La Cumbre - top of the pass (note elevation on GPS - 15,990 feet)
We awoke to a mostly sunny sky and figured we’d have another stab at the WMDR, even if it was setting us back another day. We have got to make Ushuaia by Christmas but it is looking bleak with all the delays so far on the trip.Heading out, at the summit of La Cumbre (pass at about 16,000 feet) we hit drizzle and fog. What a disappointment. Well we had been told the new road was recently opened and was paved 90% of the way. Not what we had intended but what the hell. Let’s go to Coroico anyway.
Spank my ass and call me Charlie if it didn’t clear off at about the 12,000 foot level and became sunny. We had our first glimpse of the Yungas area. This is where the Amazonian jungle meets the peaks of the Andes.
Even the new road has some problems. This retaining wall is already failing.
We arrived in Coroico about noon, and ate bananas and chocolate bars on a park bench while we watched the bikes. Some teenagers from Calgary said Hi. They were backpacking and bussing their way around the country. Small world eh!
Since the skies were clear, we decided we just had to take the old WMDR back to La Paz. This was one of our “must do” planed rides, and it was everything we expected. (Aside: The History Channel produced a documentary about this road and we have the video.) We were ever so glad that buses and big trucks are no longer allowed. This road is not for the faint-of-heart nor the novice motorcyclist. Some tight corners were very rough and losing control would mean plummeting down thousands of feet, but the scenery was awesome! All in all it was probably the best motorcycle day-trip we could ever imagine (but it is definitely not a ride for touring bikes!).
See the town of Coroico on the ridge of the mountain.
See the Canadian flag - we donated to this National Park.
