Regarding strikes. When time came to quit La Paz, Bolivia and head to Peru, the main highway from the valley to the hills above was closed by a farmer strike. Once I managed to get to the top of the highway the blockade was clear. A Bolivian women sitting were sitting in a line from one side to the other of the road. Taxis were depositing passengers at the blockade and turning around. The passengers were walk thru a large swath to the other side of the strike. After a quick survey I made my move, slowly riding along with the pedestrians. No one gave me permission and more important, no one stopped me. Why? I'm not part of their fight.
The day my friend Takahiro and I took a day trip from La Paz to the 'death road of Bolivia' there were supposed to be strikes. We didn't encounter any strikers or road blocks. Sometimes its more hype than reality.
A few months earlier I encountered 5 road blocks in Brazil in one day. Each time I pulled up, took off my helmet, smiled, shrugged my shoulders, smiled and eventually someone allowed me through. As I rode through the trucks that were criss-crossing the road, I raised my clenched fist in solidarity.
You might have more problems if you are part of a commercial tour.
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Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.
Blogs: Peter's Ride
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