Trip Log (letter written May 3, 2010 thru May 14, 2010)

reh@knology.net — Wed, 19 May 2010 06:00:00 GMT

3 May 2010 Monday

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5:30PM Drove to Birmingham Airport Holiday and walked to the Continental Airlines kiosk to see if I could get my boarding pass. The kiosk is open from 4:30AM till 5:00PM. Except for a few employees and an occasional stray traveler, the airport was empty. A reminder that this really is a small-town airport – which is why it is preferred over Atlanta.

7:30PM In the Holiday Inn. Food is still second rate.

8:30PM End of day.

4 May 2010 Tuesday

5:00AM At the Continental ticket counter. Early rush has thinned out to nothing. Cleared security. Plane on time. Uneventful flight.

9:30AM In Houston/Dallas Airport at the Continental gate to Teguci. Another uneventful flight, which is exactly what we want. Going through customs was slow; passengers from the American flight were also processing through. Bags arrived. Got a taxi.

1:00PM Checked into the Hotel General. Walked around the corner to Xplor Car Rental place and set up to have a car delivered at 7:00AM. Studied Spanish.

2:00PM There is an up-scale outdoor restaurant with a balcony on the corner. They serve seafood and steak. I ordered a fish filet that is lightly breaded and pan-fried with all kinds of herbs. I was really good, except it was almost cooked. Not quite as white and flaky throughout as it should be. It tasted so good, I was hungry, and I was on the balcony where the waiter rarely comes. Against the most basic rules of travel, I ate it.

4:30PM A slight stomach ache. The last time I ate fish that wasn’t quite right was 8 years ago in Costa Rica and I had Montezuma’s Revenge so bad for 2 days that I knew I was going to die.

5:30PM Decided that if I am going to have a few bad days, I might as well have a bowl of black bean soup and be miserable on a full stomach. The black bean soup at the hotel really is good.

7:00PM In the room. End of day.

5 May 2010, Wednesday

5:30AM Up and feeling fine! Dodged the bullet but that was a reminder and I will remember.

6:00AM Breakfast with the best cappuccino in the world. Advice: Don’t drink two cups in a row unless you want to walk up walls, know the future, and see everything in bright colors.

7:00AM Car was ready. Drove to Nacaomi.

9:00AM Got my room, and called Fernando. It seems that he is in San Lorenzo at the port loading a truck! Ismael (Fernando’s new helper and our second Honduras fulltime employee) and I caught up with Fernando at a shop/warehouse in Nacaomi. Since Fernando presented our proposed Agreement to Marco Antonio Garay Hernandez with World Food Program (WFP), Fernando has maintained a dialogue with Marco and others. It seems that Marco called Fernando this morning and instructed him to take a truck to the port and load supplies to install water wells (the shallow hand-dug type) and that is what Fernando was doing. Once all of the supplies were secured, Fernando tried to explain over a cup of coffee:
Marcos understands that L4L concentrates on lunches for elementary school children and this is one of the interests of WFP. However, WFP is a more comprehensive program. If L4L wants assistance with the lunch program, we must assist with other WFP projects in our area. The directors of WFP have not signed our agreement but Marcos wants to get us involved in WFP projects now. There is an approved project for our area to provide well water for 5 small rural towns in our area. This project provides that WFP will supply hand tools to dig 5 wells, plus materials (bricks, mortar, cement, rebar, etc), the community will supply labor. L4L provides transportation for delivering supplies, management, and administrative support. L4L will receive food for the L4L lunch program plus food to deliver to laborers for their assistance. L4L will receive far more in value than the cost of our oversight. Finally, L4L gets credit for the entire water well project. If you recall, L4L gives value to food delivered to the lunch program by PRAF and books the dollar value of the food. We will book the entire value of developing these well.
I told Fernando that this is the right kind of surprise to have but there are some glairing gaps. For example; where is an agreement between L4L and WFP. I explained that certain BoD members, like me, are uncomfortable participating in such an arrangement with nothing in writing. Fernando explained that, while we don’t have a signed agreement, the WFP delivered the supplies on a WFP bill of laden and L4L signed for it; we are being supplied by WFP through their standard procedure. L4L and WFP will proceed through WFP standard procedures and all deliveries will be properly delivered and received with appropriate documentation/signatures. Further, there is a standard WFP procedure for NGO’s, like us, to distribute and utilize WFP products. I told Fernando that, while this is the right kind of surprise to walk into, it will take some digesting; meanwhile Fernando should move forward to facilitate this WFP/L4L process.

