I should never have gotten out of bed this morning
Trip Start
Jun 12, 2007
1
39
47
Trip End
Nov 13, 2007
Antigua Guatemala,
Guatemala
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
So today my Dad and I were to leave for El Salvador, about 90 miles away. Easy day, right? Well, first off, my bike has been sitting for 11 days and somehow the battery got drained over that time. So, before we could leave we had to strip down my bike to get to the battery and jump-start it. Frustrating, but not a huge deal. We were on the road only about 1/2 an hour late.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL
We get about 40 miles down the road and I realize I left my money belt--with my passport, motorcycle documents, credit cards and about $250 cash--sitting on the bed at the hostel. Oh fuck does not begin to describe my feelings. So we turn around and head back to Antigua. We should still be able to do the border crossing today, even with this setback.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL
I get us totally lost getting back to Antigua and we end up on a toll road to get back on track. While on the toll road we stop for gas and I (stupidly) shut off my bike. The battery is still dead and we need to jump-start it again in the parking lot. Major suck.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL
The highway back to Antigua, so pretty and peaceful in the morning, is now the route for one of Central America's biggest bicycle races. The Tour de France of Guatemala. Dozens of racers, thousands of cheering fans and a cluster-fuck of traffic. What took 45 minutes in the morning took us over two hours returning as we dodged cyclists, support vehicles, police cars and lots of fans crowding the route. Add in another stall and jump-start three blocks from the hostel and you're starting to get the picture. At least it wasn't raining. Hell, at least the hostel had my money belt (with all its contents) and two beds, since we had given up on getting into El Salvador today.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL
I stripped down my bike and pulled the battery to charge it (luckily I'm carrying a mini-charger). I put it on to charge and left for lunch and BEER. Came back two hours later to discover that the battery was not holding a charge, it was truly and completely dead. Thus ensused a long quest to buy a replacement battery on the afternoon before a national holiday. We eventually found the battery only to discover that it didn't come with acid. Thus ensued a long quest to buy battery acid on the afternoon before a national holiday. Amazingly, everything worked out.
So that's today. Happy Halloween! I must admit that I am still stunned at all that went wrong and that somehow it all seems to have worked out. That plus I think Dad and I probably came in at least 10th in the cycle race (look for us on the evening news;). I am utterly slack-jawed and require a lot of beer and water before I will feel normal-ish again.
