Peru

This is the third Internet cafe I have gone to and the third one that does not have a card reader so no pictures. . . We made it to Peru, I came to Peru about 5 years ago and fell in love with it. Peru is the mirror image of California. desert on the north with a PCH road and beaches but without all the city. very few small towns, also with tall tall mountains on the west and north. Even lake Titicaca could be compared to Lake Tahoe. If I someday disappear you will never find me but you can bet it will be Peru.

We got a ride with the stake president to church in Otavalo. There was a ton of members, seemed like a very strong ward. They were all native, all the men wore white pants with a blew robe and all had long pony tails. The woman had native dress. Even the stake president had a long pony tail. Wired at first but it fit.

One of the Elders was from Castledale, Matt knew his family... After church the stake president wanted to see our bikes, so we came back to his hours about an hour later. He came out and wanted a ride so he hopped behind Matt and his son behind me. They got a kick out of talking to each other with our radios in our helmets. They took us to a lake close by that looks exactly like Crater lake. Then they took us to a way cool waterfall. Otavalo was a way fun town.

We then drove to the equator and stayed the night. There is a big monument where they thought the equator was. However, once the GPS came out, they were off about a half a mile. So they made another deal where the real equator is. The next morning we went to the actual equator and they had this sink where right on the equator and the water flushed straght down then 10 feet to the South if flushed clock wise then 10 feet to the north it flushed counter clock wise. Pretty crazy I cannot ignor what I saw but I am a critic, not sure the forces are that instant 10 feet away. . .

We then drove to a town called Banos. way way cool town. Its way fun and cheep. Dinner for about $2; gas in Ecuador is about $1.2 a gal. There is a huge active volcano there, but once again like our last active volcano it had its noes stuck in a cloud. We met some kids at our hotel that said they would take us up to a good view of the volcano at night. At night I guess you can see the flames coming out. Pretty view of the town of Banos but to cloudy to see the volcano.

The town is called Banos because of all the hot springs around it. in fact when we first got there we followed the signs to some hot springs that I guess got wiped out from a flood. There was a lot of construction workers coming out of the area and not knowing what was going on Matt started walking more toward the Hot springs when they all started yelling at him. We heard a loud boom, they were blowing up the side of the mountain. Good timing. . . So Matt spent the next while trying to buy some of the dynamite from the workers. . . They wouldn't give up any.

We did relax in some other hot springs. there was a water fall right next to it. The next day one of the kids from the night before (he worked at our hotel) took us up to two different water falls way way pretty. If someone is looking for a fun trip go to Banos in Ecuador.

We then drove off the mountain near the boarder of Peru. All of Ecuador seemed to be on top of the world. I think we only dropped below 10k a few times. Its kinda cold too, cant figure this out even if it is high its right on the equator. there are glacier peeks as well, way pretty.

Driving off the mountain came instant heat as well as mesquitos. We camped the night off the road next to some banana groves. I think I drove the next morning for two hours with nothing but bananas on both sides of the road, way too many banans, waste of dirt if you ask me (I don't care for bananas).

So this moring we drove into Peru; the boarders were way easy. Central America is messed up with the boarders.

The landscape quickly changed from tropical bananas to dry dry desert. North Peru is dry desert with nice beaches. We had lunch in a town that had some of the worlds longest waves, not biggest but longes lasting. But wanting to made some miles so we drove on to more desert, it looked more barren then out in lucin.

We are currently in a town called Chaclayon or something. I'll post some pics when I get a chance.

Columbia so pretty

We made it to Ecuador. Columbia so far has been my favorite, everyone was so, so, nice, its beautiful. . . I´ve heard that Columbia has the pretties women in the world, its true. We unloaded our bikes and stayed the night. Our bikes made it without any vandalism. but every person that has anything to do with boats or the peer will try to rip you off. They wanted $20 each to unload our bikes. I negotiated before we loaded the bikes that the price included loading and unloading (ran into the same trouble before). They would not do it, so after auguring with them for a while they finally said fine unload it yourself, So we did. We had the bikes unloaded within minutes while 15 men stood stairing at us. You could tell they all felt stupid (thinking we could not do it ourselves). The darrian gap is said to be the most dangerous place in the world. The way to get around it, is not much better. I am just way glad to be back on my bike.

