The Fight For 3N

The power went out across the entire town at 8.00am, Friday morning, though the violent storms that deluged the area overnight had abated. Rolling out of Huallanca at 9'ish a gang of men with shovels were clearing storm wash off route 3N, the main road to Huanuco. It set the tone for the day.

A salute to the Peruvian authorities and their crews for keeping the mountain roads open in the face of nature's onslaught.  3N follows a valley, home to a relatively modest river. It is the rainy season and this year has been very wet, the battle to keep 3N open has not been easily won. The first 10 miles of the road were a credit to the ingenuity and fortitude of the crews.

I left 3N at La Union, my GPS routing me across country on HU-109 and HU-110. Well maintained dirt roads through meadows with an Alpine feel.

That is with the exception of a spot just north of Caramarca, where the road had been washed out, no trace left. A local was on hand to 'repair' and make a usable track, the way forward being uphill and a 75 yard mess of soft storm wash, braided by a network of foot deep gullies lined with rocks at their base, topping out at a 10ft wide water crossing, not deep, but running fast.

With help at hand it was worth a shot rather than trekking 2 hours back to 3N to possibly face other obstacles. Well, half way up the rear wheel began to bog and dig a hole, regained traction and with my inclination to stay away from the drop at my left I ended up in a deep gully by a rock face to my right. Upright but clearly unable to pull forward under power, the local came along and we pushed El Burro out of the gully. Off the bike but using first gear and a little clutch and throttle we moved the moto up and across the water. Phew!

A few miles down the road I came across the group below and mused that one horsepower and four points of contact would best El Burro, at least with me at the controls.

The remainder of the ride to Huanuco was uneventful. I have since had 3 nights in Huanuco, part of the rehab to non-moto travel/normal life!

El Burro has been washed, all the vitals checked out (bearings, drive chain and sprockets, brake pads, and lights etc), the oil and filter changed. She has been placed in storage along with my riding and camping gear, all set for my return in late April.

Customs exit documentation in hand and a ticket for the overnight bus I will be deposited in Lima Tuesday morning. The flight back to the US is late on Wednesday, so I will have a few hours to wander around old town Lima.

A word about dogs to conclude this post. They are everywhere, roaming freely, many just lying in the road. Most just get up, scratch a bit, and wander off when passing by. Some don't bother getting up, they figure it is your job to skirt around them. However, a few take a different approach, you learn to recognize the signs.

If they appear at the sound of the moto it is not a good omen. They rarely work alone and some seem to have developed coordinated attack strategies. You think I am joking? Watch the video, first at full speed, then in slo-mo. Keep your eye to the left at the scout, nonchalantly appearing and coming towards me....then.....

Down here riding gear doesn't just offer protection in the event of a spill.

Cheers. T2