|
As we headed up into
Putre we got our first indication of how the bikes would behave in the
high altitudes. We found that if we downshifted enough to keep the RPMs
around 5000 we were all right, but every time we stopped the motors would
kill. As we rode through the tiny town checking out the options for lodging,
we heard someone calling to us. It was Marcos and Esther, our friends from
Switzerland. We had planned to stay just one night, but the 11,500 foot
altitude effected us a lot more than we had expected. I especially suffered
some severe headaches and the locals told us to drink some matecoca, a
tea made from coca leaves, and to go directly to bed with the pillows under
our feet. When we did try to walk around, I would get tired after a few
yards. That night nobody slept well, and we all decided to spend another
day before moving on.
|
