idiosyncrasies unique to each of them . Stiggy , of course , was the lead rider , Paddles , Bubbles , Farmer , Blondie and Cpt Grumpy made quite a sight as they rode out ahead of us for each day ’ s adventure .
ADVENTURES ON THE BACKROADS Bolivia , it turns out , has been given more geography than it knows what to do with . The Andes tower in the distance and the land is rugged and wild . The colours and contours of the landscape provide endless interest . In 14 days I was never bored . Our journey went from close to the jungle ( warmer , wet and muggy ), to the highest of mountain passes – higher than Aoraki ( Mt Cook ). Around every turn of the road there were new colours , people and vistas to marvel at .
The goal was to travel through the back roads , have adventures , be immersed in a totally different culture and do things , which I , at least , had never done . All those goals were met and more . A glance at our route map showed a path that takes in a good chunk of Bolivia , a meandering wander through the different regions of the country . Cochabamba , La Paz , Sucre , Potosi , Oruro , and more , all places visited , and marvelled at . But what no map can prepare you for is the fact that much of the country is vertical . You can be high enough that simple tasks remind you of the need to breathe . It is a shock when you realise that the vertical mountainside opposite is being farmed and the colourful dot is actually a woman walking off to sort her crops or check the llamas .
KIWI RIDER 29