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MOTOTAXI JUNKET: COMPLETE! I pulled into the finish line party last night well after dark, after 15 hours and 340km of driving straight. This morning, I decided to go back to get my photo at the finish line. I drove the Rubber Ducky Mobile three blocks to "El Maizal" restaurant…and right on cue, as I pulled up to the Mototaxi Junket signs, it let out a dying gasp and broke down once more, for old time's sake. Refuses to start up, who knows why this time. She got me across the entirety of Peru, and for that I'm grateful, but I'm so glad I don't have to drive this hunk-of-junk another inch ever again! I turned in the keys to the Adventurists with a skip in my step and walked off into the sunset. #mototaxijunket
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Giving a lift to one of my many Peruvian hitchhikers. Pete's gratis mototaxi service! Only problem was with the weight of this lady and her enormous bag (I believe of rocks), my mototaxi really struggled to make it up the hill to Abancay… I overheated 5 times in an hour, and the little old lady had no idea why I was stopping. I tried to explain that the motor was too caliente, but it turned out that she doesn't speak Spanish…she only speaks the Inka language of Quechua! Anyway, I eventually got her to her location and then made an extended stop to get my engine down to a workable temp. #mototaxijunket
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Just 90km from the finish line, I came upon a road closure where the traffic control lady told me that the road would be closed for 3 hours, and I had to wait to pass. That would mean I'd completely miss the finish line party…no way that was gonna happen. I pleaded my case and worked my gringo charm, then offered her a rubber ducky – and it worked! She let me through, to drive past 10km of steamrollers, gravel pits, hot asphalt and giant rumbling trucks. Patitos work wonders! #mototaxijunket
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My Mototaxi Junket route, from Colán Beach to Urubamba, Sacred Valley. Every one of those gray circles is a point that I saved – places where I gave away a rubber ducky, had a breakdown, picked up a hitchhiker, had a beer, warded off sketchy "Seguridad", made a friend, stopped to enjoy an amazing view, or situations like "hit in the face by a dragonfly the size of a bird." #mototaxijunket