I decided early on that I’m going to devote more time to South America on this trip. I’m thankful I am at a point in life where I can spend the time and energy on this endeavor b/c it’s been an enriching experience so far. Sure there have been some lows but none I haven’t been able to manage, albeit at times reluctantly. But the reality is I don’t know what the future holds and if for some reason I need to cut the trip short I want to have spent sufficient time riding in South America. This decision is born out of logistics and not an indication I don’t want to spend more time in Mexico and Central America. Mexico and Central America are practically in my back yard so I expect to have future opportunities to keep exploring their countryside and culture.
That said, I’m scheduled to sail to Colombia in August which means I need to tighten up my trajectory south so I don’t miss the boat so to speak. I’m anxious to explore South America and I’m one who enjoys time in the saddle but I don’t like rushing through places, not the kind of experience I’m looking for on this trip. I continue to make new friends in spite of being short on time and even run into a number of acquaintances from previous destinations which is always fun. I was reluctant to leave San Cristobal because it signalS the beginning of a period of extended riding days and hectic border crossings through Central America, a shakedown gauntlet of sorts.
It rains every day now and sitting around waiting for the rain to stop has long since lost its appeal. Getting south faster means I escape the rain sooner, right? This year’s rainy season has been particularly bad for Guatemala and El Salvador. The roadways in Central America can be hazardous in good weather and adding mudslides, flooding, and collapsed bridges to the mix makes for a potentially volatile riding experience. I have enormous respect for the folks who live here as I witness them pull together and overcome the latest adversity. The sense of community and resilience of the people here is commendable and needs to be witnessed to appreciate.
Points of Interest:
MX/Guatemala border crossing
Xela (Quetzaltenango), Guatemala
San Pedro Atitlan, Guatemala
Antigua, Guatemala
Guat/El Salvador border Xing
La Libertad, El Salvador
**VIDEO**