11:00AM Fernando, Ismael, and I drive out to Roxana’s to pick her up. From there, we go to elementary school Dr. Juan Lindo in the community of La Puya for the annual Parent/Teacher meeting. This is a school of 35 students; every child was represented by a parent, sever fathers were in attendance. You can’t appreciate the importance of the L4L program until you see, first hand, how seriously the parents take it. After Roxana and Fernando talked, we asked if there were any questions. A few positive comments then one man stood up; “first I want to thank you for bringing this program all the way out here to our small school. Can you tell us how long this program will last?” I said I don’t know, the answer is in the hands of a higher authority but it is our intent that the program last for a long time.

1:00PM Roxana, Fernando, Ismael, and two school principals drove to restaurant way south of town for curiles (a small shellfish eaten raw), a local delicacy.

6:00PM In the compound for the night. End of day.

6 May 2010 Thursday

7:00AM Drove to El Barrial so that the principal, David Rene Matute and Fernando could show me the door/door frame situation. Look at any pictures of the school at El Barrial or most other locations and you see a row of window frames with horizontal wooden shutters much like stationery venation blinds along the front and along the back of the school. The wooden door frame is part of the adjacent wooden window frame. One room has a stable door/window frame structure. The door is secure to the frame and window shutters are secure in place. Wire mesh as been placed along the upper row of windows. After school, the shutters are closed on the lower panel of windows and, with screens over the upper window panels, bats cannot enter. On the second classroom, the wooden frame is so decayed that it cannot hold shutters and the door is unstable. When there is a very limited amount of resources, decisions are made. Since this entire wooden door/window frame assembly must be replaced, the school committee and Mr. Rene decided to not waste the available screen on a frame that must be replaced as the screen will be destroyed in the process of taking the present window/door frame out. Now all the bats that stayed in both rooms, congregate in this one room and it is a mess! Until the situation is fixed, all grades meet in one room. Every morning, the 6th graders sweep up bat droppings from the previous night but the wet urine stains (and odor) remain. It is my understanding that the most unhealthy part of the situation is bat urine. Once the room is secure, the floor will be scrubbed with Clorox before it is put back into use. Messiah N provided $100 to repair the door frame and door. That might be sufficient except the window frames/shutters must also be replaced. Fernando wanted me to see the situation so I would understand why no action has been taken regarding the door and frame. You and I may have used the available screen as a temporary fix and simply replace the screen with the permanent fix, this community decided not to waste this valuable resource on a temporary fix. I explained to Fernando and Mr. Rene that L4L supplies lunch we don’t fix door frames. I suggested that Mr. Rene write a letter of explanation to Messiah N. Fernando can scan the letter and send it with pictures to Messiah N, who will decide how/when this matter is resolved.
Fernando, Marco and Dr. Cerrato have decided that the first water well project will be here at El Barrial. It seems that many years ago the community developed a hand-dug well. The well is several hundred yards from the community and alongside a small intermittently flowing stream. The well has a substantial concrete well apron and cap. The plan is to re-enter this well and make it deeper. In the process, limbs, leaves and other debris that has collected over the years will be removed. Finally, a hand pump will be attached to a buried water line that will fill a cistern in the community near the school. The water will be tested for purity before the well is put into service. Once again, all of the supplies will be provided by WFP through L4L and L4L will manage the project. L4L will receive lunch food and food for payment to community fathers who participate in the project.

11:00AM Fernando, Roxana, Ismael, and I are on our way to 3 de Octobre (Kristi, I had forgotten how far out this school is and how steep the roads are!). At each school, I find myself thinking “someone should sponsor this school, if only a person understood how greatly they would be appreciated for their assistance…” There are 50 students. There were 30 parents, men and woman in attendance; all the students were represented. The principal introduced us with the strongest possible endorsement of the program. You could see that he was preaching to the choir. After our presentation, a mother stood up to thank us on behalf of the mothers and a second woman stood up to thank us on behalf of another community group (my Spanish is not quite good enough to understand the difference between the groups).
I seems that the hand-dug well that supplied water dried up 2 years ago (the community was using it when Kristi and I visited the school). Fernando will look into deepening the well through the WFP participation. It’s all good!

4:00PM Drove to San Lorenzo for deep fried fish.

7:00PM In the compound. End of day.

