Trans-Amazon Expedition

Lima, Peru @ Lima, Peru

2004-01-12T23:02:48.000Z

Western Springs @ Lima, Peru

2007-03-24T23:48:00.000Z

Eric and Patrick arrive in Lima! @ Lima, Peru

2007-03-29T15:55:00.000Z

We´ve arrived in Lima! It´s a hustling, bustling city with lots of traffic, new sights, and helpful people. The weather has been great: warm and sunny. We´ve seen green parakeets and beautiful bright red birds throughout the city. We are certainly in the tropics now.

Patrick and I have been shopping for bikes that will take us 500 miles over the Andes. After going to as many stores as we could find, we finally found 4 brand new bikes that look great. They´re being custom-made for our expedition and should be ready this afternoon.

Happy Trails,

Frosty

Lima, Peru @ Lima, Peru

2007-03-30T00:30:00.000Z

Lima, Peru @ Lima, Peru

2007-03-30T00:30:00.000Z

Lima, Peru @ Lima, Peru

2007-04-02T11:21:00.000Z

We're off! @ Lima, Peru

2007-04-02T11:24:00.000Z

After getting our canoes and bikes packaged up, we're getting on a bus tonight at 8:30 PM. The bus will take us 13 hours, and 400 miles up Peru's coastline to the city of Chiclayo. From there we'll begin our biking journey. We are so excited!

Daily Data

Location: Lima, Peru
Miles Traveled: 3
Method of Travel: Foot
Temperature: 77 F

Muelle Pimentel, Peru @ Muelle Pimentel, Peru

2007-04-02T16:23:00.000Z

A Dip in the Pacific @ Chiclayo, Peru

2007-04-03T00:22:00.000Z

With travel by motorized vehicles now behind us, we rode our new bikes for the first time today. We pedaled ten miles from Chiclayo to the Pacific Ocean so we could dip our tires in its water. At first the beach appeared empty, but we noticed a group of people standing down the shore. We found out that there was quite a lot of activity going on, as they provided supplies to a small motorboat by wading through waist-high surf with their arms full of supplies. After a few hours at the beach, we rode back to Chiclayo. Dave took time this afternoon to shave off his beard. Hundreds of students helped to make the decision whether or not he should shave it off before the journey—and the vast majority voted for him to shave. We are looking forward to heading toward the mountains tomorrow.

Daily Data

Miles pedaled: 20
Number of flat tires: 1
High Temperature: 85 F
Number of razors needed to shave Dave’s beard: 3

Smooth Sailing @ Jayanca, Peru

2007-04-04T02:29:00.000Z

We had a great day of biking! We began the day on the Pan-American Highway, which runs all the way through South America, from north to south. The road was flat and paved. There was also a wide shoulder that we could pedal on. We encountered many people walking and biking from town to town too. We spent several hours wandering around the ruins of pyramids built by the Lambayeque people 900 years ago, near the present-day town of Tucume. We ended our day in the town of Jayanca.

Daily Data

Distance pedaled: 33 miles, 53 kilometers
Number of flat tires: 0
High Temperature: 88F

Almost to Olmos @ Olmos, Peru

2007-04-04T14:31:00.000Z

We tried to leave Jayanca early. The desert has been extremely hot for the past few days. But before 11:00 AM, the heat has been tolerable.

We also began to start climbing the Andes. The previous two days' rides were fairly flat. We were able to average about 13 miles per hour. By 10:00 AM, we were completely surrounded by walls of mountains and our progress slowed. Climbing on a bike is slow and tiring work.

But what goes up, must come down. All of our climbing paid off in the form of a great downhill slope for the last 9 miles of today's ride. We hit a top speed of 28 miles per hour while flying into Olmos, a small sleepy town tucked in the foothills of the Andes. The wall of mountains has come into focus, and we can finally see what we're in for. Tomorrow we really begin climbing!

Daily Data

Distance pedaled: 36 miles, 60 kilometers
Number of flat tires: 2
High Temperature: 93F
Ecosystems Seen: High desert

Leticia, Peru @ Leticia, Peru

2007-04-04T14:33:00.000Z

A Day of Constant Climbing @ Limón, Peru

2007-04-06T00:18:00.000Z

We left early this morning because we knew that we had a very challenging climb ahead of us. We set a good pace in the beginning, but as the road grew steeper and the sun rose higher in the sky we were forced to seek shade, and rest for our tired muscles. Luckily the scenery was stunning and our view changed with each curve in the road. The weather changed too. Around 12:30 the sun disappeared behind a blanket of clouds and a light drizzle began. It was such a relief to have the rain cooling us off!

At the end of the day we stopped in a small town 8 kilometers and 1,400 vertical feet below the pass. The mayor in the town agreed to watch our bikes over night for us, and we caught a bus back to Olmos. After cold showers we are ready for a good night’s rest, but we are looking forward to reaching the pass and the long down hill run to Pucara!

