Casey continues to make his way up into the mountains of Peru, increasing his elevation while following the Apurimac tributary of the Amazon. The rainy season ushered itself in with a few intense rainstorms but eventually, the clouds parted. Casey was able to have a glimpse of the meandering river below from a vantage point high in the hills.

He had spent some time in the picturesque town of Pichari and he noted how lively it seemed. Villagers were walking the streets and browsing local markets, music played, people danced and street vendors and street performers set up. He attributed the vibrancy to the diminishing of Covid's stranglehold on social interaction. "Life is returning to normal here, at least for now," said Casey.

Despite the merriment, Casey was plagued with a few difficulties. The oddest misfortune was that his expensive mountain kit, which he had been storing in Lima, was said by its keeper to have been "given away to charity". It had completely vanished.

Fortunately, to his rescue financially was Piotr Chmielinski, the Polish explorer who first kayaked the Amazon River from source to sea in 1985-86. And on the logistical side, Dawid Andres, one of the brothers who 'cycled' the Amazon (partly with a raft fashioned for pedaling bicycles). Andres repurchased a good portion of the kit in Lima.

Casey was also distressed about the challenges that lie ahead in the Andes. He had decided to do this portion solo out of financial urgency.

Somewhere on the winding and ascending trails and roads, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Children greeted him and sang him a joyous song. Two condors wafted high on thermals rising from the lower elevation forest canopy. Casey felt his spirits were also lifted. (Please see Casey's own recent blog entry for recommended full story).