Junin to Tarma. Paved 65 kms or unpaved 102 kms.

Sleeping at 4200 metres is tough stuff. After being awoken by the 3 am train I couldn't get back to sleep. Although I was warm, I would have liked to have had more sleep. My wake up call (via Barry) came at 6.15 am and I didn't want to get out of bed. It was freezing cold and I was not in the mood to go out in this weather and go back up to the other hotel for breakfast. Breakfast was at 7am today and we were leaving at 8am.

The big decision that had to be made today was whether I wanted to ride 102 on the dirt or 65 kms on the nice paved road with one big climb followed by a 25 km decent into Tarma. Man I've made some big decisions in life but this was one of the easiest, paved it was for me. I took the soft option so I was told, but I rode with 12 other terrific people I don't usually ride with on the tour.

We left Junin at close to zero temperature and onto the paved road, some headed onto the dirt but I was glad knowing I was going to be in Tarma nice and early and I achieved what I had set out to do 3 days ago, ride 3 days and see how well my body was holding up consider I had been sick for so long.

The first part of the ride was gentle downhill with a landscape of very little grass or any sign of agriculture. Got to see plenty of llamas or Alpacas, can't tell the difference yet, I'll have to get closer.

Like usual we had our police escort on the main road and that was very reassuring considering the large number of trucks and buses that passed us by. We stopped at the 30 km mark for coffee and invited the officers to join us, they decided to go in the back section of the shop and have a coffee with the owners. It was so nice that all of us took time out of the ride to have a chat, have a coffee and not worry about what time we get into town. After coffee we were ready to hit the road for the final 30 km push to Tarma. Before we could leave we had to get a photo with our escorts. You would not get this treatment from Police back home, unless you paid a hefty price.

My cycling friends and police escort for the day.

Time to push the pedals again and start the 5 km climb to the summit of 4200 metres. It's surprising that this climb was rather easy when on other days I would have died riding up mountains at this altitude. We regrouped at the top of the summit and started a 25 km mad dash into the town of Tarma below. It was a fantastic ride with sweeping bends, long straights, and the whole road to ourselves. Some of the riders like Knut, Arty, Diederick and Hilda certainly know how to descend on the bikes and made the trip down the mountain in quick time.

Once again we regrouped on the outskirts of town and rode into together the way we started the day. It was a fantastic ride today and perhaps the easiest ride on tour thus far. With a nice hot shower and shave it was time to walk the streets of Tarma. Myself, Max and Kristin headed off to the markets, and eventually found a place for coffee and a bite to eat. We arrived at 12 noon into the Hotel El Dorado and I was not going to spend a minute too long hanging in the place, I wanted to see the town and hopefully do some shopping tomorrow. I did manage to find one beautiful face to photograph today. The little girl below was not sure of what the 'gringo' was all about but her mother came out and all was fine with the photograph.

So the afternoon leading into the rest day tomorrow was spent 'not tired', which is a first for the tour. Tomorrow I might sleep in, do some more walking and enjoy the freedom a rest day brings. To end today's story, a little bit of history of the town of Tarma.

The city of Tarma is located in the centre of the Province of Tarma, 232 kms east of the city of Lima, in the mountain ranges of the Andes. Its location consolidates as the point of nexus between the central coast, the Andean provinces of the department of Junin and the Central Forest. The city is situated within a fertile valley where many important civilizations lived in the past, from pre-Inca cultures to the Inca Culture. Evidence can be found through archaeological remains.

Now it's time to eat and watch the rest of the riders come in. They're the ones who rode the dirt section.

Until tomorrow, safe riding.