Huaraz (Peru) to Riobamba (Ecuador)

Not sure how, but somehow we ended up at another ruin, when we should have been on the beach.

Finally arriving at the beach at 07:30 were were met by a disco mototaxi which took us to a few hostels looking for vacancies, unknown to us it was a national weekend celebration and therefore prices were tripling. Having resigned ourselves to a bit of beach action we decided to stay a couple of nights, until the Saturday and when prices would quadruple, having slept till twelve to get in the beach bum mood we then headed down to the beach.

We were amazed to find the sea covered in thousands of pelicans and other sea birds, sharing the waves with surfers. On day 2 we even got to witness an Attenborough moment when all the birds started dive bombing a shoal of fish in unison.

Enjoyed our first serving of Cerviche basically sushi, whereby the fish is cooked by sprinkling on lemon juice and chile, at the dodgiest looking beachside shack.

Had a pretty uneventful border crossing, apart from trying to sent a postcard from the last northern Peruvian town which didn´t seem to have a post box, the woman at the bus station said she´d post it - fingers crossed gran.

Arriving in Loja and our first Ecuadorian city we were greated by the binmen playing sounds from their dustcart not dissimular to the icecream man at home...I could almost picture the kids crying ´Mum, can I take out the bin?´ ??

In preparation for the mud and rain in the Poducarpus National Park http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podocarpus_National_Park, we bought some wellies, as well as other supplies, but choosing to stay in cabins we left the tent behind.

Day one we made our way to the lower jungle section sorrounded by muddy brown rivers , waterfalls and rain. And staying in a dark dump and dingy cabaña, but next to a very nice orchidary and with resident mosquito catcher .

Day two was in part spent getting to the upper cloud forest section, and were lucky enough to meet guards just as they were leaving on their way home, public sector workers signing off at 15:50 as usual, so they could had us the keys to a damp but better cabaña.

Having seen a Cock of the Rock we had dinner before seeing a Paca (http://images.google.com.ec/images?hl=es&q=paca&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi). After viewing the stars, typical rain by day clear by night, and drinking a bottle of rum we slept better.

Day three we hiked without our packs on a 5km walk, being so tough I decided not to carry water and only 6 biscuits, it was only 5 km after all. 5 hungover and dry mouthed hours later we made it back to base, I´m guessing there´s a missprint on the altitude we covered? Good views and lots of flora and fauna though.

Hell bus to Cuenca with a late arrival meaning everything was shut, but can´t do it all hey.

Now in Riobamba and looking forward to riding the Devils Nose.