7 May 2010, Friday

7:00AM    Dr. Cerrato, a long time supporter of L4L (he helped us get our Pin Cipher while in congress) has been appointed the Director of the Department of Health for Valle District (DoH-V). The DoH-V works closely with the WDP Director. Marco and Dr. Cerrato have asked Fernando to meet with them, and others, this morning to discuss combined efforts in Valle District. While Fernando is meetings with WFP, DoH-V and others, Ismael and I drove out into the mountains to a very small DoH-V clinic to pick up the monthly L4L food products for certain surrounding schools. As it turns out, the nurse/manager is spending the day in meetings in Cholutecka and the assistant on duty doesn’t have keys to the supply rooms. We drove all this way for nothing! One might observe that the stars are lining up for L4L or that we are going through a period of good karma but it is clear that Fernando is steering L4L through these events:
•    WFP is assigning tasks to L4L because of Fernando’s efforts
•    DoH-V is distributing food to L4L because of Fernando’s efforts
•    L4L will manage projects coordinated between WFP, DoH-V, and recipients because of Fernando’s efforts.
It’s all good and the best thing I can do is stay out of Fernando’s way and facilitate his efforts as best I can.

10:30 Ismael and I are back in Nacaomi. We go to the Governor’s office and I spend a few minutes talking with Marcos about our arrangement. He explained that he prefers not to push for a signature on the Agreement until L4L is more deeply involved in WFP projects. He doesn’t want to raise questions till he has more history with L4L to point to. Marcos explained that he knows Fernando is scheduled to speak at an annual Parent/Teacher meeting at a school this afternoon but asked if we can cover for Fernando so he can attend an afternoon planning meeting. Of course we can!

11:00AM Ismael and I picked up Roxana and are headed for Jose Cecilio Del Valle in the community of Los Posas school for the Parent/Teacher meeting. This is a school fairly large school with 120 students. Once again, almost every student is represented by a parent; there are over 30 participants, all mothers. The school principal used this meeting opportunity to hold a general parent/teacher meeting so the meeting was in progress when we arrived. Two teachers met us when we parked, welcomed us to the school, walked us to the meeting room and formally introduced us to the group. Most communities are fairly remote and most traveling is by foot so each community develops it own personality. This slightly more formal touch seems to fit this community. After our presentation, a pre-selected mother stood up and presented a message of appreciation from the mothers. There weren’t any specific questions during the Q/A session; mostly comments about the importance of the daily vitamins and the milk for the children.

1:30PM Back in the compound.

3:00PM Fernando came by so we could discuss events of the day. While meeting with Marco and Fernando in the Governor’s office this morning, I had suggested that Marco, Dr. Cerrato, Fernando, and meet for dinner as a social event without business to worry about. The dinner is set up for 6:00PM.

5:30PM At Fernando’s house to pick him up for dinner. Picked up Marco. We picked up another doctor who is a friend of Marco’s and known by all except me. Drove toward Ampapala. About 5 miles before the dock we stopped at what appears to be a very nice, fairly new two-story house; it is actually a very up-scale restaurant. The owner, Jorge Alvarez, left this area when he was 16 and worked/trained as a chef for 25 years in Miami and New York with a stint in Europe. He returned home about 3 years ago to see if he can put a business together on the Pacific side of Honduras.

7:00PM On the second floor balcony overlooking the bay with the lights of San Lorenzo across the bay and the lights of Cholutecka barely visible further off and to the right. There is an evening breeze off the bay. The ambiance is all outdoors/up-scale; china table setting with silver serving trays, attentive staff. Around the table was Dr. Cerrado, Wilson (a well educated man who travels to the US occasionally on business. I have met him several times in the past. He is now Dr. Cerrato’s Assistant), Marco and his Dr friend, Fernando and me. A wonderful evening of excellent food and grand camaraderie. My Spanish is still not good enough to keep up with the flow of conversation around a table but that didn’t dampen the mood of the evening. I have no idea why Wilson or the other doctor were there but, like so many things in Central America that seem spontaneous and unplanned, I can assure you the placement of individuals around this table was not spontaneous or unplanned.

9:30PM In the compound. End of day.

May 8, 2010 Saturday

8:00AM Fernando stopped by so we went to El Centro for breakfast. Discussed events of past week and plans for next. I asked when he expects to start work on rehabilitating the water well in El Barrial. He said he expects to start work in about a week. WFP has 5 wells to start with and has projects coming down the pipeline from building rehabilitation to putting in community gardens. L4L is on a course to have all necessary legumes, corn, rice, and cooking oil necessary for L4L into the foreseeable future. L4L will manage and book the value of many much larger projects. While L4L will be provided food, tools, and supplies, L4L will not receive actual cash from WFP into the foreseeable future. Somehow, the BoD must figure out a way to continue to finance L4L through this period where L4L grows in size, asset value, and impact but not in cash value.

