In spite of getting in to Celendin late I opt to keep rolling the following morning and point the bike toward Cajamarca (Caja). I´m in awe of the beauty of the countryside and mountain peaks I missed in the darkness of the previous evening´s ride. The road south is similar to the road I took into the city only now it´s alive with local farming traffic delivering the day´s crop. Judging by the number of pack mules I see loaded with milk canisters I assume there are dairy farms near by.
A couple hours out of Celendin the road turns into the nicest pavement I’ve seen since entering Peru. With perfect cambers and big sweepers the remaining distance down to Caja flies by. Cajamarca is famous for its dairy production and since I´m a big fan of wheel cheese I waste no time sampling the local offerings. Caja culture predates the Chavin and the city is also known for the Battle of Cajamarca where the Incan Empire came to an end.
Caja is an appealing city and I could have easily stayed longer but the hostal where I’m staying is disruptive to my sleep so I press on to the coastal town of Huanchaco where I will rest up for a few days before riding the Canon del Pato. Rather than stay on the main road I take a mountain pass that literally climbs out of the pueblo of Chilete. The route takes a toll on the bike so I will tend to bike maintenance while in Huanchaco.
