Peru (Part 2)

Day 40: Lost in translation...bleeding cash. Eddie let us crash at his house and let me park the truck at his church. This did work out better than expected, I just have to remind myself that I'm in Peru and not the US. Constantly. Hope to finish preparing the truck and get started towards Nasca tonight. So close to leaving today. Locked the keys in the truck and the notary didn't make a copy of my power of attorney. "Well the truck looks good, at least the pictures will be sick" Stumbled upon Lucho's pizzeria in Barranco and finally got information I can trust. I feel like we now know the best roads and where it's safe to camp. Now the border just has to let us across and all will be good.

Day 41: Spent almost three hours walking around with Kevin the Mechanic's father buying last minute supplies. Another person who seems genuinely excited for our "aventura". Met two missionaries while stopping in Miraflores for lunch who were looking for a ride to Arequipa. Should have looked up the bus fare to know what to charge but something is better than nothing. Made it to Nasca in six hours, two of which were less than ideal, but this should be the last stretch that isn't safe at night. New standard procedure when getting pulled over - when it's obviously the time to pay the cop a bribe, ask for the ticket. Laziness trumps greed, two for two.

Day 42: Driving the Panamericana south along the pacific coast of Peru. No big deal. To do this on a night bus would be criminal. Arequipa added two hours to the drive, and while it was great to help out fellow travelers, we need to start charging a premium until we reach subsidized fuel. Although we did find evidence of a night-time road block of ill intentions, and we were able to get around a bus protest that blocked other traffic and actually stopped multiple buses. So who knows how much money we have in our pocket that we wouldn't if we didn't buy this truck?! The unmistakeable air of traveling and progress has officially returned. To cross a border again will be a milestone almost unimaginable just four days ago. Temporary engine setback, successful diagnosis, appropriate remedy, successful delivery of the missionaries, navigation of a strange city in another language, followed by the departure through the Andes for a 2am arrival at yet another strange pueblo. Driving out of Arequipa realized the gravity and novelty of this undertaking, and the associated high.