I guess after the Aguas Caliente night mission. I couldn't get enough of the train tracks. I do love trains and being around them reminds me of good ol´times ridin´em. So with no one around to tell me not to, I loosely followed these tracks for more than 100k. Jumping between paralleling dirt tracks, gravel roads and some good fun bushwhacking.
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| A path often lead me between little pueblos, tucked into the same broad valley as the tracks and the main highway |
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| drying out after a good nights down pour |
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| Sometimes ending up in train yards |
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| and old defunct stations |
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| friends on the same route |
One more time...
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| single |
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| double |
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Nada...
My personal favorite and easy going on a fatbike |
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| When the trains did pass. I always looked for Peruvian hobos to wave to. |
P.S. A.K.A. Coffee gulpers note: So I dropped off Ausengate down to the village of Checacupe. I'm now crusing down the broad flatish valley towards Puno. From where I'll get my Peru exit stamp and then head up around the north end of Lake Titicaca. Then down the east side to cross into Bolivia and head up into the Cordillera Real. If all goes well.
I love revisiting with you
ReplyDeletehey kurt, sounds like you're having a great time. when going to lake titicaca, try to spend a night or 2 isla del sol, beautiful place, laid back not too touristy. could ride the circuit around the island (provided they don't kick up a fuss like you encountered getting to mp)
ReplyDeleterobert (i bumped into you way back in durango)
Good to hear from you again Robert. I got a friend to meet in Lapaz and was planning on riding through the Cordillera Real to get there. That puts me missing islands, Thanx though.
DeleteHi Kurt.
ReplyDeleteThis is Sunset Park High School and Ms. Savoy's CGI class. We looked at you blog. We have many questions for you. What inspired you to take this trip? What do you eat? How do you get money? How long will you do this for? What countries will you visit in Africa? How long will you be in the Highlands? Have you eaten guinea pig? What is crossing borders like? What time do you start riding in the morning? What is most difficult? Will you do this your whole life?
You are very strong because you have done this trip. You are very inspiring because a lot of people would never do this.
We hope you will write back.
Stay strong. Never give up.
Ms. Savoy's CGI class
Hello Sunset Park High School and Ms.Savoys´s CGI class, I'm glad you like my blog.
DeleteI'll do the best I can to answer your questions:
1) I've wanted to travel the world since I was a little kid. What I am doing now is sort of like my life dream. Its taken me 20 years of traveling to get to this point. I did a lot of smaller trips untill I was certain that I was ready for a multi year world tour. The inspiration was always there, it just took a lot of learning and practice.
2) I eat a lot of everything. Riding a bicycle all day every day burns alot of calories. In the morning I usually have oats and coffee. During the day I eat sandwiches or at a cheap comedor. I eat bakery goods whenever I can and make sure I get some fruit in there too. Sugar and carbs keep me going. At night, most the time I have pasta or rice with tuna or lentils and veggies (when I can find them). I try to mix it up but really I eat pretty simple.
3) I work as a bike mechanic. I'll have to stop and work several times through out this trip. In times past I've always been able to find a bike shop job along the way, work as much as I can for a few months, put the money in the bank and hit the road. I try not to spend to much money. Camping most the time and cooking my own food or eating only in cheap cafes means my savings goes further (and so can I). Ok, bakerys are an exception to the budget.
4) I'm thinking another 5 or so years, we'll see.
5) I'm not completly sure yet, Alot can change by the time I get there. I don't like to plan things way ahead. Though I an probably going to stay on the east side of Africa.
6) If by the ¨highlands¨you mean: The Mountains? As long as I can. Thats where I love it the most. I really like riding over high mountain passes. I'll be trying to ride the length of (or at least back and forth across) the worlds largest ranges.
7) No. I haven't tried the Cuy (guinea pig) yet. Not 100% sure I will.
8) The border crossings in Central and South America are all real easy. Just show up at the border and hand them your passport. Africa and Asia will be a whole different story. My biggest concerns when crossing borders is changing money and discovering all the new food items.
9) The time I start riding changes alot. Depending on if its raining or has rained in the night, or If I`m camping or staying at a cheap hostal. Usually I`m camping. When Im camping and by myself I`ll get on the road about 7ish. Though if its raining, I'll sit back and drink coffee and wait for it to stop. If it rained in the night, it takes a bit longer cuz I like to dry things out. If I stay in a hostal, I sleep a bit later and have longer coffee time. Sometimes not getting going till after noon. My friend Cass and I were just riding in the high Andes. Most the time it would rain later in the day, so we were getting up at 5am to get more riding time in. Its not much fun to ride off road in the rain. Some people have strict schedules they like to keep... Not me.
10) Being away from the people I love
11) Off and on. Yes. I see my life as just one big adventure. I'm usually planning a trip while on a trip. I think of all sorts of fun things I want to do. They are mostly all epic gallivanting of some sort.I have no plan to ever truly "settle down". One day at a time...
I hope that answers a few of them?
I will and I won't! Thanx, Kurt
Great photos, and lovin' the single track, double track theme!
ReplyDeleteDummyDiva
Thanx and me too! Looks like some good times over there on the DD page as well.
ReplyDeleteThere I was thinking that you would relish multi-track because it would take you to cafes, pastries and coffee. But that is the dilemma for outdoor types - remote summits or food! Interesting biog for the High School - you seem pretty well self sufficient but I'm guessing a cafe does come in handy sometime. Like the pics and words, keep them coming please. Do you use paper maps or GPS? Keep warm & dry!
ReplyDeleteYea, I guess all my talking and jesting about coffee and pastrys can make it seem that way. Certainly the delemma. Though my love Mountain biking in remote places and the out of doors in general wins out everytime. I mainly use paper maps and notes scribbled on scraps of paper for directions. The GPS is mostly just there for back up. I use it so rarely that I'm still running on the same batteries since the states. Thanx mike, I'll try.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! Every time I see the places you can go with a Fat Bike, I go crazy and start shopping for one again. These things are incredible. I'm torn between a Mukluk, Pugsley or something more "mild" like a Krampus or ECR.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pics and write up.
Yes tracks! Loving it, Kurt.
ReplyDeleteThanx Joe!
DeleteOh, and for crying out loud, eat the cuy!
ReplyDeleteHey Joe, eat yer own pets...mmm
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