Daily Data:

Distance peddled: 26 miles
Vertical feet gained: 4,600 feet
High Temperature: 86 F
Liters of water consumed: 3.5 per person

Riding Down @ Bagua Grande, Peru

2007-04-08T23:18:00.000Z

From the town of Limon de Pucaya, we climbed for 8 more kilometers. It was a struggle in strong winds, but the view from up there was worth it! As we began our descent, we found ourselves in a desert environment again. We were all very glad to have a nice, long downhill ride. Unfortunately, after about 15 minutes of riding downhill, the brakes on our bikes were all used up. All of us noticed this problem before the situation became dangerous and we pulled over to work on them. A family of four stopped to help us. They were nice enough to give us a ride all the way down to Pucara.In Pucara we found a small shop that sold brake pads, so we purchased several sets for each bike, and took off the next day. Saturday we peddled through rolling hills that lined a river valley filled with rice patties,and small villages.

Daily Data:

Miles peddled: 71 miles in three days
Flat tires: 2
Burned up break pads: 16
Ecosystems peddled through: deserts, dry forests, wet tropical forests.

Rolling into the Cloud Forest @ Pedro Ruiz, Peru

2007-04-09T22:20:00.000Z

A gentle mist this morning eventually became a downpour that lasted for the entire day. We all agree that today’s ride went through some of the most spectacular scenery any of us has ever seen. Steep, lush green mountains formed a tight valley, which the Utcubamba River raged through. We knew we were in the cloud forest, because of the bromeliads, ferns, and larger trees that covered the mountain slopes. A cloud forest is a tropical rainforest at high altitude in mountainous regions. The amount of life compared to the desert we passed through only yesterday is amazing.

Daily Data

Miles Pedaled: 40
High Temperature: 76 F
Flat Tires: 1
Ecosystems Seen: Cloud Forest
Elevation Gained: 2,400 feet

Climbing through the Cloud Forest @ Florida, Peru

2007-04-10T20:13:00.000Z

From talking with locals and consulting our topographic maps, we knew that today’s route went up some more steep mountains. In fact, there was only a little downhill at the very end of our day, as we descended into the town of Lago Pomocoche. The town is named after an ancient lake (lago is Spanish for lake) that sits in the middle of four mountaintops. We’ve been told it’s full of fish, and the idea of a fish dinner tonight has all of our mouths watering. It’s nice to be higher in the mountains, because it’s significantly cooler. We’ve actually been sleeping with blankets for the past two nights!

Daily Data

Miles Pedaled: 25 miles
High Temperature: 74 F
Gain in Elevation: 3,225 feet
Flat Tires: 0
Candy Bars Eaten: Amy: 2, Dave: 0, Patrick: 1, Eric: 2

The Great Descent @ Lago Pomacochas, Peru

2007-04-12T13:38:00.000Z

Lago Pomacochas was chilly this morning. We left under a blanket of clouds and a light
drizzle. The road took us on downhill for most of the day. This really put our brakes to
the test. They worked better than during our last descent, but we still needed to make a
few stops to make adjustments. Every bend in the road revealed a new aspect of the
Cloud Forest. We passed by cliffs, waterfalls, banana plants. We saw many different
kinds of birds and insects. It was a great day to be in Peru!

Daily Data

Miles pedaled: 49
High temperature: 70 F
Low temperature: 55 F
Flat tires: 1
Brake pads burned up: 3

Into the Amazon Basin @ Rioja, Peru

2007-04-12T23:27:00.000Z

After yesterday’s wild descent through the cloud forest, today seemed pretty relaxed. The road was pretty flat, with slow rolling hills that carried us into the rainforest. Throughout the day, heavily forested mountains could be seen in the distance. Some mountains were behind us where we came from, and some are still up ahead. Most of the landscape near the road was used one way or another by the local people. This region seems very productive for farming. From our bikes we dodged a typical assortment of cattle, chicken, turkey, pig and tarps full of drying beans and potatoes.

Daily Data

Miles pedaled: 48
High temperature: 92 F
Low temperature: 74 F
Flat tires: 1
Average Speed: 15MPH

Relaxing in Moyabamba @ Tarapoto, Peru

2007-04-16T11:00:00.000Z

We had a restful weekend in Moyabamba. On Friday evening we soaked our tired muscles in the hot springs. The water is heated deep within the earth’s core. Where the earth’s crust is especially thin, the hot water escapes through cracks. People have known about the relaxing qualities of hot springs for thousands of years. While we were there, I wondered about the people who spent time soaking before me.
Our ride to Tarapoto on Sunday was awesome. We spotted many species of tropical birds: magpie tanager, toucanet (small toucan), howatzin, yellow-rumped cacique, and many species of small parrots.

Daily Data

Miles Pedaled: Fri. 42, Sun. 46
High Temperature (F): Fri. 92, Sat. 89, Sun. 89
Low Temperature (F): Fri. 77, Sat. 72, Sun. 73
Bananas Consumed Sunday: 18
Hours spent at hot springs: 3.5

A Day in Tarapoto @ Tarapoto, Peru

2007-04-17T12:36:00.000Z

When we arrived in Tarapoto, we found out that we needed to change our plans for the next few days. Part of the road between Tarapoto and Yurimaguas is under major construction. 44 miles of the road is being built and is closed during the day, but open at night. The construction workers are using dynamite to make the road, so it is only open when they are not working. Obviously it’s not safe to bike at night or during the day, when the road it closed. We will take a taxi through the construction zone and then bike when it is safe.
Although we are disappointed, we are trying to take advantage of our extra time in Tarapoto. With a population of 102,000, Tarapoto is the largest city that we will be in for a while. We are able to buy food and supplies here that we will not be able to get once be begin canoeing. We spent the day shopping for things like tuna fish, macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, spices, powdered milk, tooth paste, toilet paper, and dishwashing soap.

