July 10 - Puquio to Lima, Peru

The truck developed a squeak from the rear right wheel which I suspect is a bearing.  Thank's to all the pot holes in Brazil we now have a bad shake at about 100 km/h, which is more than likely a wheel out of balance.  Overall, not bad for a 15 year old truck but since we are only a third of the way home I decided to play it safe and have the trucked checked in Lima.  I will also have the oil/ filter changed and make sure everything else is ok.

We actually departed Puquio early, climbed out of the city and crossed the last mountain range (12,400 feet) before descending into Nasca. Needless to say we are relieved to be out of the mountains for a while.

We stopped at the lookout to see the some of the Nasca lines...interesting, took some pictures and motored on up the road to Huacachina (just outside of Ica, Peru) for some major sand dune fun!
We had a great lunch overlooking a lagoon and then took to the giant sand dunes.  These sand dunes make Natal, Brazil dunes look small albeit our Brazilian buggy driver was way crazier.  We also tried some sand dune surfing but due to the fact the dunes were so high, we had to lay flat on our belly's. The kids loved it! Thanks Taylor for the great suggestion.

With some R&R and time away from the inside of the truck, we continued north on the Pan American Highway into Miraflores, Lima.  Pisco sours and Ceviche here we come!!

Although we have "only" covered 5300 km of the estimated 17,000 km to Vancouver, reaching the Pacific coast and seeing/ smelling the ocean feels like a major feat. We crossed the Brazilian Serrado,  ventured into Amazon/Jungle territory and climbed/ crossed the Andes.  Actually, it feels we have gone up and down the Andes a few times but that's just details.

We have come across llamas, cows, pigs, chickens, horses, cats, dogs, donkeys and sheep....all of which have crossed the road in front of us.  We've seen Indigenous people harvesting corn at mind numbing altitudes carrying large loads on their backs and kids playing with simple toys (ie: rocks and sticks).  Funny the kids we laughing and not complaining about the cold, no internet, the smells or when was lunch....

Regardless of the local conditions and people's means, we were always warmly received and treated respectfully regardless of where we decided to sleep or eat.  We only hope our kids can one day reciprocate the same kindness and humbleness to others...and not care that the bathroom consists of a hole in the ground or that  the chicken is being plucked in the kitchen...or that the "hotel" does not have heat....that is life.

"ahhhhh what's that smell?!" has been a common question posed in the truck...most of the time the smell is from the outside... some times it's not.