The glaciated peaks looming over the Sacred Valley en route to Machu Picchu...on the train.
The famous 12 sided stone laid by the Inca, each side representing an Inca King.
Not sure who looks more shocked. 
When the Inca created Cuzco they did so in the shape of the Puma. Sacsayhuaman being the head of the Puma and the 3 tiered defences of the fort formed the teeth in their zig zag pattern.
The classic photo of Machu Picchu taken from the caretakers hut (of the funery rock).
Inside the ruins with the familiar shape of Huana Picchu in the distance.
The precipitous slopes were very unpopular with the young Inca lads who lost countless footballs in to the River below.
After what we'd been through over the last 903km any less of a welcome would have been a disappointment.
We can now relax and enjoy all the tourist trappings of the old Inca capital Cuzco.
The Plaza De Armas and the mid afternoon swarms.
It´s best to keep the tent out of view of the road.
The road to Abancay (hidden in the misty valley) was long. A 60 Km descent was just enough to relax our weary legs before the final 20km climb into the town. 
At last the proper mountains were getting closer. Abancay lies just to the south of these Cuillin style peaks. A further 4 days cycling is Cuzco & Machu Pichu...and more importantly some decent food.
The undulating road followed the Rio Pampas for another 18km before breaking off to climb up towards Chincheros and then over another high pass to Andahuaylas. (about 120km).
Sarah had become increasingly unwell. Rather than camping wild with the mosquitoes, we flagged down a truck to take us to Chincheros and a Doctor. Chincheros turned out to be a two pig and a three legged donkey town. Luckily the eggs were destined for Andahuaylas our next destination so we settled in for the 5-6 hour journey at 4300m.
As it happened, the bolts holding one of the wheels on sheared. We spent a very cold night with a million eggs.
Andahuaylas. They don't just do bull fighting, they strap a bloomin condor to the poor things back and whoop for joy. Really.
Leaving Ocros at 3300m we descended 30km towards Puente Pampas (bridge over the Rio Pampas) at 2700m.
The steep sided gorges cut by tributaries of the Rio Pampas were once home to Colonial settlers. The rich citrus groves still remain. 
Taking a few moments at the bridge. The worst thing about getting to a bridge is that you know it's up hill for the rest of the day.....
View from the top. Looking down from about 4100m to Ocros at 3300m. It´s the sort of road you´d love to freewheel down on a bike IF it wasn´t so full of potholes and rocks.
It´s not often such natural beauty abounds.
The road cut into the mountain side. It's certainly an incentive to look where you´re going.
After a couple of nights in the relative luxury of Ayacucho we headed out of town and upwards towards our first high pass. After a hard days riding on the dusty roads out of town we started looking for a camping spot for the night. We asked a young girl if she new of any villages close by where we could buy supplies. She pointed us in the direction of her parents house. The one on the hillside with the animals she told us. It turned out to be a great night. The Quechen family made us very welcome, although were clearly a little disturbed by the size of Sarah´s feet. We shared our oranges and they gave us potatoes. They loved our torch, binoculars and family photo´s. 
Another days riding took us to the pass. We imagined an Alpine type pass not one that lasts 60km.
At almost 4400m we figure next time we´re in the Alps we´ll bike up Mont Blanc and run up the last 400m.
This camp was around 4100m and too high for our liking. Water was scarce and Sarah was seriously dehydrated but I was sure I could push her further!
It took us most of the morning to get to the edge of the mountains and to the descent. Then a further 3.5 hours to descend 1Km into Ocros.
It was a long dark road to Huanta but leaving was much nicer than arriving. The local cycling club had heard there was some gringos in town. They were going out for a ride and came to find us before we set off. They made great pace setters and it was quite a relief when they waved us goodbye at the top of the hill. 
More beautiful if a little dangerous roads.
We should have put the tent up by now... We decided to press on to the next town Huanta. The police at Mayocc assured us it was an hour by bus or by bike and all on the flat. Another 3.5 hours and 35km uphill in the dark we arrived.
Due to the low average speeds so far on the trip Richard decided to improve his aerodynamics much to the amusement of the hairdresser.
A beautiful camping spot next to the river and away from the barking dogs of the towns. As towns and villages are so far apart and sometimes not particuarly pleasant, it´s preferable to hide away out of sight.
This was an early morning start at the small village of Acos. We were very pleased to get out of there having been kept awake by howling dogs all night.
After filling our drinking bottles Sarah cools her giant feet.
You´ll notice we take more photo´s of the down hill sections. This is because on the uphill stretches it´s hard enough breathing never mind taking photo´s.
Appologies for the random order the photo´s have appeared in. We´ll get it sorted out next time but for now here´s a selection of pictures on the road to Ayacucho.
The Central Plaza at Huancayo. Notice how new the bikes look...this didn´t last long.