We drove through Medellin it being a big city, we drove on to Santa Barbra, way nice little town (not into the big cities, most people like it for the partie I guess, I´m more into the small towns with the locals. . .). I walked out to the town square and within minutes had 4 Lady's surround me wanting to know where I was from, way nice.

We then drove all most all the way to Cali, but a guy at a gas station offered us his house. He was so nice, way nice family. He lived in a very small town and the whole town came over to see the two greengos.

We then drove to just shy of the boarder. You can drive down the road very far without wanting to stop and take a picture. However, we did run into a few wrecks, one was very very bad. The guy was just sitting on the side of the road with his friend holding him, with others standing waiting for the ambulance. We stopped but there was not much we could do, poor guy (I wanted to throw up).

Today we woke up, drove to this church, so so pretty. Then drove to equator (the boarder was way easy and free). We have stopped in a town Otavalo where there was a big market. We were walking around and saw a big mat with the picture of the army of Heleman. So we stopped and the owner of the shop was the stake president. He is going to give us a ride to church tomorrow.

Tomorrow we should be crossing the equator (southern hemispher). Good times.

Land.

So we loaded the bikes on a boat finally and took off for Columbia.

We did meet some fun people that ended up on our boat though. There was one from San Fransisco, another from Germany, three from Australia, one from Israel, and one from England and one from Minnesota. Our captain was from France but lived most of his life in Columbia. His wife was from San Fransisco as on board one of the boat crew as well as their son and one of there friends from France. The Australians were way fun.

We waited all day once for a bottle of Rum. . . The other passengers on our boat ran out of Rum (oh no) so a kuna Indian came by on a boat and promised that he could get us anything we wanted. So they gave him money for a bottle of Rum and a few other minor things and the kuna promised to be back in an hour. 5 hours later after spending the day fishing he came back and said that he could not remember what we wanted and wanted us to write it down. I tied to tell the others to just get their money back and lets go, but they could not go a night without getting waisted.

Mean while two on our boat bought some lobster. Right at the same time the kuna fish warden showed up and said that it was illegal to buy (not sale only buy) lobster that were female. Which who knows how to tell the difference and it so happened that the kuna sold us two females. After the captain talked to them for a half hour and they let it go. However the kuna left during the ordeal.

The crew not wanted to go without the rum nor the loss of the money they gave the kuna wanted to wait around. so the kuna left and after again another 2 hours he came back with everything but the rum. The captain said its too late so we stayed there for the night and the captain when into the village and got the needed bottle of rum so we could finally leave the next morning. Wow what a deal. The San blas islands are awesome though. We found some the missionaries on one of the islands. They lived in one of the small huts crazy
The little Indian villages on the islands are crazy cool, they probably lived the same way forever. There were kids everywhere like 10 kids per adult, all of them come running for you like your from outer space. They love seeing there picture on our cameras.

So me and Matt bought some bread and some Pepsi and sat down in someones yard and started passing them out. kids came from everyone where.

So on our way to another island we ran into a San bar and got the boat stuck. We were stuck, no way of getting out on our own. We did flag another boat down coming buy to give us a pull out.

We finally made it to subzero which was way pretty.

After two days of fighting to find another boat we finally managed to put our bikes on another boat which will not take passengers and we hopped on passanger boat and made it to Turbo but not until after we ran out of gas in the middle of the ocean and had to wait for another boat to come and give us more gas. We are still waiting for our bikes but they should be here in a few more hours. . .

Columbia

we are in columbia but not in a town with any roads we hope to be on another boat in the morning to make it to turbo. it was a long ride wow. got stuck on a sand bar. . . the kuna indians are the nicest people in the world. san bas island way pretty.

this conection is very bad. got to run, will right more when I get to turbo.

later

Devin

shoots ya

we found a boat so we are off to columbia. will be out to sea for about 5 days, i´ll keep you posted then. . .

No mans land Panama

I did not know that getting to our next continent would be so difficult, Panama will test you. If ever there was a great big hole of a city, it has got to be Colon, Panama. Devin and I both agree that there are some really kind people here probably just waiting to hear the Gospel, but we have both never felt so hated and nervous as we have just walking down the street. It is soo dirty and rough. No one says Hola or Bueno and they won[t even look at you. We dang near got mugged after dinner the other night by a couple of street rats that were looking for trouble, but we got outta there with a huge adrenalin rush and a torn shirt and all is well. We will save the details of that story for another day maybe.

