Hello from Gracias, Honduras

Hotel Guancascos in Gracias, Honduras


View from the hotel restaurant

March 8/06

After spending a relaxing day on Ometepe we hit the road again, heading for the Honduras border. We had booked a trip on the 9am ferry back to the mainland and arrived early to pay for the tickets and to make sure they knew we were there and ready.

We had breakfast a café near the ferry dock. Linda was thrilled with her breakfast of scramble eggs with a sliced wiener and instant coffee. She is getting used the food and coffee now. She’ll never want a Jamocha’s latte again!

The ferry workers remembered us and we received first class service. None of them wanted to incite the wrath of Linda. No problem getting on this time. We shared the ferry with a truck loaded with bananas and couple of other small trucks.

As we were buying our tickets, a local was telling us that some time ago they loaded two banana trucks on the ferry and as the ferry left the dock it rolled and sank. There was a line up of about a dozen loaded banana trucks waiting for passage to the mainland. We were worried, but only one was backed onto the ferry. Before the ferry left the calmer waters in the bay, the banana truck was securely tied down with thick ropes.

An uneventful ride all the way across Nicaragua to Ocotal, near the Honduras border. We settled into a nice little hotel, had a bite to eat and hit the pit. We are planning a long day tomorrow almost from one side of Honduras to the other.

March 9/06

Up before dawn this morning. Yogurt and cornflakes for breakfast from the convenience store at the Shell station on the corner, then off to the border crossing. It was a cool ride 20K ride to the border crossing through rolling terrain. We were at an elevation 2500 ft. We were all cold when we reached the border crossing at 6:30 am.

This was not a busy crossing point and the regular onslaught of helpers and money changers had not yet arrived for the day. I must say this was a welcome change! This crossing was the best one yet. The offices were labelled. The officials were helpful and courteous. We were through in less than an hour with no hassles or suspicious additional charges.

The roads and speed limits in Honduras were also a welcome surprise. Both were driver (rider) friendly. Most roads were smooth and wide, well marked with good signage and the speed limits were consistent, not fast, slow, fast, slower . . as was the case in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The scenery and topography inland is much more interesting that it was closer to the pacific coast. The roads wind through the highlands. At times you might think that you were in BC riding through dense pine forest. Perhaps near Kamloops somewhere.

We chose a route that was shorter than others but in the end probably took as mush or more time than the longer route. There was about 60K of rough gravel road before we reached Gracias. It took us about 2 hours of riding to cover the last 60K.

We wanted to get close to Copan Ruinas and Gracias had received some good reviews in our Lonely Planet guide book. Well, it appears that they were right. This is lovely little town nestled in the rolling hills. I wish we had more time to stay here and explore the area. The hotel we have is great. Each couple has their own room. Only $14. per night, but it is wonderful. I wasn’t too impressed with Honduras on the way down to Panama but I am this time. The route we followed today was one of the best motorcycles rides of the trip. Great scenery and very friendly people. Honduras is also appears much cleaner than Nicaragua.

We are a couple of hours from Copan Ruinas. These Maya ruins are one of the “big 3” in Central America (along with Tikal and Pelenque ) Our plan is to head to Copan in the morning (after a soak in the local hot springs) and spend the afternoon visiting the ruins.

Then on the Guatemala the next day.