Two nights were spent in Alausi, the first day gave time to chill out, get the bike cleaned up and thoroughly check it over. However, the real purpose of going to Alausi was to take the Tren Ecuador ride on the Nariz del Diablo line; the Devil's Nose excursion. Scottish engineers planned and built the line that established a rail link across the Andes. Such is the topography that two switchbacks were needed to cope. Over 2,500 men died in the construction of the line and while it makes for a spectacular tourist attraction one has to doubt it was worth the human price. There was no information on whether the line was ever commercially successful; I have my doubts.
The turnaround point featured a museum depicting the way of life of the local peoples, some of whom put on traditional dancing; not my usual gig but quite well done.
The 8.00am excursion returned to Alausi at 10.30am, at which point I hopped on the bike and headed the 100 miles south to Cuenca. Cuenca proved to be an interesting and spotlessly clean town, or at least the old center was. The town hosts the usual collection of Spanish colonial buildings but is also modernizing with a new tram system planned to open next month. One of the trams moved through the center on a test run while I sat people watching.
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Today, Friday 15th, was a long day in the saddle with a 240 mile, 6+ hour ride through a partially sunny (and importantly for a change, dry) mountain-scape. The destination being Macara, a border town and the tee-up to cross into Peru tomorrow.
Passed a couple of milestones today; the wheels have rolled for over 3,000 miles since leaving home on Jan 5th and I was required to stop for the first time and show documentation at an Ecuadorian Army checkpoint about 25 miles north of the Peru border. Peru is a big producer of coca paste and it travels north to Colombia. Ecuador is not so keen on that. The stop was brief and very courteous and conducted entirely in Spanish. My linguistic skills must improving or they didn't understand a word I said and couldn't be bothered with a Gringo; I hope it was the former. The commander approved of the picture being taken.
Wifi internet connections from rural Peru can be fickle, so the frequency and content of posts may decline, which for some might be a blessing!
T2
Your travel adventures certainly give pause to thought. Wish your weather had been more accommodating at times but it is certainly better than the snow, ice, and -25 degrees that we have experienced. I have loved hearing about towns, etc. that I was totally unfamiliar with and look forward to experiencing the rest of your journey. Take care and stay safe!
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