Finally found the part of Panama we have been looking for after about 400 miles and lots of frustrating riding. We camped last night right below the walls of an Old castle looking fort with huge rusted cannons and probably 10 foot walls. All was well as we pulled in well after dark and cut the lights and looked out across the bay to see a dozen or so sailboats anchored in the harbor. What a perfect campsite!! We set up cots under the stars and thought we were in for a peaceful sleep, until about 2 am a couple of evangelists climbed up on one of the walls and started sermonizing at the top of their lungs. I am not kidding......I would have thought it was a crazy dream if Devin had not heard the same thing. Then came the rain and they left for about 20 minutes til it stopped and then they carried on again. They finally quit after the Lord really showered on them and we got a little sleep under a good tarp I was glad Devin had packed along. The sun came up and the clouds parted and made for a good morning afterall. WHO PREACHES AT 2 AM on a castle wall to no one in particular- felt like Samuel the Lamanite in spanish.

Did some good snorkeling today along a really good reef with tons of fish and noo speargun. Adios till Columbia.

pics

We spent a very long night in the rain. . .

Our hotel with all our cloths haning to dry

Colon, dirty dirty City.

Panama Canal, way way cool. We stayed and watched the boats go by for about an hour. I hear the US gave it to Panama in 1999, why did we do that.

Matt should be posting more.

Later

Stuck in Panama

Made to Panama but now we are stuck waiting for a boat. there should be one leaving sometime next week. I don´t care for Panama so much, it has rained everyday we have been here.


We left Costa Rica and made it to the boarder which was another headache. We waited for a big storm to calm down before heading off. About 30 minutes after the boarder we got stopped by the police. They made up some story about that we were driving to close together and wanted $100 dollars. Matt wrote their names down which they didn´t like and were about to arrest him. I tried my best to tell them in Spanish we did not know any better because it was legal in other country's. . .


I told them that there were bad cops in Mexico, Guatemala and then asked him if there were bad cops here or not? They told Matt to leave and after got really nice and said they would do me a favor and let me go but I was to tell my friend they could arrest him. I think more then anything Matt called their bluff by writing there names down. Or something I said, not sure. not a fun ordeal though.


We drove in the rain all afternoon and were socked through and still drove on in the night for quite some time. we stopped at a gas station and asked where a hotel was. A guy there was amazed that we had drove the whole way so offered for us to stay in his house. So we took him up on it.. His wife fed us a big dinner, so nice, Dang I wish I spoke Spanish.


The next day we drove to Colon, which was a mistake. Worst place I have ever been in my life the place just felt evil. we were most defiantly the outsidders everyone was staring us down. Most where blacks , I think I have a glimpse what it feels like to be discriminated against.


We heard that there might be boats to take us to Columbia there, but there was nothing but a very trashy town. We got a hotel and hung all our cloths having drove in the rain again all day.


We then got some dinner. I was going to leave this story out but Matt is planning on writing about it so I better give my side of the story. Read on accept for my Mom you better skip the next two paragraphs.


Everyone was staring us down and two guys were on the sidewalk in front of us, one started to dance (kinda weird). Matt passed and the man gave him a high five. I then walking passed (I being behind Matt, and much small, maybe a better target) he looked like he was going to give me a high five. . . but then very quickly he grabbed my shirt very hard at the same time the other guy ran over and started feeling for my wallet. But never having put my wallet in my back pocket my whole life (why would anyone want to sit on their wallet all day) he never got it.


I quickly pushed the man away at the sometime yelled for Matt. They quickly walked away. All I got out of the deal was a ripped shirt. Quit honestly you could probably get into just as much trouble on the wrong streets in the US.


Anyway we went south to Portabela a very pretty town and are staying in a very nice hotel until we sail south. Has very good snorkeling. Might be some time before I write again.


I am a little lazy this time so I am going to post my pics separate.

