A bumpy ride

Tuesday, June 22nd
We woke up early to do our ascend up the mountain. We decided to hike a quarter of the way up and then we'd take a local truck the rest of the way. The hike was beautiful. We walked alongside the river for the most part and weaved in and out through the local people's land. Once we finished our hike we boarded a pick-up truck bed with only locals. The locals had all brought various fruits and veggies that they had grown on their land to sell to the major town nearby. The truck was so packed that we were all sitting on top of beer crates or grain sacks. Everytime the truck stopped and picked someone else up, all the locals aboard would start yelling at the driver that we were full and no one else could fit. Did that stop them. Hells no!!! At one point my buddy, Michael was handed a giant bushel of grains (probably weighed 20 lbs) and held it in his lap for the remainder of the ride. He was a good sport and a trooper. At the end of the ride, he turned to the local peruvian woman and jokingly asking her for 5 soles for holding her stuff. The whole truck giggled. We were the only non-Peruvians aboard. It was quite an adventurous, squished, bumpy and dusty 3 hour ride...but well worth it! When we arrive back into cabanaconde we just relaxed and watched a world cup game. Tonight we had a fantastic meal at our favorite pizza place. I was sad knowing that I would have to part ways with my friends (we called each other "the family") tomorrow; who I have gotten to know so well and throughly enjoyed their company. But alas...I must keep a trekking on... Tomorrow I will head solo to lake titicaca.