Pure Adventure...Holy...

So, since my last entry my bike got jacked, I've been in an earthquake, hurricane, volcanic explosion, and a huge landslide! Guess that makes for a fruitful life.
First off, I was in Guatemala City looking for some food and locked my bike to a light pole near a busy market. Less than an hour later I returned to find only the pole left and people who have seen nothing. It is like seeing a ghost, where did it go? I filed a police report after looking for a bit and the cops suggested that I should pay them. I declined and asked where I could buy stolen goods and they told me all efforts were to be fruitless. All will soon be well, got a temporary bike and we are in a place where I should be able to get an adequate setup to get me further down the trail. We'll be taking a break from cycling now anyway so I have some time.
We left Antigua to climb two large volcanoes nearby. After finding the village and sleeping in a church we set off at 4:15 am to climb. We got lost 4 times and after climbing waterfalls and being soaked we decided to abide darkness and camp before giving up our efforts. Early the next morning we found the trail and decided to continue. A few hours later we made camp at 2,700 meters. We set up camp in the rain and that night watched a show. Our show was Volcan de Fuego errupting. There were explosions and rock slides. I was a bit on edge; our future looked grim. "Holy Shit! what do we do?" was all I could think of saying. The next morning at about 1am we started our summit approach. It was super steep and tough, after the tree line still dark and WHOA MAMA cold! We made the ridge summit for sunrise and it all seemed worth it. After we started our descent, the rain started and it is still going thanks to hurricane Matthew. Landslides everywhere!
We climbed elevation on our way to Lake Atitlan and stopped in a town where the mayor let us stay in the community center for the night. Through pouring rain we cycled to a town and decided to take a break and wait for the rain to stop. After waiting a few hours we decided we could not wait any more. Continuing in hard rain, darkness fell along with the temperatures and we were forced to find shelter in a small town in the mountains. We asked for the mayor to no avail and followed with questions for a church. We banged on the church door and asked for shelter. People came and asked us if we were armed and we replied "only armed with hunger and good energy". Frozen we stood by a cooking fire in a kitchen and were informed that this place was in fact not a church, but they had meetings there from time to time. They were just a family. They gave us food and offered us a place to stay for the night. That night there was an earthquake shaking my bed, my immediate thought was that the guy in the next bed was a bit lonely, but it was an earthquake. The next day the rain was harder, we stayed the night again, but decided we needed to keep moving the next day. The people were so kind to give us so much when they do not have much. Upon our departure the mother seemed sad and told us we probably should stay as the rain was continuing, we said goodbye to our new family and made our way.
Down the road we were awaited by lots of rain and cold temps. I had not felt my hands for at least an hour, when we were beginning our descent to the lake, where hopefully we would find warmer temperatures and less rain. When we saw traffic pile up, we saw their was a landslide and the road was closed. We were in a pinch, daylight was running out! We had to cross the slide! We picked up our bikes and ran across sliding mud and rocks! Bad luck equals death! Looking up at the slide I was moving carrying a heavy bike as fast as possible. Flip flops are not awesome in mud so I was running over rocks and mud bare foot. Wow this trip is really living up and exceeding my expectations!
Photos to follow, but I have to find a way to get them of my new camera!
Here is to adventure!

Corporate Greed

Major bull happening in Cascade Locks, OR. Nestle is trying to bottle water from the river causing huge problems for the local eco system-not to mention the corporate exploitation of natural resources. Please, check out the online petition to help kick out private interests from national water supplies!

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=AnPIueU6680EvorRhBOmoDk%2BAoWwsgVy

For more info check out: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/

Hard times in Guate.

We have been riding super steep and long rocky trails. Loose rock has been making progress a challenge. On a normal day biking on pavement is around 100k, but on this steep loose trail we might get 35k. The hills seem endless and our gears are bottomed out. Pushing our bikes is our only option at times and this is difficult too. Once we get to the top of the mountains the views are incredible. The other day we took a 22k decent that almost shook off my arms. It was fun except we knew that we had to climb back out of the valley the same way. It was a killer! Getting into higher mountains it's clear the rainy season is really kicking off and it seems to rain all the time. The only problem is that now it is cold. We need to get more clothes and stay dry. I'm on my way to meet my homey Craig from BCN in Antigua. We should get a rest there. Unfortunately due to theft, my photos will have to wait. No big deal.

On another note it is amazing with all the history of violence here caused by the US military and CIA that not all Guatemalans hate us. The things the US did here were horrible. We met a man last week who said that he hates the US because the military killed his wife and kids 10 years ago. We spoke briefly and he understood that this was the government, but still hurts. Check out the history of death and destruction in Guatemala from the 1950´s to 1996 perpetrated by the US. Guatemala civil war. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemalan_Civil_War
It is truly embarrassing and horrible that our country's "spreading democracy" has destroyed so many lives for corporate profit. So many of these stories are the same through Latin America.