9:30AM On my way to Tegucigalpa. Traffic has increased substantially since my last visit. Hopefully, this indicates some improvement in the economy. The Honduras economy was really pummeled during the unrest of last year. Maintaining an independent democracy has really hurt Honduras proving, once again, that no good deed goes unpunished.

12:00PM In the Hotel General. Italian restaurant for lunch.

1:30PM Spent the afternoon catching up on notes, expense account, etc.

6:00PN Went to El Patio for barbeque. Service is lousy and beef is tough. Probably the last time for El Patio.

7:30PM In the hotel for the night. End of day.

May 9, 2010 Sunday

Catching up on correspondence and getting ready for next week. No trip log activities to report.

May 10, 2010 Monday

9:00AM Email from Dr. Mossi, he can see me at 3:30. I called Fernando to see if he can join us. He can.

10:00AM I forgot a necktie so went to the mall. Tie was $35!!! Most people don’t make $35 in a week! Not much choice so I bought it.

11:00AM Marco called, he wants to meet Tuesday afternoon. It seems that his promotion came through and another person will take over our area. I hope we are embedded deeply enough that Fernando won’t have to start over. More on this after our Tuesday afternoon meeting.

1:00PM Fernando is here. Ate lunch. Whiled away some time discussing various WFP projects.

3:30PM In Dr. Mossi’s office. I like Dr. Mossi because he gets right to the meat of the subject; not a lot of small talk. I explained that Fernando has made contact with management of WFP and DoH-V. I would like Dr. Mossi to help me meet someone with the UN at the top of the Honduras chain so that when Marco or Dr. Cerrato mention L4L, their managers have heard of us. Dr. Mossi said he would set up a meeting with the Honduras UN person with rank equivalent to his (Country Director) for this Thursday. He will also set up a meeting with the new Director of PRAF for Thursday. I am on such a short timeline; flying out Friday. Hope he can put it together.

4:45PM Back at the hotel. Fernando is driving back to this evening so he left directly after we returned to the hotel so he won’t have to drive after dark. I will drive to Nacaomi very early tomorrow morning because Fernando wants to deliver food to several schools.

6:00PM Went to the restaurant next door. The waiter asked, in Spanish, if I wanted my fish well done or medium done. I couldn’t believe my ears and asked him to repeat. I never heard of fish other than well done. Possibly, I got my fish medium (not quite done) on purpose the other day. Now I know; you don’t just order “pescado” but “pescado bien cocinada”.

7:30PM In the hotel. End of day.

May 11, 2010 Tuesday

5:00AM Up so I can get an early start. Fernando will wait for me to start his daily activities.

6:00AM Processed out of hotel, retrieved vehicle from parking deck, guide/taxi lined up to lead me across Teguci.

8:00AM Processed into motel in Nacaomi, caught up with Fernando. Fernando, Ismael, and I are headed for the region health office in the small mountain community of (Upper) Jicaro. These small health offices are commonly staffed by a nurse and a helper. This unpainted concrete block office consists of a waiting room probably 18 feet wide by 30 feet long. There is a row of 8 rough hewn wooden church style benches. At the front is a desk for the assistant/receptionist. The nurse’s office is through a door to the front and right of waiting room. The waiting room is full of mostly women and children; some men are there with a child. Outside, several men sit under a shade tree. Four saddled horses are tethered to tree branches; ours is the only motor vehicle. Next to the nurse’s office building is a block storage building approximately 18 feet by 24 feet. Sixty pound bags of rice, corn meal, soy flour, wheat flour, and 2 cases of I liter plastic bottles of cooking oil. Dr. Cerrato and Marcos have arranged for us to pick up these supplies. There were a total of 60+/- bags (enough to fill the pickup bed). We loaded these bags with the help of two of the fathers and drove back to Nacaomi.

10:30AM We stored these food products in a building owned by Fernando’s mother. We now have hand-tools and food stored at Fernando’s house, his wife’s office, and a room at his mother’s house. L4L must rent a storage room!

