Callapata

On the road at about nine thirty. Still freezing cold. The sun only reached Poopó after eight o'clock this morning, the town being on the western side of a mountain.

The town name on the old police station is much photographed. Apparently it reflects the state of the town.

The first twenty five kilometers of the ride was characterized by heavy truck traffic, all heading northwards. But at the town of Pazña the traffic evaporated and we enjoyed lovely cycling conditions - ice cold but with bright sunshine and a light tailwind and almost no traffic with which to share the road. Much of the ride was spent cycling side by side pulling over to the hard shoulder only as needed.

To the east we had an attractive range of low mountains while the Altiplano stretched out as far as the eye could see to the west, interrupted occasionally by some hills.

Eight kilometers out of Challapata we noticed Leigh's front tyre deflating slowly, another tiny piece of wire being the culprit. Once the tube was replaced we hurried over the last kilometers only to be stopped at the town entrance by another protest blocking the road. A polite request was all that was needed to allow us through the blockade but doubts are starting to be sown in our minds as to how long we should remain in Bolivia given the rising unrest.

Today's ride: 67 km (42 miles)
Total: 1,073 km (666 miles)

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