After the marathon 14-hour ride the day before I had a leisurely breakfast in Huanchaco (a rich Trujillo beach house suburb with a not so spectacular beachfront) and set off once again along the barren PanAmericana south towards Lima.  Not really sure how far I would make it I drove an unpleasant 6 hours or so alone until I arrived in the decidedly un-touristy town of Barranco at dusk.  After checking out one smelly hotel recommended by the Lonely Planet I opted for another one just up from the bus station (Hospedaje Leoncio Prado – $7) and went to a bar around the corner for a beer.  Accosted by two desperate locals who drank my beer, begged money from me, and wanted to know why I wouldn’t take them to Canada – the notion of immigration and documents didn’t seem to resonate strongly with them.

Woven Reed Boats, Huanchaco, Peru

I woke up at 6am determined to make it to Lima early and drove down the sometimes four lane and restricted access portion of the PanAmericana – alternatively sweating (when it wound far from the Pacific) and comfortable.

On The PanAmericana Huanchaco to Barranco, Peru

As I approached a roundabout noting the two police 4×4′s stationed on either side I slowed to about 85 km/hour as I passed the 45 km/hour limit sign.   I was then waved down by the policeman whereupon we had the following conversation:

Are you Peruvian?

No. I’m from Canada.

You were registered going at 70km/hour (motioning towards the 4×4 presumably containing a radar speed gun) and it’s a 30 km/hour zone.

Nope!

Yes, you were!

No, I was going at 50 km/hour and anyway the sign says 45km/hour, not 30 km/h.

Do you have any money from Canada (is it the USD)?  Would you give us a voluntary fee of $20 USD for gasoline for the police truck?

No the money is not the same. I don’t have any with me as I’m driving all the way south, I hope to get to Argentina.

No chance then? Ok. Shakes my hand and says Good Luck.

On The PanAmericana Huanchaco to Barranco, Peru

I stopped at the Reserva Nacional Lomas de Lachay park and since no one was at the gate, drove into the park -it was supposed to be a miniature cloud forest in the local foggy micro-climate. I wasn’t much to look at…

North of Lima Sand Cliffs, Peru

Approaching Lima I was pulled over by one of the 30 or so policemen waving down as many cars as they could.  He wanted to see my documents (insurance wasn’t produced or requested) and was happy with my passport, migracion card, and motorcycle import permit.  So I drove through the thick and dirty Lima traffic to arrive at about 11:30 at the Kokopelli Hostal on Calle Berlin in the trendy/yuppie neighbourhood of Miraflores, near the sea.

North of Lima Sand Cliffs, Peru

Reserva Nacional Lomas de Lachay, Peru	North of Lima Sand Cliffs, Peru	North of Lima Sand Cliffs, Peru	Miraflores, Lima
Kokopelli Hostal Late Afternoon, Miraflores, Lima	Miraflores, Lima	Miraflores, Lima	Woven Reed Boats, Huanchaco, Peru
Woven Reed Boats, Huanchaco, Peru	Woven Reed Boats, Huanchaco, Peru	Woven Reed Boats, Huanchaco, Peru	Huanchaco, Peru
Huanchaco, Peru	Huanchaco, Peru	On The PanAmericana Huanchaco to Barranco, Peru	On The PanAmericana Huanchaco to Barranco, Peru
On The PanAmericana Huanchaco to Barranco, Peru	On The PanAmericana Huanchaco to Barranco, Peru

Huanchaco, Barranco, To Lima, Peru