Deane's Motorcycle Trip In SOUTH AMERICA
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Deane's Motorcycle Trip In SOUTH AMERICA |
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April 28 - Arica, Chile Arequipa, Peru to Arica, Chile - 290 miles |
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Today was a great ride; all on paved road, with perfect weather, and very different terrain. Of the 290 miles, almost 260 miles was absolutely barren desert. Sand of a light tan color was everywhere, and there was not a single blade of grass; not a single cactus; or a mesquite bush - nothing but sand for 260 miles or so. I haven't learned if this is part of the Atacama Desert or what, but I have to find out.
I was surprised that most of this was in Peru. We had seen so much green and tropical landscape in Peru that I assumed all of Peru was beautifully green. This desert was for the most part very flat, with hills that were total sand. There were just two breaks in the desert. One area was a dairy, which had cows and alpha growing very green, and that area had a small river for its water. Then the second area was the town called Motegue, which had a larger river. It was very green wherever fields were irrigated, with the brown sand mountains in the background.
When we got to the Peru / Chile border, I couldn't find the document showing that I had brought my motorcycle into Peru. That caused a big problem at the customs office, and it took about one and a half hours and several levels of border and customs people to generate one piece of paper to cover the problem. Then to get to have the paper in my hands, it took a bribe. It looks like one has to bribe their way into Peru, and to bribe their way out. All in all, it was a very good day. |
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