Day 8 Puno-La Paz

OK enough f***ing dogs already - this continent is riddled with dogs - As Sam might have mention back in day 4 I hit a big specimen at around 100kph. The dog took one step too far - I had my heel straight out and probably knocked him out before he hit the sump of the bike - I looked in the mirror and the dog was dead for sure. That's the only nasty dog I have seen where it didn't stop and run along beside the bikes - it certainly paid for its boldness.

The dogs just seem to line the highways sometimes 100 meters apart in there own little roadside territory. there seems to be more as we go south.

Brian is getting used to the BMW now and is starting to enjoy "the pig" as he calls it. The run to the border follows the Lake for a while and then we hit the small border town where locals unload trucks at each side and push 3/4 wheel rickshaws laden with produce to the other country for trade all day. We take a while to work out where the 2 official offices are to emigrate person and bike and get help from a local boy who seems to be on the take. Every official he takes us to seems to want some money... oh well at least we get everything stamped and head to the Bolivian side.

Our little friend runs across ahead of us and again talks to the immigration officer - maybe he said "these stupid gringo bikers will pay" or something because we had to shell out again in a little office.

Finally we get to what looks like a western frontier street with dust swirling down it all dirt no pavement - this is where the motorcycle import customs is done!!!. Sam T wipes the sweat off his brow and starts the communication off with the ownership papers and passport. All is well until the officer pulls up the plates for the bike on his computer - I know, a computer in the wild west and connected to the national grid!! It says someone else had this bike in Bolivia only a few weeks ago not you gringo. A drop of sweat leaves Sam's brow and he briefly explains that we purchased the NZ bikes from the previous travellers. I explain the route we will take to exit the country in 6 days. Sam's explanation and the fact we are in transit out of the country seems to appease the officer and we become legal in Bolivia Ye Ha !!!

3 hours at the border and we are keen to get to La Paz. We come into the city on a boring flat plain - then bang the plain drops off to a steep valley with a mountain backdrop. The valley is crammed with the city of La Paz 500 meters or so below us.

Bugger - during the day I have been getting flu like symptoms - looks like I am getting Brains 24 hour job. Sure enough I have to hit the sack and try to sleep through for an early morning start to Cochabamba. We decide on a safe option of Burger King - well familiar anyway. Sam C seems to be going slightly "tropo" we will see how he is over the next few days - see photo below.

Photos will be on the gallery soon as we are trying to source some more storage - Can you believe USB hard drives cannot be found in any city so far!!!