Day 35 La Esmeralda Bushcamp to Mayocc Bushcamp

Another sunny day!  After breakfast we leave along the same un-paved road and continue to follow the river downstream.  The river looks calmer and the reason is soon clear, a dam exists to provide hydro power.  After the dam the road continues up and down alongside the now trickling river.  There are many twists, turns, climbs and drops along the road  today and my off-road skills are improving by the minute!  On some corners the gravel and dust give the pulse rate a quick jolt as the edge of the road seems to approach too quickly!!  Another feature along the way is the water-splash, as the road crosses a stream dropping down from the hills and usually flowing across the road at a hairpin.  These may be only inches deep, where you can see the bottom and pick your root through, or much deeper and wider where you hit the water and hope you come out the other side without falling off!!  They also provide you and your bike with a quick wash before even more dust clings on to your legs and bike.  Later in the day you also realise that the water and dust is clearing off any lubrication to your chain.
After about 50K we reach the village of La Esmeralda for lunch.  There is a festival going on as well and we get involved in the dancing.  As usual many kids and adults surround us and the lunch truck convinced that we have just beamed in from the planet Zob!!  They are fascinated by everything we do and are always curious as to why we are here, sometimes we wonder ourselves!
After lunch there are about 35K more to do before bushcamp.  The areas beside the road are becoming more and desert like with thousands of Aloe Vera plants, Prickly Pear Cacti and quite a varied selection of other Cacti too.  About 90K of un-paved road with almost 900 metres of climbing, stunning scenery and good weather have passed before we are arrive at the bushcamp beside the river which looks quite picturesque, but it harbours one unseen problem - we are entering into the private world of a zillion sandflies!!!  My legs have only just recovered from the last onslaught but are not prepared for what awaits in the next 12 hours!!

Another bend on a downhill stretch.

Bushcamp in Sandfly territory!