(During the night there was no nausea or light headedness so I guess I will survive the mighty bang to my head)

Death Road

"The world's most dangerous highway (alternatively known as Death Road) climbs up a famous Bolivian mountain pass, La Cumbre, at an elevation of 4,650 metres (15,260 ft) above sea level. This road is legendary for its extreme danger. Based on the ratio of death per mile, on an average, 26 vehicles plummet over the edge each year, claiming more than 100 lives. The estimation is that 200 to 300 travellers were killed yearly along the road. It's not hard to see why the road was so dangerous: It's barely the width of one vehicle, with no guardrail to protect you from falls of up to 2,000 feet. Rain can make the road muddy and slippery, and rain or fog can reduce a driver to feeling blindfolded. The very good news about this dirt road is that you don't have to take it. Back in the '90s before an alternative and safer road was built, it was identified as the most extremely dangerous road in the world"

During this whole trip whenever anyone mentioned riding Death Road I always said nope, I have absolutely no interest. In fact why on earth would you? I don't have a death wish thank you very much. However, staying here these last few days, EVERYONE seems to be going for it. In the same way that if you go to Peru, you NEED to see Machu Picchu, If you go to La Paz, you NEED to ride the Death Road. I guessed that a lot of people, if they knew about it, would ask me in the future if I did it. Also as so many people were doing it and actually surviving to tell the tale I guessed it couldn't be that bad right?

This time I was completely right. It was not in the tiniest bit scary. I understand why it got it's name in the first place though as the road in places is definitely not wide enough for 2 vehicles to pass each other, with a sheer drop on one side. However, as one tiny person on a tiny bike, it was MORE than wide enough. We were told horror stories from the tours of someone falling off the cliff and dying, someone saving themselves by falling off their bike before the bike went over the edge, someone falling off their bike, just on the road, hitting their head on a rock and being in a coma for days, and someone else's breaks failing! However I decided that the majority of these incidents was due to people simply going way too fast, or being stupid and not concentrating! You have to drive on the left on this road. The down hill driver has to give way and with the cliff edge on his left, it's easier to see his how close his wheels are to the edge.

It was a challenge in that the road was incredibly rocky and steep so I had to constantly keep my hands on the brakes and negotiate some extra big rocks. After 3 hours of this, there was definitely some pain! I was reminded of when my Dad and I went out off roading on our motor bikes. Sometimes you just had to go for it and let the bike take you!

64km (40 miles) later we got to the village of Yolosa at 1100m, (3608ft). We all had a celebratory beer, then were taken to a hotel with a swimming pool for lunch. We ate then cooled off in the pool with a few more beers. People get so excited when they find out my camera can be used under water, so the same under water selfies were taken, with a promise to forward them on! We were also given a towel and shampoo which was a very nice touch.

I conquered Death Road and I even got the t shirt to prove it!

Back to the hostel after a 3 hour drive for dinner and packing ready for my pampas tour. I will leave a few things here to save me carrying everything.

One of my room mates has gone missing. I've been here 3 nights and not seen him. Another couple has been here 5 nights and not seen him. He was meant to check out yesterday and until check out I guess nobody really pays that much attention. The manager has been through the stuff in his locker and bag, and the tourist police have been informed. And the embassy! Very scary really. I hope he's ok. I will ask when I get back if he's been found.

One possible explanation....

In Bolivia, Llama fetuses are always buried in the foundations of new constructions or businesses as an offering to the goddess Pachamama. The llama sacrifice encourages the goddess to protect the workers from accidents and bring good luck to the business. The fetuses are only used by the poor. Wealthier Bolivians are expected to sacrifice a live llama to Pachamama and the bigger the construction, the bigger the sacrifice! I heard stories of (live) human sacrifices. The "chosen one" is laden with so much alcohol he knows nothing about it.