Around the World in 800 Days

[quimexa]

Hi Ed, when do you think you will be arriving into Costa Rica??

Originally Posted by flyingdutchman177

Made it in to El SALVADOR TODAY
Internet is slow here where I am staying
I will try and post some pics and stories tomorrow
Todo bien

[flyingdutchman177]

Originally Posted by quimexa

Hi Ed, when do you think you will be arriving into Costa Rica??

I am thinking around the 20th of this month
See you then

[flyingdutchman177]

Originally Posted by Scubalong

Ed is back
I am glad to hear from you, looking forward to your RR update.

Still at the same hostel with the bad internet
I hope I can post some new pics and stories manana
I have some good ones too

[flyingdutchman177]

Originally Posted by TimeForAChange

you've inspired me to get off the Harley and find myself a an adventure bike...so much more my style than just cruising down a paved road.

joe

Be careful what you wish for Joe
You might just get it

[VietHorse]

Awesome trip report, Ed.
I like your traveling style with camping most of the time.
Do you drink (I meant wine, beer...) more than when you are at home??!
Ship your bike to Asia, take some weeks in Vietnam, I can show you how fund riding here.

[flyingdutchman177]

After traveling thru the mud out of Semuc Champey, no one had any idea where I was from

[flyingdutchman177]

I think this picture pretty much sums up the attitude here in Guatemala

[flyingdutchman177]

Here is that lonely remote highway 7W cutting thru the mountains in Central Guatemala

[flyingdutchman177]

This was one the most beautiful sights I have seen so far on my trip...............Lago de Atitlan in Guatemala as seen from the city of Pana. It is a lake surrounded by volcanos.

[flyingdutchman177]

Here I am posing next to Volcan San Pedro, which I hiked up the next day.

[flyingdutchman177]

Here's proof I made it there with my bike

[flyingdutchman177]

I spent 2 nights at this hotel in Santiago Atitlan. It was Hotel Estrella. It was 100 Quinzalez a night which is about $13. And that was for the penthouse!!!
Seriously!!!!
Here is a picture. It was the only room on the top (4th) floor and it had this really cool, big outdoor deck overlooking the lake

[flyingdutchman177]

Here's the cool deck

[flyingdutchman177]

Watching the sunset over Volcan San Pedro. Thinking about hiking up the next day

[flyingdutchman177]

The travel books tell you to not hike up the volcano without a guide because you could get robbed, lost or worse. And if you know me, I don't like going with a guide. I like finding my own way. And the guide usually slows me down. Two years ago in St Lucia, I had to have a guide to hike up the Gros Peton. He made it about half way up with me and stopped. He pooped out. He said he would see me on the way down. I made it up faster than anyone had before. Yes, I am boasting a bit. I am proud I can still do stuff like that at my age.
Here, a guy with a boat told me that I could hike up Volcan San Pedro from Santiago and then hike down the other side in to the town of San Pedro. So that is what I did.
I took a boat to the other side of the bay to the edge of the volcano and started my hike straight up the side. There was a lot of bushwacking. And toward the top, the trail became so steep that I was using my hands to pull myself up.
Here is a picture from the top.
2 hours and 10 minutes