Breakdowns and breakthroughs: from La Paz, Bolivia to the Altiplano

About my breakdowns.    Bike breakdowns, not Beadle breakdowns, separate category.  Almost.

From an email to a sport biker pal I used to ride with from Santa Barbara up 

Hwy 1

 to Laguna Seca occasionally (with James, RIP). Married to a Peruvian from Huari (not far from Huanaco, except 

the

 tortuous "roads").   Copied to Drew's brother, who rode SFO/AK/TIERRA DEL FUEGO/BA/SANTIAGO -- 9 years ago on a GS 1200.   

I'm so lucky, it's not fair.

Funny thing about GOOD luck.  Can't APPRECIATE it until it gets you out of BAD luck.

--------

On Dec 10, Michael wrote:

Is that your make-up kit on the back?  Where might this be? La paz.

On Dec 11, Bob wrote:

Your nonchalance matches that of the pizza delivery boy's askew tie down system.
In, yes, La Paz.   Most chaotic city I've seen- outside of India.
Left after two nights, half way down to Uyuni and the Salt Flats.   Almost didn't make it this far, fill you in soon... 

On Dec 11, Michael wrote: 

It was the first thing that came to mind.
That's a lot of salt on the satellite  shot.  Any resemblance to Bonneville salt flats?  The fastest land speed record set by a beadle.
Are you going south via Tupiza, Vialzon or Tarija or west to the Reserva National Alta Koa, Calama,  Chile or Argentina?
"Almost didn't make it"?  After all this time and miles?  Come on cowboy, don't drop it now!

On Dec 12, Bob wrote

 

I think so.  But much bigger than Bonneville.  "The biggest".   Punctuated by technicolor lakes in prmary tones.  And much else.
Tupiza, etc to the west are probably worth it, especially if you want to see  Butch Cassidy & (etc)'s last stand (I'll pass), and like cowboy country.  And are going to Argentina.  (I'm not, not yet...)    You have to choose.   I choose Uyuni, and the Salar de Uyuni.  A good alternative, best I can think of to doing Tacna/Peru and most of the Atacama Desert.  Unless it has recently rained much in which case too much may be under water, obliterating the tracks, the only guide in most places across.  Three main wains across, A few bike problems, I may hook up to a tour the Colombian "angels" (see last mail) plan on taking, leaving their bikes here in Potosí.  (Because they're going to Argentina, specifically BA and will have to return here anyway.)   

Eventual destination:   San Pedro de Atacama and Chile.

Huanaco to Huaraz:   Clutch cable parted.   Rode without until I spotted an old mechanic working on a bike in front of his shop.

Cerra de Pasco (around 5000 m.):   Rear brake out.   Fixed by adding brake fluid at the next MC shop.

Cañon del Colca:   Carb diaphragm came loose, sucking air.   

Altiplano south of La Paz

 (middle of nowhere, specifically):

  

E

lectrical short, middle of nowhere fixed by Colombian

 Cavalry, two up two bikes out

 of nowhere.   With whom I'm here in Potosi now.  

Potosi:   New Carb problems???   Barely running entering the steep, traffic laden streets of Potasi well after dark, looking for a hostel, hotel that didn't seem to exist.  Until the Mechanic's wife rounded a place up, where i am now.

On Dec 12, Bob wrote:

Another thing I've learned alone out on the Altiplano   "Middle of nowhere" is somewhere.