The Balance

In some numbers

                                                

Trip 7378 km cycled on around 11 000  30 % of dirt roads 20 km pushing our bikes 73 000 positive meters 6 crossing of strait or lake by boat 4 trecks 3 stages by bus 23 stamps on our passeports From 0 to 5686 m above the sea level From 52 degrees South to 0 degree of latitud From 10 to 165 km per day From -7 Celcius degrees waking up in the south Bolivia   to  40 degrees in the ecuadorian jungle
Equipement Thomas 3 broken spokes 1 buckled chainring 1 broken chain, twice 1 pierced sleeping pad Baptiste 1 puncture 1 broken brake shoe 1 broken  pannier fastening 1  pierced sleeping pad	Health Thomas 2 days of altitude sickness in the South Lipez Baptiste 2 indigestions in Bolivia and South of Peru 1 fall with some bad scars now...

Of roads

The grading is subjectif, depending on climatic conditions, the mood we were and feeling we resent while cycling. Roads 1 to 6 are particularly impressive. Roads 7 to 12 were hard to sort because of their equivalence. Roads non cited in that ranking have no main intersest.

1 Crossing of The Uyuni Salt Lake ++ White flats as far as eyes can see       Mountains reflects on water       The Cacti Island - - Salt on bikes and staff
	2 The South Lipez ++ Bluffing diversity of landscapes (deserts, lakes and volcanoes)       Magical bivouacs - -  Very dirt roads (with deep sand and ripples)        Baddly cooked pasta with altitud
3 The Paso Sico ++ Lanscapes, lagunas, colored rocks and volcanos       Sunset lights - -  Face wind if you are riding westward       Dirt roads
	4 The Carretera Austral ++ Planty of lakes       Clear water of numerous rivers       Good fishes (Salmon and truits) - - Rain and mud
5 Cycling on the side of the Titicaca Lake ++ Good ondulating roads        View on the lake       Agricultural environnement       Fried truits for all meals - -  Too much tourists in Puno and Cochabamba
	6 Peruvian Mountains ++ Welcoming local people       traditionnal parties (folk dances and music) - - Harsh and steep slopes       Long asecnts every days (No flats)
7 Equatorian Mountains ++ Quiet, verdant roads       The beauty of Quicha people       Imposing volcanoes - - Bad weather, often rainy
	8 Amazon ++ The abounding diversity of animal and vegetal life - -  The wet and warm air
9 Tierra del Fuego Moors  ++ The profundity of lanscapes  - -  Face Wind        Derricks along the roads
	10 The lakes Road ++ Beautiful bivouacs on lakes sides        Good fish - - Rainy and gray weather
11 The Peruvian Litoral ++ Fresh ocean food       Beaches and surf (good swell)       Sun in the northern part - - Panamerivan overcroweded       Hazy sky in the central part
	12 The Argentinean Pampa ++ Good roads       Bivouacs and sunsets       Steacks in estancias - - Monotony and dreariness