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(Part two of two)…..
We have also discovered that as with petrol stations there are very few ATMs in the mountain towns. The nearest was around eight hours drive away and we were down to our very last soles. Quita drew the short straw and had to endure the eight hour bus ride south (I can guarantee there was no rigging!) Phil and Nick walked the horses out of town after their long earned rest in the direction of Pomabamba. Once again it looked like the riders were going to have to easier job as most of the roads to Pomabamba had been blocked by land slides. The team was re-united that evening and Nick and Quita were in the saddle the following day.
The truck set off (in what proved to be the wrong direction) after asking several locals which way would be the quickest route across. They eventually arrived back at their starting point and attempedt a different route five hours later… Luckily spirits were still high as we thought we would make it to Pomabamba that night. We picked up a couple of guys (one was going to Pomabamba as well) and carried on along the road knowing we were only a few hours away. However, the road started to get gradually worse and the deep mud is not ide1al for a heavy two wheel drive truck. After getting though the first few bogs Celeste finally grounded at around 9.30. Strenuous efforts were made to get her out of the mud. Large logs were used to try to lift her up and all jacking attempts were futile in the mud. Eventually we decided that we would have to spend the night in Celeste. We cleared out a space for Javier (who we had given a lift to) and settled down for a rather uncomfortable nights sleep (this was also the first time that Phil had been jealous of Ed´s gap year tragedy esq poncho!). Headlights were spotted at 5.15 in the morning and a large truck soon appeared. They towed Celeste out and led the way across the boggy ground. Celeste took a large run up and made it across…. they were on their way again. The road did not get much better and the only way to get across the muddy areas was with excessive speed. At 8.30 this proved too much for the front right tyre and Ed, Phil and Javier were back to work. After the truck fell onto the jack (and bent it) everyone just started to laugh as the run of bad luck was not ending! Eventually a minibus pulled up and the wheel was changed around. Ed took over the driving as Phil was sure that his run of bad luck had not yet ended. They did however reach Pomabamba and treated themselves and the truck to a well earned wash. The team was once again reunited as Nick and Quita had made it 10 kms past Pomabamba and were camped next to a school in Vilcabamba. Nick and Quita had a gentle ride the next day and the team is now camped close to Piscabamba; where the horses are having a rest day with a plentiful supply of grass and alfalfa.
Horse Update: They are all having another rest day as Noah is looking a little sore. The rest of the horses are very well and Pajarito even joined us for some porridge followed by bread and jam rolls for breakfast… he did, however, turn down his cup of tea.
The next stage of the journey will see the team travel down the eastern side of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range. The snow capped peaks have already been spotted by the riders and Ed has been having rather a lot of skiing dreams recently… The question as to which horse will be the best on skis may soon be answered!
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