Piura, Peru

Dec 17, 2004

It took three hours to cross the border, mainly because of the idiots who work for the government of Ecuador. One of them even went across to the Peru side to make sure they received the motorcycles in their country. We leave Ecuador, the other side of the line is Peru, and they need confirmation that that's where the motorcycles went? The road from Ecuador to Piura was a dramatic change from the endless miles of tropical banana plantations that make up this part of Ecuador. On the Peru side it was all high desert, sort of like Taft, California if everyone made their own house out of whatever they dug out of the backyard, only not quite as well taken care of. Every piece of garbage that ever fell on that road, from the time it was a
mud donkey track travelled by missionaries, is still there, including some very vintage plastic. We hit some nice high desert switchbacks, after riding along the coast for several of their kilometers, which are like miles but not quite so far apart. In several places you can see where they have repaired the damage done when El Nino washed out the road.

Peruvians are a lot friendlier than their neighbors to the north, they smile, try to help, and in general don't seem as prone to thievery. Gas is about $4 a gallon and the roads are straight and
well paved, so it looks to be an expensive proposition crossing Peru.