Stage 26 Jachal to Tocota 116k 1806 m climb 70% paved

Out of town following a 3 donkey cart. Steady slow climb up on paved. Ride mainly with anna and ghilli. Again very pretty country. Up through a pass on paved road. Steep to start with. Bare rocky hills surround river below. Up through a narrow gap between the stoney hills and open out to a large reservoir. Very pretty again with Andes in the background.
Good riding but on the uphill anna hangs back and rather than she and ghilli speeding up as I thought I’m slowing. Was a hard day yesterday and I can’t have recovered. Hit lunch and as the final dirt road is apparently really tough on Stoney dirt decide to take the truck. Wise move as when we get to camp all others are exhuasted. Anna and ghilli make it but tents put up for them.
Great wide open pampas. We camp in the police compound. They are there to stop cattle rustlers who come across from the chile border. All on horse back. Use flood irrigation from narrow water channels.
Adrian’s birthday so a cake” made from cream covering 6 cans of beer. Great success as when cutting into it he manages to pierce a can with a great pop and flood of beer.
Have to dig a channel around the tent