Death Road

The next morning (Tuesday) we got back to La Paz, it was Carl a guy I'd worked with in Cusco's birthday, so we went bowling, in two different games I got two strikes in a row but couldn't get the turkey.






 We organised death road for the Wednesday morning, which was incredible, the views on the way up were fantastic. We were given a small breakfast and got to cycle downhill on the new road for a bit, this gave us a chance to get some serious speed. After that the serious stuff started, a quick look off the edge and you knew why it was called death road.

 The whole way down there was crosses and flowers, we could also see old vehicles that were never rescued. Sensible Mark started of safe and cautious, but that wasn't much fun, flying it down was way cooler, a couple of near misses, not with the edge just the uneven surface, didn't slow me down. I was covered in pads had a jacket and pants on so would be grand.

 I take off the jacket as its getting roasting and off we are flying down again when a French guy decides he'd surprise me by being right behind me and cut me off on a corner, stuck in cabbage I hit a huge rock and crash the bike, small scrape on my back and a pretty sore left elbow, I solider on. We didn't leave La Paz till the Saturday as Mark didn't feel the best and you need to feel good for the salt flats as it's cold and dusty. 

Amazon Pampas Tour

 

We flew early Friday morning to Rurrenabaque, got in a jeep for 3 hours along a horribly bumpy dusty road. We got lunch in a small town and headed to the river where we met our guide Diego, a local guy who'd grown up in the jungle. Diego was crazy and great fun. We spent the first hour motoring up the river spotting wild life, we saw everything, Dolphins, alligators, monkeys, hundreds of herons, they were like crows, as well as other Amazon birds.

 

Diego teased the monkeys onto the boat with a banana and head them walk on our heads. One monkey decided to poop on Marks head. We stopped to swim in the river, not more than 10metres after seeing an alligator, Diego assured us we were fine. We made it to camp, had dinner and headed out back up the river to see the sunset. It was cloudy so we didn't see much but we had a beer and played some football. The heat made it impossible to play though as it was roasting. 



On our way back to camp we shined torches into the water to spot the alligators hunting at night. A roasting hot sleep and we were up for breakfast. It was time to go snake hunting. If swimming with alligators was scary this was terrifying, we were wearing wellies and we had to walk thru fields looking out for snakes, if we saw a snake we'd yell for Diego he'd come sprinting over catch it by its tail swing him around a bit then catch hold of there necks and we'd get to hold the snake. The Cobra I found had just eaten a baby Anaconda and ended up regurgitating him and we released him back into the field.






After lunch we got to go piranha fishing and swimming with dolphins, not at the same time though. The Dolphins would nibble at your feet, the water was very dirty so you couldn't see them coming. We didn't manage to catch a single piranha which was very disappointing. Another sunset and back for a roasting hot nights sleep. We had half a day left so Diego let us choose what we wanted to do. We chose piranha fishing in an attempt to make up for the day before. Luckily we did manage to catch a few, Meave caught 8, I managed to catch one myself after several near misses and fish missing the boat. It was basically just a hook on a piece of gut using raw meat as bait, once you felt a nibble you had to pull hard on your line, hoping to either hook the piranha or pull him in with force as he's biting. It was very difficult.


We had a final lunch before heading back down the river to the jeep to a hostel in rurrenbakie. We were meant to stay for one night and fly back to La Paz in time for the Irish match. But the plane was cancelled on the Saturday so we were pushed back by a day. We watched the game in a local pub and had everyone in there supporting Ireland. we headed back early Tuesday morning and after everything that had gone on I decided it was best if I flew the plane.





 

November bits

I made it to Mancora for 6am shared a tuck tuck with an irish couple I'd met on the bus to the Loki hostel. The Loki hostel was like a resort it went out onto the beach and had a pool. So I spent the morning by the pool and after finishing my pizza for lunch myself and Robin rented jet skis, which was unreal in the waves.

An amazing Mancora Sunset

A night out drinking on the beach and it was time to head to Lima to fly to Cusco. 19 hours on a bus, a taxi at 6am and I was in the airport waiting to get back to Wild Rover. Very excited walking back into the Wild Rover and seeing everyone again. I was back behind the bar working. We were up early on Saturday to watch the rugby and get ready for Halloween, I was fully dressed up as a cow by 12.


                                                        Wild Rover Staff

                                                                   Being Spider-Man

The Swinging Cow

 We had an unbelievable weekend and on the Tuesday I was ready to head to La Paz, but leaving the Wild Rover a second time proved too difficult for me, so I stayed till the following Monday. On the Sunday we had a BBQ up Sexymomma and the views of Cusco were beautiful.

James and I enjoying the views with a well deserved beer.

Connor the owner of Peru and Bolivia hop sorted me out with a bus to La Paz, via lake Titticaca where I got to go on two tours. One to the floating islands and the other to an Isla del sol. once again I was spoilt with incredible views, it's hard not to take the beautiful views for granted when every day you see something breath taking.







I arrived in Wild Rover La Paz around 11, and met up with the soon to be new Irish crew, Meave, Max, Mark and Barry. Of course we had to go for a night out so drank in Wild Rover till 1 and headed to a club. Wednesday we booked our jungle tour to Pampas for 2 nights 3 days, if we waited and left on Friday we could go see Bolivia play Venezuela. over 30 of us went from the Wild Rover to the game. the game was fantastic, Bolivia won 4-2 and we acted like we'd lived in Bolivia our whole lives. we even ended up in TV interviews but never came across the footage afterwards.