11:30AM At a meeting in a room at the Governor’s office with Marco, an assistant of his, another NGO, Francisco (?), and his aid. Marcos talked for about 30 minutes about how the WFP is an integrated system and how we are a team. Next, we spent 30 minutes discussing the best project tracking form. Marco is a true bureaucrat’s bureaucrat. Marco dismissed the others.

12:45PM Marco explained that his assignment has changed. He will oversee a larger geographical area and study other projects. He will assign us to another manager (who, I think, will answer to him). This new person lives in Teguci and will manage this area from a desk. Our assigned projects will progress as if there was no change. He purposely did not push for the signature of the Agreement with L4L so that we would have more time to perform before our experience level is questioned. For me, this is business; it’s up to us to find out what motivates the new manager and determine if his interests are similar to, as well as benefit L4L interests. Something about Marco’s delivery rubbed Fernando the wrong way. Remember, they are friends from many years back and they live in the same community; they will stay friends. Still it was clear to me that, for Fernando, something isn’t just right.

1:30PM At Polloland “restaurant” for lunch. Fernando knows that this other NGO, Francisco, who is financed through an Italian foundation and WFP has actually accomplished nothing over the past year. Yet, somehow, Fernando feels L4L is playing second chair. I told Fernando to relax and wait; things will settle down and he can determine L4L’s best interest then (me telling someone to relax and wait-doesn’t sound right, does it?). To top off events; the chicken is raw in the middle. I showed it to the manager who shrugged her shoulders. I asked if she would change this for another, she said she would not; it’s all cooked the same so mine is ok. I told Fernando to explain that I will pay for everything except the raw chicken. Fernando said “you will go back to the US and we will stay here to pay many times, I prefer that you not do that”. When lunch was over, Fernando jumped up to pay to be sure I didn’t say something stupid (like I shouldn’t have to pay for raw chicken).

3:30PM Fernando met me at the motel and we went down the street for a beer. Fernando explained that as soon as he left, Dr. Cerrato called and instructed Fernando to pick up 60 lb. bags of school lunch dried food and that is what he has been doing for the past hour. This delivery consists of rations for a certain group of schools (Fernando has the list). L4L really does need a clean and dry storage area.

4:30PM Went to San Lorenzo for dinner

7:00PM In the compound. End of day.

May 12, 2010 Wednesday

8:00AM A little slower pace today. Actually, most of this day was for me. Fernando and Ismael came by. Drove to Rincon to see Anabel and find out when graduation would be in November. Students were just finishing “lunch” by the time we got there so this was the short morning recess. Anabel immediately ran over grinning from ear to ear. Most of you may not remember but Anabel’s front teeth were discolored any one could see small lines of decay on the side teeth. Even as a small child, she was self conscious and would never smile because that would show her bad teeth. Five years ago, Roxana took her to a dentist who was apparently not too good with kids. Anabel was so petrified she would not go back for years. During this past year the pain got bad enough that Miriam, her guardian, finally got her to the dentist. Five hundred dollars later, her front teeth are completely white and there is no decay left to show. The habit of not smiling was so old, for the last 4 months, everyone had to tell her to smile so her beautiful teeth would show. Now she grins from ear to ear. We learned that the School Director sent out a message that the graduation ceremony must be no more than 8 days before Nov. 30 and no more than 8 days after Nov. 30. This school prefers sometime before Nov 30.

10:00AM Drove to the high school in Goascoran to check on Waldina’s grades. Grades have not been tallied and distributed yet. I’ll never understand how a high school can simply ignore the scheduled report card day and casually distribute them several weeks late. This school consistently misses the date. While the report card distribution date is one week past, no one in the office would commit to a revised distribution date. When Waldina saw us, she dismissed herself from class and came over. Waldina never smiles or offers any information. She answers questions, when asked. After a few minutes of talk, she asked to be excused so she could return to class. The difference between Anabel and Waldina is that Anabel (now) has a great home life environment and Waldina doesn’t. Waldina was set up for failure, if she makes it through high school, it will be entirely of her own doing. There will be substantial changes in procedures before I do this again.

11:30AM At Pierdras Blancas to see when graduation will be. Essentially, the same story.

1:00PM Lunch in El Central.

2:00PM Ismael went to deliver some food products, Fernando went to put a report together for WFP.

4:00PM Drove to Goascoran to see ex-Alcalde, Valesquez (the mayor who helped with 3 of the 4 kitchens).

