03/28/24 Huehuetenango

March 28, 2024

All uphill, but still easier than yesterday

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I was not looking forward to today, expecting a ride more difficult than yesterday. My routing app said I would encounter several miles of steep climbing above 10% grade and expected I’d be doing a lot of walking. So I was pleased to discover that RideWithGPS was wrong, and I never had anything over 8% and didn’t have to walk at all! I was better about drinking lots of water as well, so I ended the day physically much better than yesterday. I’m taking a day off tomorrow, to explore the town a bit and to plan the next leg. I was so intimidated by what I assumed today would be like that hadn’t done any thinking beyond Huehuetenango, so I now need to do some thinking.

I left early, no breakfast options yet open at 6:15, so I stopped for breakfast in La Democracia

An attempt to convey how steep everything is

I’m noticing more hotels than appear on Google

I wish it was mist that is causing the low visibility, but it’s all smoke

I swung by to get water and ask about the name

William built his nest egg supervising undocumented workers for 20 years in Memphis, came back and built his house and store

His 12 year old daughter listened to our conversation but was too shy to talk

Another terrorist who refused to bare his teeth for the camera

Drying coffee. There are many small farmers growing coffee for sale

The mom unrolled her project to show me what she was making

Coffee seedlings (I presume) in the shade

I got a friendly honk and a wave from In God We Trust guy

These kids hid and giggled but wouldn’t talk

Women carrying firewood on their backs, hanging from their foreheads

These Blue Bird buses are the main intercity public transportation. They are called chicken buses because they can carry everything, including chickens. Locals call them “camionetas”, i.e. buses. I may ride one at some point

Chicken buses began life carrying American schoolchildren

They go to Guatemala and eventually get new paint. Note the padlock on the gas cap

Spring owned by the local communities. The sign says take what you need and don’t dump your trash in our water supply

This guy was building a shelf and selling tables, $10 each

Another flag house, properly oriented this time

Marco was drying coffee chatted with me about that and other things while his daughters hovered. When I asked for a picture he said yes and they scurried

A major firewood operation. It appears that cooking with wood is the norm

Today was the first day I’ve passed enough flowing water that the filter I’ve been carrying could be useful. Stores with cold water every few miles means I never considered it

“The poor are who suffer because of corruption. Don’t sell our dignity!”

Pickup trucks carry people between the local communities. Minivans also, but on this stretch it was mostly the trucks. William said there would be more chicken buses but this is Easter week and a lot of services have been reduced

Come to Huehuetenango and attend Cambridge

I picked what looked like a nice place on Google

No single rooms available, I got this for $22.

Today's ride: 48 miles (77 km)
Total: 3,059 miles (4,923 km)

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