Lima, Peru

Lima, Peru (Roger speaking)
We arrived in Lima late Sunday (14 Nov) after dark. Driving in a city of 10 million people on a motorcycle after dark is challenging – following the leader (Gary was following) is even more challenging. We found a hotel after some thrashing about and contacted my brother-in-law’s (Jim) cousin, Tency. We made arrangements for her to stop by our hotel the next afternoon. She invited Gary and I to her house – she drove and we enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and met her mother Blanca (Jim’s mother, Becky and Blanca are sisters). Adding to the mix was Manuela (Blanca’s sister-in-law) and two of her grandchildren. Tency’s English was much better than our Spanish so she was able to hold the conversations together. Gary and I both enjoyed the repartee and Tency graciously returned us to our hotel.
A few comments about the flora of Peru. We found ourselves riding along the coast of Peru in a desert that apparently wicks a lot of moisture from the Pacific Ocean. A climate that approaches that of San Francisco (foggy and cool) permeates the entire coastal area. That said, we rode through the breadbasket of Peru. Irrigated fields of asparagus, artichokes, carrots, onions, potatoes, melons, cotton, sugar cane, cacti, corn and groves of olives trees and citrus fruits were all along the roadway.
The coastal area of Peru is sandy – even the mountains are sand. The mountains have developed a crust, and in combination with some forms of arid vegetation, reduces the amount of erosion but it’s still all sand. When the wind starts blowing, the sandstorms start. We rode hours in winds estimated at 30 – 40 knots and they kicked up a lot of sand.
So, the coastal road is a combination of irrigated, fruitful acreage interspersed with areas of shifting and blowing sand.