Route 3N and 5N.

Heading North from Tarapoto we pass through a few small Peruvian villages with the usual arrangement of vendors along the highway. 

Today is Sunday so many are not open yet as the merchants are likely in church. Most of which are probably here at this large church with a parking lot full of tuc-tucs, not to mention the motos, vehicles, and pedestrians.

Once again we are tempted by a roadside vendor of fresh fruit juice. It is really convenient because we are stopped at a traffic light and the lady is set up on the corner. I am not sure what town we are in but soon after stopping we start to get approached by the men of the area. They ask all types of questions about who we are and what we are up to, I am somewhat focused on the conversation and did not notice that a crowd had encircled us. Everyone was listening to the conversation and then they would talk amongst themselves, then ask more questions.

Big smiles and nods of understanding and approval were shared then more questions. I finally turned to see where Brenda had gotten to, only to realize that we had a huge crowd of 20-30 people around us, this was getting a little out of control. We answered a few more questions as we geared back up and got on the bikes. I had to warn a little girl who was standing directly in line with my exhaust pipe, I made a motion to plug her ears and step to the side. She looked at me and smiled but did not move, I pointed to the exhaust pipe then to my face then to her, she got the message and promptly plugged her ears and moved behind someone. We fire up the bikes and depart like rock stars, off the sidewalk and into traffic to the waves and smiles of the locals.

Those poor security officers along the highway, most people don’t even slow down when they wave for people to stop. I guess the locals know they are not very effective either. 

Bagua Grande is our destination today and we find a quaint town with a nice central square. There are remote cars for the kids to ride in and due to the design of park it is also great for little kids to ride their skateboards. Most of them are to small to stand on the boards so they push with one foot while kneeling of the board or just go to the high spot and sit on it as it rolls down the hill. Some have it figured out and weave between people by leaning left or right, the adults seem oblivious to the little shin bangers zipping around them.

Our next destination is San Ignacio which will also serve as the launch point to cross the border into Ecuador. Rice paddies line the highway and the occasional fruit stand. From what we remember this section of road was not paved all the way but that has changed and we are greeted with a nice paved road all the way to San Ignacio. 

We had stayed there in 2012 but it was dark when we got to town and only stayed one night so we did not get much of a chance to see what the town was all about. This time we found the nice hotel with parking and breakfast instead of the hostel we stayed in last time. We walked the majority of the town and it is a typical Spanish design with a central square and then some hotels and shops on the streets in close proximity to the park. The big difference is that the town is on the side of a hill so it feels like San Francisco with steep stairs and roads to deal with.