After ten days or so of taking it easy in Huaraz, I hitched straight along the spine of the Andes to a lake called Conococha at a little over 4000m and then downhill towards the coast. I spent a night in the strange town of Chasquitambo where it was pretty clear no tourists ever go. But I did get a ride for the ages…
Along the spine of the Andes, with huge snowy mountains on the horizon.
Looking down on Laguna Conococha from a spot at 4200m, the highest place I’ve ever stood waiting for a ride.
One day I want to take that road off into the distance.
The little town by the lake, where I bought some incredibly stale bread to make my lunch.
Fixing up the church.
Then on the way down in a little truck with a very dirty windscreen.
Interesting and varied landscapes.
And striking rock formations.
Views.
A little roadside shrine.
And the little truck I was riding in.
With my backpack safely in the back.
Waiting for a ride much further down the mountainside.
And then I got a ride in the back of a police car! That’s one to tick off the life list. And yeah, that’s a baseball cap casually hanging from his gun.
Those cops were based in Chasquitambo, a little town where I decided to spend the night.
It was a funny little place.
With strangely ornate lampposts.
Barren hills.
And a mushroom.
And that’s all you’re getting.
Total distance hitchhiked: 64,704 km.
Total number of rides: 468.