Baños

Three and a half hours on a bus and we made it to Baños, Ecuador is covered in mountains so there was some great views along the way. We'd been told about a micro brewery that made great pulled pork sandwiches. Dinner was decided and off we headed in search of the Stray Dog. It was closed, heartbroken we went and found a local restaurant and had meat rice and chips, a typical South American dish full of carbs. Played a few games of pool with Heinz and Simon, two guys I'd met in Cotapaxi. If you've only got one day in Baños then you need to do exactly as we did, it was epic. We rented bikes for 5$ for the day, the cycle was 80% downhill and had amazing views of the valley and different waterfalls. About an hour into the cycle we pass two guys shouting 'superman' 'superman jump' I jammed on the breaks to enquire. For 10$ I'd jump of a bridge like superman was about all I understood.

Flick and Nicky thought it was a terrible idea and it looked super dodgey but I hadn't done anything crazy in a couple of days so I went for it. Standing on the bridge, I realised there was no bungee chord instead it was just a rope, ah well too late now, I'm sure it'll be grand. Some more Spanish instructions that I didn't understand I stood up on the ledge posed for a few pictures and dived head first off the bridge. All of a sudden I was swinging around under the bridge just hanging there, the swing lasted a good 4 minutes and I was relieved the rope hadn't snapped. Another 15 minutes downhill and we find a swing out over the edge of the valley so we stop for a few pics and see a cart further down the road that goes across the valley. We rode the cart had a beer and swung on another swing. We then made it to Aqua Diablo an extremely powerful waterfall, togs on and we stood under it and got soaked just from the stray water flying about the place. A 2$ jeep back in time for lunch in the Stray Dog. Closed again, we headed to the market and I got a sausage two breadless burgers and chips for 3$. We jumped in a taxi to the famous swing, got some more pics and decided we'd go to the other swing about 10 mins away. The second swing was a lot more extreme and had a great view. Down from the swing and a quick check to see if the Stray Dog was open, it was! I had a great pint of stout 'Oero Negro' and shared a pulled pork sandwich with John as I was still full from lunch. Back to the hostel to book in for our free dinner and we headed to the thermal baths for a relaxing dip before our  9 o' clock dinner. After dinner more pool was played with Paddy and Andy two other lads from Cotapaxi. A few beers and half the hostel was off out to the Leprechaun bar. We got a free shot for coming, it was yellow red and blue and on fire so was drank thru a straw. As I was Irish and the barman had miscounted I got to do two shots at once. Struggled to get out of bed Tuesday but managed to get on a bus to Guayaqil at 1 o' clock. 6 hours on the bus and I'd made it to Guayaqil, I couldn't find anywhere online that said there was night buses to Mancora. So at the bus station I went on a quick hunt and found a night bus. I got McDonald's and a large Pizza Hut to keep me filled. Currently on the bus to Mancora should arrive about 4am I'll stay a night and then make my way back to Cuzco for Halloween. I now have 44 days to get to Rio, cutting it close!

Cotapaxi

The bus trip to Cotapaxi was probably one of the best ever, still under the influence from the night before we had a road beer and were spreading happiness to the other 6 passengers on our bus. I was riding shotgun and the driver borrowed my beer to show his friend before having a sip. About an hour and a half into the ride the girls began to crash, so I continued  a Spanglish conversation with the bus driver and John and Flick an Australian couple. The road to the secret garden hostel is about an hour long and extremely bumpy. About two miles from the hostel we pass four saddled horses, I decided I'd 'rescue them' and ride them back to the hostel. Up on the horse, but he's got better ideas and takes of sprinting the other direction, stopped the horse and ran back to the van. A few hundred metres up the road we see a man on a horse chasing after the runaway horses, pity I couldn't have been more helpful. We get to The hostel and are welcomed with a cup of mulled wine and soup for lunch. We decline a walk to the waterfall and instead relax in the hot tub for the afternoon. We had quiche for dinner and learnt a new game called Mafia, which was great fun and very entertaining. Up early Friday, a quick breakfast and Antoinne was leading us up a mountain. A tough four hour hike, a nude picture and a 4,000 metre poo we were back at secret garden for lunch.

 It was Rachel's birthday so the afternoon was spent in the hot tub with lots of red wine. Still can't believe I've started drinking red wine! We had vegetarian lasagne for dinner which was surprisingly good, the only thing that would have made it better was meat. The hostel gave us a huge cake for Rachel's birthday as well as desert. We had a great night and decided Saturday morning would be spent in bed. Saturday afternoon, we did a hike to the waterfall, it was only about 40 minutes and I jumped in for a quick dip but the water was freezing, still it was worth it for a free beer.

 Saturday night was burger night and they were massive, meat cravings vanished. We had a few more drinks Saturday and played Mafia again. Sunday morning was mountain biking, a 40 minute hike to attempt to see a completely cloud covered Cotapaxi. You could see the hostel the other side of the valley which was pretty cool so the walk wasn't entirely disastrous. Elbow and knee pads, we were ready to take on the mountain. You got some serious speed! I had some chain problems so it was important I didn't break to avoid me having to stop, this made my ride a lot more interesting and dangerous but was great fun. After lunch I said goodbye to the girls and headed to Baños with John and Flick.