Trip Log (Letter written February 23, 2008)

reh@knology.net — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

February 23, 2008 (Saturday)

Note: Yesterday, after our conversation with Roxana, I invited her to join us for lunch at the seafood restaurant in San Lorenz. She insisted that we stay for lunch; Zareth is cooking and expects us to stay. I said I would be glad to but she will have to go to lunch with Fernando and me tomorrow. This is tomorrow so am marking time till lunch.
8:00AM Drove out to the place that makes Linka Indian pottery to check out her stock. Set aside a few pieces to pick up next Wednesday.
9:30AM Working on expense account; as usual, my receipt keeping is failing me.
11:00AM Fernando, Roxana, Suyen, and I were on our way for fried fish in San Lorenz. One of my favorite places to eat.
1:30PM At an internet café attempting to send scanned copy of the scanned Honduras Registration material and Trip Log through yesterday. Not sure how successful we were. Jeff, read your email to all about Honduras registration. Your critique is accurate and complete. Thank you for keeping everyone up to date; I am certainly having a hard time doing that from here. This is an important event and I appreciate you taking a minute to keep everyone in the loop.

An aside: During the dry season, people build little temporary pole structures on the gravel beaches along the river. These little thatched huts are shops that cater to people enjoying the river. I have seen these shops while crossing the river for 4 years but was never comfortable with driving down to check the area out. On the way back from San Lorenz, I asked Fernando for some info on these thatched temporary structures. Fernando said that they provide people a place to be out of the sun and sell beer fried bananas, etc. and suggested that, possibly we could come back for a beer a little later.

3:00PM Had enough internet stuff for one sitting so Fernando and I headed for the river beach area.
Cross the river bridge going south/east along CA-1, turn left onto a dirt road that turns back and leads to the river just below the bridge. The topographic grade of the river is steep enough that swiftly flowing water carries the sand and beaches are made up of rounded river rocks. 3 to 5 inch diameter polls with a Y at the top are set in the beach forming a room approximately 20’x16’. Straight(er) poles are laid in the Y and lashed in place. A type of straw is thatched to the roof polls and side frame forming a shady area. The standard setup is an ice cooler with (not too) cold beer and soft drinks on one side. A fire pit assembled on top of a 55 gallon drum fixed so that long pieces of fire wood can be constantly pushed into the cooking area and ashes fall to the beach floor at the bottom of the 55 gallon drum (the next rainy season will take care of ashes). Depending on the structure, one can have fried bananas, taco salad, beef barbeque, etc. The beach side is open and the rock floor within the structure is covered with sand so that one can comfortably walk/sit in the “kitchen”. There are a few round plastic tables and plenty of plastic chares.
Fernando and I sat in one “kitchen” nursing a beer and watching river activities. Littler kids climbing up a log laid against a main bridge pylon onto a ledge around the bridge pylon about 15 feet above the water and pushing/jumping off; Bigger kids taking a really fast run/jump off a rock cliff 40+ feet above the water to clear the rocks directly at the foot of the bank (a little iffy for my blood). Women washing clothes using a larger flatter rock as a wash board while sitting in the water that flows around the rock. Little kids swimming in smaller water holes with parents close (or not so close) by. Most of the little kids wear street clothes or nothing. The one little girl with a store-bought swimming suit looked strangely out of place. Men drive vehicles into areas of shallow water and wash the vehicle. A very pleasant way to spend an afternoon, and a nice way for so many to leave the harsh realities of life behind for a while. Fernando says it is perfectly safe for me to come here by myself during the daytime. I can come here in the evening with him (because he knows everyone), but should not come here alone in the evening. Though I really would like to try some barbeque beef, I probably will not come down here alone, even during the day. I am the only non-local on the river beach; coming with Fernando connects me with the surroundings. I think my coming alone would be uncomfortable for everyone. Great way to spend some time; I hope I get to come back.
7:30PM Walked to a barrio block party with Fernando, his wife, and their 4 year old daughter. Mostly adults sitting around in pleasant conversation and smaller kids running around. I think the teenagers (that the block party was supposed to attract) felt that they are too sophisticated to hang out with a bunch of old people and little kids. A very sociable and social group; everyone makes sure they come by to shake hands and say “hi” to everyone else during the evening.
10:00PM In the motel compound. End of the day.

The Motorcycle Diary

Trip Log (Letter written February 23, 2008)