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Mountain 1 – Trans World 0

river_crossing
Crossing river in the mountain

Friends,
I wish I would write today to speak about the marvelous Copan Ruinas we visited few days ago when we entered Honduras, and I will go back to the few past days in later posts, but unfortunately, the reason for the long time spent without posting is because we were stuck in the mountains after a series of unfortunate events let us in a difficult situation.

After crossing the Honduras border and visiting Copan, we took the direction of the Caribbean coast to take some rest and enjoy the beach.

Our map was showing that it was possible to cross through the mountains, via a small village called Tomala. It was confirmed to us that it was indeed possible, but difficult. Well, to make a long story short, the road didn’t exist after Tomala. When we arrived there, it was night, and had no choice but sleep there.

Honduras mountain
Honduras mountain

We left the village before 6 in the morning, and after hours of drive through really difficult roads, our steering gear broke, forcing us into the pit on the side of the road, damaging several other elements of the car. Eventually, it turned out that the faulty part was not an original part.

From there, everything was really difficult, and we are still trying to get the car back on road and working correctly. As soon as it will be done, I will update you on everything, including all the great things we saw here, in Honduras.

Stuck in the mountain
Stuck in the mountain

We are OK, and need you guys to cross your fingers for us. It is very difficult to get straight answers on the things that seem to be damaged, but the transmission took a blow, as well as the suspension and steering elements. Our first worry right now is the financial aspect of the incident.

But don’t worry, nothing can stop the expedition, and I will go on all round. Word.

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Adventures through the mountains

In the Guatemala highlands
In the Guatemala highlands

In the morning, I got some work done on the truck, including new break pads, and got a new gasket for the exhaust oxygen sensor, which reduced the noise. The guys at Toyota don’t think much about the constant heat inside the truck, so we will try to not think about it. Since many days now, we roll with the hood open 3-inches, which keep the general temperature down. After all, it may not be abnormal for the truck to get warm, given the load we are carrying.
guatemala_woman After Huehuetenango, we took the mountains road in the northeast direction, to reach the highlands, where are probably the most desirable places to see in Guatemala. In general, in Central America, we will avoid overcrowded capitals, in an effort to avoid criminality, and also because it is more easy for us to set up a bush camp outside of populated areas.

Market in the mountain
Market in the mountain

Our first day in the mountains was fine, even if it gets more difficult for Nadia to eat what she wishes, since she is vegetarian. Most people can’t believe someone would not eat meat. Already Mexico was not a vegetarian paradise, but here it seems worst.
In the heart of the mountains, close to Rio Blanco, a family let us use their little piece of land to camp. A lot of people here have at least one family member working in the U.S., so I think they are happy to welcome someone coming from there.

mountain_road
Unpaved roads are getting more commun
Some roads are completely cut
Some roads are completely cut by rockslides
Market scene
Market scene

In the morning, we found a river where we could bath and clean up a little. Thanks god for that, after few days without a shower.
Then, as we were going deeper east, the road became unpaved, and more and more difficult. Often, our way was reduced to one lane because of rockslides due to rain. At one point, the road was even completely cut, but a deviation was in place, which saved us 10 hours of driving going back and taking another route.

After the accident, people don't complain, but just want their money back
After the accident, people don't complain, but just want their money back

People are driving fast here, including passenger buses, and in the afternoon, as we were on a paved road, and accident happened in front of us. A truck lost wood logs, causing a truck carrying beverage and a passenger buses to fly outside the road.

Nick and the bus passengers cleaning out broken glass
Nick and the bus passengers cleaning out broken glass

As we stopped, I ran back on the road to make signs for upcoming vehicles to slow down, and then, with other travelers, we cleaned up the pavement from broken glasses, and gas-propelled Pepsi bottles.
45 minutes later, and after loading the truck with a 12-pack of drinking water bottles (very desirable for us), we continued our drive in an increasingly dry environment. The landscape changed to cactus and scarcer vegetation, similar to south-Texas.
Before Chiquimula, another family let us sleep in front of their house.

On another note, people who want to contact nadia can do so at nadia2805 [AT] hotmail.com.
She will be glad to reply herself the marriage proposition I get in my mailbox now. Just in case I didn’t make it clear when I introduced her, she is a friend of mine from France, and we are not romantically tied. I will be glad to be the witness at her wedding as long as you are a decent guy.