Daily Data

Miles pedaled: 0
High temperature: 85 F
Low temperature: 72 F
Pieces of cake consumed: 9

Trading Bikes for Canoes @ Yurimaguas, Peru

2007-04-18T04:26:00.000Z

We’ve completed our bicycle journey! A little over 500 miles in 15 days over some of the world’s steepest mountains is a great way to get in shape. We feel physically and mentally prepared for our canoe expedition that lies ahead.

This morning we woke up at 3:30 AM. The road from Tarapoto to Yurimaguas is under some pretty serious construction, and we needed to be through it by 7:00 AM. The van ride was probably the bumpiest and wildest ride we’ve ever been on. We were tossed about like popcorn as the van wound its way up a steep mountainside.

On the other side of the mountain, the landscape flattened out, letting us know we have arrived in the lowland Amazon basin. We rode the last 47 miles into Yurimaguas today, picked up our canoes, assembled them, and promptly took a long nap. Tomorrow we’ll take the canoes out for a test ride to make sure they float!

Daily Data

Miles Pedaled: 47
High Temperature: 94
Low Temperature: 81
Flat Tires: 0
Canoes Assembled: 3

Preparing to canoe the Huallaga River @ Yurimaguas, Peru

2007-04-19T04:35:00.000Z

Bags, gear, food, computers, and other equipment have taken over our little hotel on the banks of the Huallaga River. Tomorrow we depart for our canoe trip to Iquitos. Watching the river roll by has gotten me so excited that I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep tonight.

When we leave Yurimaguas tomorrow morning, it will take us three days to get to the small town of Lagunas. Warren, the final member of our team, will meet us there. It’s going to be a challenge navigating the rivers, but we have been preparing for years.
Tomorrow we will load the canoes with all of our gear and food and paddle for about seven hours before finding a place to stay. We will rely on you and ourselves to help us stay on track and safe. We’re up for it. Are you?

Daily Data

Miles Traveled: 0
High Temp: 97 F
Low Temp: 83 F
Rubber Boots Bought: 8 (4 pair)
Pounds of Food Packed: 235

Our first day on the water @ Providencia, Peru

2007-04-20T05:31:00.000Z

We left Yurimaguas with cheers from the shore. “Buen viaje,” or “Have a great trip,” came from the mouths of our new friends, reporters for the local newspaper, and a small television crew.

Our first dips of the paddles were soft and a little hesitant. The swift current of the Huallaga River swept us up, and we drifted down river. We fell into a nice rhythm and were able to watch the shoreline. The number of bird species was astounding. We must have seen at least 35 different species, most of which I had never seen before. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Daily Data

Miles Paddled: 31
High Temp: 94
Low Temp: 81
Number of bikes we’re canoeing with: 1

The Long Push to Lagunas @ Lagunas, Peru

2007-04-23T11:00:00.000Z

We paddled for three long days from Yurimaguas to arrive in Lagunas. The massive Rio Huallaga is always shifting its position and water level, so our flooded route was not easy to plan ahead.

After a nice night in the small village of Providencia we paddled all day and saw very few people. When we stopped to ask directions, we were offered a place to stay with a local family. It was very interesting to see how the people live first hand. The paddle to Lagunas required several map checks and lots of sunblock. After a few dead-ends we found the correct water path and paddled directly to the hotel. Thank goodness we are now clean, dry and out of the hot sun. Our guide Warren was very happy to see us; the entire expedition team is now complete. We took a rest day in Lagunas to explore life along the edge of the Pacaya Samiria Reserve. Lagunas is very tranquil and rustic.

Daily Data

Miles Traveled: 60
High Temperature: 96 F
Low Temperature: 83 F
Motorboats seen: 6
Soccer games watched: 3

Flooded Rainforest @ Pacaya Samiria Reserve, Peru

2007-04-24T05:37:00.000Z

Our first day in the Pacaya Samiria Reserve started out unusually. Around 8:00 AM, Warren showed up with two horse carts. We loaded the canoes and all of our gear, and set out for the six-mile hike to the mouth of the Samiria River where we started canoeing.

At this time of year, the entire forest is flooded. The water levels are extremely high this year. High water levels mean that we can canoe straight through the forest. Warren led the way, clearing paths through the forest with a machete as the rain poured down.

Blue and gold macaws called loudly throughout the day. We spotted toucans, and turkey-like birds called chachalacas. Our first day in the flooded forest was awesome!

Daily Data

Miles Traveled: 6 on foot, 20 in canoe
High Temp: 87
Low Temp: 79
Fish Eaten: Gamitana

Pacaya Samiria @ Pacaya Samiria Reserve, Peru

2007-04-25T06:16:00.000Z