The path to Tacna is blocked by a highly necessary obstruction. The Bondi Pisco factory hides just off the road and is guarded by some very confused dogs. Their barks are ferocious and yet their inquisitive nature makes them somewhat friendly and almost welcoming. The factory is clean and you are greeted at the door by a beautiful display cabinet of all the different products on offer. If you aren't familiar with Pisco...it's really good booze. After a few samples and transactions we were off again.
The valley’s green vegetation was soon replaced by rolling hills of red sand and rock. The landscape in places took on a feel of what I imagine Mars might be like without the face melting one hundred plus degree temperature. The wind has kicked up too. The twists and turns of the desert entry were soon replaced by straight line road as far as the eye could see. We once again found ourselves running low on daylight as we chase the horizon towards our next stop.
The day doesn’t take it easy on Larry. As dusk begins to give way to night he is once again at the side of the road with the red pickup and Carlo Miguel and Kiko. The old Honda has found another way to protest. This time it’s opted for electrical issues that seem to focus around all the lights on the bike. To be more specific Larry no longer has lights and a dark road lay ahead.
With Pier leading we work our way into the traffic of Tacna. Like every other town we’ve been in it’s like a blender of vehicles and people. A bus driver pushes us along and I finally give way. Pier has nowhere to go and the bus just keeps on coming. A thin gap opens and the impatient bastard forces his way through and no longer represents a threat to us. God help the rest of them.
Having finally arrived in the hotel compound Piero and I begin to unload the bikes. Suddenly the gate opens and the red truck is there with Larry right behind them. He’d followed the truck without any lights across the desert to our hotel. It looked like Larry was sitting on his bike on the trailer but no...he rode what was left of the bike. Once again, all though ill advised, Larry had not given up.
The team headed out to dinner in Tacna at a nice little Italian place. Good food, beer, wine and laughs. With Chile very close by I think we all were getting a sense of the finish line and the end of our great journey together.
(Photo courtesy of Piero Lombardi (aka Goofy)
No comments:
Post a Comment