Day 18 Pacasmayo to Huanchaco

This was another day of barren landscape with the wind gaining strength as the day went on.  We left the coast to go back inland onto the Pan American Highway again and continue south to our rest day stop of Huanchaco.  The wind from the Pacific just grew in strength and continued to batter our tired bodies until the end of the day.  The police were still checking our progress and paid a bit more attention as we went through a place called Paijan which is a bit of a dodgy area for travellers, especially cyclists.  There were a few shady looking characters with masks on who looked a bit menacing, but we went through in a group and came out the other side intact!
The landscape for the day, as well as the last couple of days, was of desert and rubble.  It was not even nice clean yellow sand, but dusty gritty stuff and loads of dumped rubbish from plastic bottles to old building materials.  It looked a bit like some of the desert war places around the globe!  We all realise how lucky we are that we have lives that are so privileged compared to so many of the friendly people we pass by each day.  The kids come rushing to the roadside and wave and cheer at us as do a lot of the grown ups, it is really great  and so humbling as we go past on our very expensive bikes!
The day was 111K long with 410 metres of climbing and at the end we were all pleased to have a rest day in front of us, minds, legs and rear ends that needed a day off!

This was as good stretch!

How better to relax at the end of 7 hard days!!