6:00PM On the way back, Fernando called to say that Dr. Mossi had set up some meetings for us in the morning. At this time, one of the typical police roadblocks was coming up and I was pulled over. The officer took the registration and my Honduras driver’s license (obviously looking for a handout) he announced that I was talking on my cell phone and that is illegal. There were two school principals hitching a ride to Nacaome with me so he really couldn’t ask for a bribe and I suppose my indignant response didn’t help much. One thing led to another and he wrote me a ticket. Now, ticket writing is a little different in Honduras. When a real ticket is written, they keep your license. You have to go to the local municipality the next day and pay your fine. Then they give your license back, in theory. What do you think the odds are of the three ticket copies and the confiscated license ever being in the same place? Fernando says he can get the license back; we’ll see. Two lessons:

· Don’t mouth off to a policeman at a road block; pay your damn bribe and go on.

· Carry a Honduras license so that they don’t get your US license.

8:00PM In the compound. End of day.

May 13, 2010 Thursday.

7:00AM Fernando and I are on our way to Teguci. We have a meeting at 10:30AM with the Director of PRAF and a meeting at 11:30AM with the Director of WFP.

10:30AM In the office of the Director of PRAF (Fernando has the notes with his name and email address). I like this Director of PRAF much more than the last; he is very management/business oriented, the last was political and showy. A little refresher info; PRAF does not actually distribute food. PRAF is a Honduras social services department under the watchful eye of World Bank. The Director of PRAF works closely with the Director of WFP. During our last encounter, about 4 years ago, after inspecting 3 schools in the L4L program, the PRAF director said she would recommend to the director of WFP that WFP continue deliveries of food, even during shortages. I assume she did; our schools didn’t miss a delivery until the political turmoil last year. To the meeting at hand: This was the first meeting where my Spanish failed me. I should have brought an interpreter. Fernando filled in for me; he knew the points we wanted to make. The Director was very appreciative of what we do and looks forward to working with us in the future. Meeting didn’t last more than 20 minutes.

11:30AM Meeting with Jose Francisco Salinas, WFP Director of Program. Probably halfway into my first paragraph of introduction, Mr. Salinas interrupted and said he wanted another person to hear what I am saying. This person is Hernan Alfonso Agullar, WDP Unit Programmer. I explained our history and said we are interested in working more closely with WFP since we work in the same communities. I further explained that L4L understands that WFP has a larger mission and we are ready to help, but these other efforts (such as refurbishing wells) cannot divert L4L money away from our school lunch program. Both men expressed an interest in exploring avenues of cooperation. Mr. Agullar will set up a time for him and Fernando to inspect some schools in the L4L program. Both men said they were really glad we came by because they had never heard of L4L and they are very interested in working with us (PRAF was supposed to have talked with then and Marcos was supposed to be moving us up through the chain – I think Dr. Mossi may have done more for us by setting this meeting up than all others combined). Mr. Salinas wants to explore an agreement with L4L where we either expand the schools we cover or include ages 6 months to 5 years in existing communities. A long ways to go, but we’re finally moving down a road that is going some place. Mr. Salinas made it clear that any agreement between L4L and WFP would have to be signed by me in Honduras. Again, a long way off, but we keep moving along.

1:00PM Turned rental vehicle in, walked across the street to BigBoy’s for a hamburger.

2:00PM Fernando leaves for Nacaomi. I am taking notes and getting ready for my flight.

4:30PM In the hotel. End of day.

May 14, 2010 Friday

9:00AM Slept late, finished packing. In a taxi headed for airport.

10:00AM Revised seating arrangements and got boarding pass, paid airport exit fee, through security.

12:00PM Plane leaves on time. Unusual turbulence. Plane is flying at 32,000 feet and we are skimming across the top of clouds. Apparently a fairly big storm right below us. Land on time. Through customs. Ride rail to Corridor B and walk all the way to the end of the 60’s series gates only to be told the gate has been changed to the 80’s series corridor. For those of you who haven’t done it, this is a long walk. If a person stopped on his way to the posted gate 61A to eat and arrived with 20 minutes left, he would not make it to the changed gate location; unless the person possesses EST he would miss his flight even though he would be at the posted gate in “plenty” of time.

6:30PM After an hour delay, we board the plane and taxi out to the runway only to be delayed by a storm passing over. We sat on the tarmac for 3 hours! Very bumpy first half of the trip.

11:30PM In Birmingham.

1:30AM At home. End of trip

The Motorcycle Diary

Trip Log (letter written May 3, 2010 thru May 14, 2010)