Costa Rica

Honduras was great but way way too hot. we played in the ocean but it also was like a hot tub, kinda of a dirty beach.

we then woke up early and headed for an all day ride south. we made it to Nicaragua but not quite all the way through like we wanted. not as much to see in those areas. we mostly wanted to make it to Costa Rica. we stayed in a place for cheap woke up and made it to Costa Rica.

the boarders were painful, as soon as you became insight people started running toward you. in minutes there was a crowd around you yelling wanting you to buy something or exchange money. we finally made it through and stayed in a town where there was a church for the next morning.

we tried to see this active volcano but it was too overcast, but we did see some awesome waterfalls.

we then drove to the beach and slept the night, then played on another way cool beach. we then drove to the other side of Costa Rica to do this river. we had to take the short cut of course.



the river was awesome. me and Matt somehow got thrown from the boat. way pretty.




we are staying the night and going to wake up early and head toward Panama.

later

Costa Rica Finally!

Wow, last 2 days have been kinda of torture. We drove about 450 miles yesterday trying to get out of Nicaragua and didn´t quite make it. I was kinda glad because crossing 2 international borders in one day would have done me in. As soon as you get within half mile of the border a ton of ¨border rats¨come running up with no appreciation for personal space and start trying to sell you money and help and all in 100 degree weather. Finally made it to Costa Rica and this place really is pretty. Miles of really good beaches and a few active volcanoes. I think we are going to do some snorkeling and maybe diving on Monday and then float the Pacuare River on tuesday. Reallt need a break from riding, my music is getting old and my nerves are fried from all the border chaos. Kinda missed leaving Guatemala. We swam in the best waterfalls and then after hours of dusty dirty road dove in an 80 degree lake to wash all the crud off of us. When we finally got to Puerto Cortez in Honduras, we somehow got the hostel with 150 highschool students that pulled in right behind us and the party was on. No kidding 3 schools buses pulled up a half hour after we got there and so me and Devin went and sat in the Ocean for about 2 hours. It was way too warm, but felt good as the sun went down. Honduras is a really nice country and from a couple of the cities you would never guess it was 3rd world. It is funny to be driving through the mountains and see all these little huts with dirty little kids and then one of them has a cell phone??? Crazy world.

more pics

waters of mormon

also on the last blog Matt could not resist taking a picture with the karate. . .

c

Farther away

So we finally got to the good stuff, waterfalls and way cool ruins. The ruins in Palanque are awesome.

We also went to church in Palanque then drove to some waterfalls

Then drove a little further and stopped at some more way cool waterfalls Agua Azul. It is like havasupi but better; however, there was a ton of people. They were particular about not swimming too close to the falls, which bugged.

We then drove to Saint Cristobal and stayed the night. Way cool old Mexico.

We then drove to Guatemala, there are a ton of Indians (natives) way poor. we went through most of the back roads in Guatemala.

We went to lake Attatitlan which was way cool, it is said to be the waters of Moman. Most all the roads had big mud slides due to the hurricane that we just missed. but it did down-poor the night we stayed at Attatitlan. The little town we stayed in had no water because of the mud slides so we took a shower in the street in the rain. Everyone that saw, thought we were crazy. . .

We then drove around in the small towns around the lake and got a cheap ride on a boat across so we loaded our bikes.

All the streets are way narrow. We got lost quite a few times and it took quite some effort to get our bikes turned around after discovering the street got too narrow.

Some of the roads were closed but not for our bikes we passed about two miles worth of cars stopped dead, only to make it past a bad muddy spots, (the bike is growing on me).

We made our way toward some waterfalls on the other side of Guatemala, the road turned into an all day dirt road. At one point the road just ended with a sign saying no paso. The whole mountain looked to have been in a large landslide some time ago. Trying to figure out what we were going to do, some boy ran up and wanted money to tell us how we could get passed. we paid him and there was a detour road. after driving all day we got to a small town and saw the elders, we drove on until late and needed to pass out somewhere and saw a church on the side of the road so we thought we would stay there. but the church was locked up like a jail, so we set up camp right next door.

We were about to jump into our bags when the elders walked by. they lived in the church so we talked to them and ended up sleeping on the lawn. The elders were Kachi elder I guess the native language. . .

The next day we finally made it to the waterfalls it was crazy pretty.

We then drove all day on some more dirt roads and stopped and stayed the night not far from the boarder.

We are now in Hondures Puetro Cortes. It is way way hot, last night we stayed at a place for $5 and didn´t sleep at all it was soo hot. the place we got now has AC. . .

So far Matt has hit two birds and one dog. . . I have not been so lucky yet (mostly beacuse he has been riding front most the way).

Finally had to shave the beard too hot and started collecting dusts.