Thursday 17th April 2025 Huarmey to Nuevo Chimbote
Sampled the culinary delights of Huarmey last night, sorry if any restaurant missed us, as we did not walk far, these legs are cycling legs not humping around every nook and cranny, my take on it, is the first place that serves food and beer is my favorite always been my motto, so once again we followed that. Good couple of beers and a nice belly full of food good times, living the dream.

Working day starts at 6, need to be ready with all your kit on, to rock and roll, young Carl Moses, the yard stick warrior from the sister Bowls Club, would love that, he struggles for an 08:00 start on tour, but congratulations and celebrations for you and Cleggy Plews, two great statemen from sunshine corner who just won the yardstick competition at the Bowls Club, not sure what that entails but two fine gentlemen won it fair play.

Hit the road dead on time, as we did noy have to wait for Moey!, gliding through the streets just us and the three wheeler taxis fight for the right of way, let Bingo go in front, he scares the living daylights out of the drivers, dogs and anyone else in the vicinity, soon hit the Pan Am highway to heaven, lets ride.

We both get into the rhythm, eating up the early morning miles, sun starting to break through, making a pleasant, morning, still a lack of animals and birds to report on, not much lives the wild, wild Pacific coast of Peru, it is a bit barren, the good thing not many wild dogs chasing us now, even too barren for them! Not many climbs today, just a 5 mile steady away little jump, we get to the top, have a look around sand dunes and sand dunes, so carry on with a little bit of info that a possible cafe about 4 miles away, lets see about that!

Well Oasis to exist not the band, they are busy writing stuff for their new tour! a little place “La Balsa” what a place, made us feel so welcome as soon as we arrived, guy was out inspecting the bikes, his lovely lady was asking if we wanted a coffee, never been to a place like it, we sat down with a soft drink and a coffee and relaxed after a nice mornings ride. Clementine (not the orange) the owner came over with all his scrap books, all the travellers had written lovely messages and safe travels for all travellers, some famous names had passed through Mark Beaumont, holds the record for cycling round the world, Stephen Fabes Doctor who cycled the world and wrote a great book and loads of other inspirational travellers respect to each and every one of them, makes us feel so good to put Aylesham Sunshine Corner on the map!, duly signed the visitors book. Mate what a good stop, Clementine would not even let us pay the bill, he was adamant just enjoy ride he said with a wave and a few pics, so glad we stopped there, memories forever, there are so many good people around.

As we left the “La Balsa” it will always be a memory for us both great times, I just had to rack my brains for the old Johnny Cash song:

She knew that Cody was the man she wanted
but she had waited nearly all her lif
Just one more trip to town to tell the boys goodbye
Then he’d be back to take her for his wife
(don’t you worry) Clementine

Love it, honest made the miles slip away sing all the old Johnny Cash songs, really don’t know where my mind goes some times , but it does help you spin the miles out.

My voices was cracking with singing out loud with the sand blasting us, from the right direction just pushing us forward, Bingo shouted do you want anything to eat, I just replied:

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire

Giggling to myself sure mate just got finish this song, he just looks at me with disbelief, not for the first time I might add.

We stop in a little cafe, have a tortilla and vegetables, good news Bingo says, only 10 miles to go, its only just after 12, so like true athletes we say maybe we can go further, every mile helps, I just say fine in a world of my own at the moment.

Good day on the bike, just carried on riding, went further than we thought we would, I blame Johnny Cash for that, so good to be able to daydream and cycle at the same time, multi-tasking at its finest, as we glided into Nuevo Chimbote, good day today stopped in a little bar, so helpful had a beer or two, then they directed us to a little hotel, all booked in easily.

Great days riding, shower then eat.