Chapter 24 22 Crossing the Andes

When I left the metropolis of Lima and came to the outskirts, when I saw a desolate and pale desert in front of me, I felt a chill down my spine, and I was about to ride through such a place again. . . . . . .Because I was robbed in the desert, as soon as I saw the desert, my fear would wake up like a radiation. It seems that the psychological trauma of the robber incident has deeply penetrated into my subconscious mind. I often watch out for shadows while riding a bicycle, fearing that someone will suddenly jump out from the opposite side, and I feel frightened from time to time. Finally, we have to face the biggest challenge of this journey - crossing the Andes Mountains. If we can't break through this difficulty, we won't be able to see the Inca ruins Machu Picchu.There is still 670 kilometers away from Cusco, the tourist base of Machu Picchu. The road is hardly paved, and several mountains over 4,000 meters have to be climbed.Loaded with water and food, I stepped into this desolate and barren mountain area.First of all, I have to climb from 600 meters above sea level to 4300 meters in one go. The next three days are continuous uphill roads, and the actual distance is only 100 kilometers.As soon as you climb above 4,000 meters, the whole world takes on a strange color.The pale brown of the earth contrasts sharply with the dark, rich blue of the sky, as if dreaming in a dreamland.Even if this is not the case, my head is still groggy due to the lack of oxygen. My body has not been able to adapt to the high altitude, so I have to endure the lack of oxygen to the end.After stepping on the bicycle for a while, his heart was beating rapidly as if it was about to explode, and his mouth opened and closed like a goldfish out of water, panting fiercely.At the same time, due to altitude sickness, my head was so painful that it split open.

After crossing the first mountain, there is a descent to about 3400 meters, and then climbing again.The road condition was like a gravel-covered river bank. I pushed the heavy bicycle desperately, and only heard my own panting. After walking a short distance, I collapsed to the ground in pain, lying on my back and desperately pant.Looking at the dark and wide blue sky above my head, I gradually lost my mind.In order to stay awake, I stood up again, step by step, staggering forward.There was a certain pleasure in this ascetic behavior.When I was desperately struggling to move forward, the robber's cloudy eyes and the cold touch of the muzzle disappeared from my mind.This masochistic pleasure couldn’t be better for me now. On the sixteenth day of the journey through the mountains, I finally saw the reddish-brown street scene of Cusco. At that moment, I couldn’t believe it.I honestly don't believe I've ever crossed the Andes.

Since I was robbed, although I barely held on, in a certain sense, I was actually on the verge of collapse.Perhaps it was only the rashness of self-abandonment that prompted me to rush into the Andes Mountains. Unexpectedly, while advancing step by step, I finally slowly overcome the shadow. I felt as tired as a tattered rag, but my body But it is as light as throwing off some filth that cannot be washed off. While overlooking the street scene in front of me, I walked down the slope, feeling like being embraced by the whole city.As soon as I stepped into the cheap homestay in Cusco, I couldn't help shouting: ah, ah, ah, Brother Seiji

Since the farewell to Phoenix, the United States, it is eight months before we meet again.Their drooping eyes were thin, like a wrinkle on their faces, and they said with a smile on their faces: Oh, oh, I heard that you were stripped of all your belongings by robbers?It appears that rumors of the tragic cyclist have been circulating in South America.Then, he said in a hearty tone: Didn't I tell you then?Never ride there. —You bastard, you didn’t say that at that time, did you!I retorted silently in my heart.