Sunday 16th March 2025 La Marmora to Tarija
Got sorted into the home stay place finally was a bit strange bit like it was their parents place and they had died ! Not nice but better than sleeping in a field. Nice cold shower to boot, just what we needed.

The bar was a bit manic in the afternoon, but quietened down later, we was the only ones in there, good spread of food and a few beers brilliant.

Bingo had prepared the gourmet breakfast, with the yoghurt we finally was able to be purchase yesterday, from the translator lady. Tried to stealthily leave the home stay just after 6 in the morning, as we said all the goodbyes last night, unfortunately they still had Bingo’s passport so we had to, wait a bit, after he had finally managed to retrieve his passport, we then had a few pics like you do.

Massive day of climbing ahead heading towards Tarija, quite a big city, actually booked a place to stay, getting a bit to organised, don’t worry it will not last! Big climb straight away just taking it easy, nothing rushed, still in the tree line in the morning, eerily pretty as we wander up the mountains. Little waterfalls cascading down, lovely, only trouble was we was trying to pump these bikes up stupidly steep gradients. Every now and again you get a little respite only to think all the time we are going down, we will have to go back up. Nice Stopping every once in a while, usually overlooking a river or a nice view, wave to the drivers they give us a friendly toot, luckily the road is very quiet and the drivers surprisingly courteous. The dogs are worse, barking and chasing you up the road, it’s difficult trying to go a bit faster up a mountain, Bingo shouts at them “get out of it” scares be it’s that loud, one even took a bite out of his back pannier, will need mend it tonight.

Stopped for a cold drink and a packet of biscuits each, need to fuel the engines, in a dusty little town Padacya, very helpful. Then just rode and climbed all day long, few little stops one particular nice place overlooking a gorge, think it was around La Ventrolla ( once again my every diligent ed will sort that) I am laying in tent writing this, with no beer I might add) Anyway back to the saga.

Tarija is that big kept seeing signs saying only 10k to go, not according to the Garmins more like 10 miles, it’s pretty off putting at the end of a very tough day .

Finally made it to the luxurious Hotel Cava 95, lovely hot powerful shower done all the washing few beers bight to eat and bed, even more climbing tomorrow, but that’s another day, like to see James Bond cycle up here, on that note good night.