We also had our FIRST tyre puncture! A stone put a 5inch gash on the inside of one of the new Dunlop tyres. We don't think it would have happened with the Goodrich!! Back in Cusco we took it to a tyre guy on the side of the road who stitched up the hole and put a whacking great patch inside the tyre. We then put one of the tubes James was carrying into the tyre. We now have serious wheel wobbles and have still to get these sorted out!

     Our route then headed south about 400km to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. As we had now camped every single night for over 2 months we were not keen on breaking the stretch by checking into a hostel. What to do huh? Well we found the nearest overnight lock up garage yard and asked if we could sleep in the car as well. A dubious yes was the answer. We also had our first brush with Peruvian police as we turned right at a no right turn road. After pleading tourist ignorance for 10 minutes the guy was really friendly and let us continue in ignorant bliss.

     The following morning we had booked a tour out onto Titicaca to the floating reed Islands of the ancient Uros tribe and also the nearby Island of Taquile with its strange local customs. A very touristy affair but enjoyed by the both of us and a welcome aquatic break from driving. That evening we had a meal in a local restaurant and were witness to some traditional music and dances. Very cool.

     The following day we left after breakfast and as we hit the town of Juliaca had our second brush with Peruvian road police. This time for what!!!! We had stared at the guy the whole time we had crossed a cross road and he had made NO signal to us. As it turned out, "they don't have to use hand signals!!" If he faces you with his chest, you need to stop and if he is side ways on you can go!!! The fine - about 60USD. Ridiculous, so we argued for 30 min solid and then asked to see the Captain of the local station. He changed is mind, said it was our lucky day and let us continue!

     Our destination was Colca canyon, arguably the deepest canyon in the world, at its deepest point over 3km straight down. There is also the famous "Cruce del Condor", a spot where the Andean condor literally flies at eye level to a viewing platform on the side of the cliff. An atrocious dirt road for the first 100km that got much better to the town of Chivay. We wild camped about 2 km away from the view point as camping there was strictly prohibited. A chilly night and we were up at 6am and down to the view point to wait for the Condors. A truly amazing sight, so huge and graceful - not in landing though I might add!

     Instead of the drive back to Arequipa we decided to continue all the way down the canyon and then out the Andes at a more Western point. I think at the point we were furthest away from any towns and villages it dawned on us we might not actually have enough fuel to get us to the main road, the Panamericana. Whoops!! Fortunately we had climbed so high we free wheeled all the way out the Andes, our longest free wheel was about 48km although the brake pads were not happy! We were now on the infamous Panamericana heading north again.

     Next stop, the Nasca lines where we located a pleasant hotel to camp in and Kerry did a light aeroplane flight over the lines. A little hard to photograph but still a few worth putting on the website. Although the famous designs are impressive in themselves, the geometric straight lines of 10's of km long with no aerial capability at the time are very impressive.