Driving to Popayan

We have two long days ahead of us so we headed off in the morning after filling up water and dumping the cassette. There are variable reports of more scams and potential dangers on this road south to the border. One traveller suggested we take a more mountainous road east of us but iOverlander did not show any less danger.

At one merger I ended up slowly creeping into an empty trailer behind a small sedan that was too low for me to see. Nothing happened and the driver was apologetic and simply lifted the trailer off my tire. An hour later I was in the passing lane to let an on ramp of traffic on when a motorcyclist came off the off ramp and merged into the passing lane but going too slow and I braked and honked and bumped into him but he did not fall. He pulled to the side and I did too and he said he was fine and I checked the bumper and it was fine. We both were lucky. About 15 minutes later a delivery truck waved me down and I stopped and he pulled up and explained in Spanish that when that happens again do not stop, just keep going. There is no telling what kind of scam might turn up. 10 minutes later at a traffic jam he stepped out of the truck again and told me the same thing.

Other than that, not much happened and we made it to a overlook restaurant above Popayan. It was cute and on iOverlander it said it cost $9 to camp but the workers said it would be $7 per person. Then they said only adults would be charged, then after we ordered food one of the workers said it was free to camp but then finally someone came over and said it would be $11. 

We ordered some drinks and a "picada", basically a picking plate. Chicharrone, steak, chicken, sausage, potatoes, tomatoes, fries all with some dipping sauce. $23. Pretty good. 

There was a Swiss landcruiser that parked with a Swiss gentleman headed north. He said he crossed from Ecuador 4 days ago and had nothing to report.