group and took some time to get used to. Basically it results in far too many stops if everyone pulls over every time anyone needs a wee, pops a chain, wants to take a photo etc...so we took a few hours to reach the right understanding.

The afternoon saw us flying over yet more high passes, climbing and climbing before a painful crescendo at Junin.

By the evening I was sat typing web updates on a keyboard without lettered keys (a Peruvian favourite), in Junin, after a ridiculous drive through freezing torrential rain along a pass at over 3400 metres.

We made good progress again today, despite losing a lot of time with fuel problems; spluttering and generally being wildly underpowered.

We had our first run in with the police (all other encounters have been very jovial). Tonight we were told that mototaxis were banned from the road we were on, which may be a theme that continues to haunt us...