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Family on bikes in Honduras
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When the hills get steep, Daryl walks while Dad rides the tandem solo.
This is a newsletter from Family on Bikes. The family of four is currently cycling the Pan American Highway from Alaska to Argentina as the 11-year-old twin boys attempt to break the world record as the youngest cyclists to bike the entire Pan Am. See a slide show of cycling Honduras here.
June 6, 2008
One of the first questions people ask us is, “What has been the best part of your trip so far?” We always answer that we really can’t answer that question – each area is special in its own right and they are all so different. Up until now, making me choose a favorite place was like asking me to choose my favorite child. Until now.
I realize I’m being selfish here, and I realize that Honduras isn’t nearly this special for John and our boys – but for me, returning to Honduras is pretty darn special indeed! It was 22 years ago when I waved goodbye to Gloria for the last time after I finished my Peace Corps service, and for 22 years I’ve wanted to return. I left a part of my heart here that day, and have finally come back to find it again.
Since I last wrote to you, we’ve explored a bit of Honduras and memories have come flooding back. It’s been wonderful!
The first place we visited was Utila in the Bay Islands. Located on the second largest coral reef in the world, Utila offers world class snorkeling and scuba diving – and we took advantage of our time there to explore the reef. Day after day, we headed out with masks and snorkels to explore various parts of the island. When not out visiting fish and coral, all four boys spent hours jumping off the jetty, off decks, out of windows, and off ships. They had a blast!
The highlight of Utila was going scuba diving. Jesse and Sammy Verhage had taken a scuba class in Indonesia and were eager to head out again. They convinced Davy and Daryl to spend their Christmas/birthday money on a couple of dives – and the boys loved it! I will admit to more than a little jealousy as they saw a turtle on their first dive!
After a delightful ten days on the island, we continued south and stumbled into Siguatepeque after a particularly grueling day of climbing into the mountains. As we checked into a hotel on the main plaza, the clerk just happened to mention that there would be a big fiesta the following day. Fiesta? Where? Both families quickly made the decision to stay put an extra day in order to take advantage of Festival del Pino – an annual celebration in town.
Davy and Daryl, along with Jessie and Sammy, managed to find front row seats for the colorful parade the following day, and they had a blast partaking in all the town had to offer. Unfortunately, the evening events were rained out, but we were glad we stayed nevertheless.
From there, it was a short hop down to Comayagua, where we had been invited to visit a home for street kids. All 42 of the boys in the shelter had, at one point in time, lived in the streets – some alone, others with parents. Now, they all have clean clothes, healthy food, and soft beds to sleep in. The center was a wonderful place, and we all enjoyed getting to know the boys. I spent many hours listening to them tell their stories and left there more grateful than ever for all we have been blessed with.
And finally – after 22 years – we pulled into Tegucigalpa, the capital city, and I met up again with Claudia – the daughter of the family I lived with while in the Peace Corps. When I left this country so long ago, she was a mere child of 14, but is now an adult with two lovely girls of her own. Oh – how wonderful it was to see her again! We spent countless hours reminiscing about past adventures and telling tales of our current lives. A special time, indeed.
As wonderful as it was to see Claudia, I wasn’t home yet. My feet were itching, my heart was aching – I wanted to get back to Choluteca, my pueblo, and see Gloria once again. And I wanted to be there on Mother’s Day. Our initial plan was to ride down in the car with Claudia and her family for lunch, then return to Teguc the same day. But somehow I wanted to pedal to Choluteca – I wanted to arrive in my pueblo on my bike. And so it was that I hatched the plan to send all our weight down with Claudia in the pickup and we would ride empty. 138 kilometers – our longest day by far – but with no weight we felt we could make it.
At the crack of dawn, just as the first rays of the sun illuminated the street, we were off – finally heading down to my pueblo! It was a tough day, with an enormously long climb to get out of Tegucigalpa, and plenty of other steep climbs scattered throughout the day – but we finally pulled into Choluteca. We made it! We made it back home. What a day that was! To see Gloria – the woman I’ve held so dear for all these years – once again was precious beyond words.
I do understand, dear reader, that most of you are sitting there reading this thinking I’m some doddering old lady babbling on about nonsense. But just ask any Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and they’ll totally understand. There’s just something about the Peace Corps and the friendships we make while living in those villages that can’t be replicated…
As I write this letter, Daryl is at school in a Grade 5 class in the school I used to work at. Davy will go to his class in the afternoon. We are looking for a tutor to work with John on his Spanish, and are hoping to leave here in a few week’s time with all three of them speaking a bit more Spanish.
We are now only one day’s ride from Nicaragua, and will leave this delightful country all too soon – we aren’t sure exactly when yet. But I can say with certainty that Honduras will be – for me anyway – the highlight of our journey. Yes, there will other places with more spectacular scenery or tastier food or more colorful people. But there will never be another Honduras.
Thank you all for allowing us to be a part of your lives! We so appreciate all your encouraging words and prayers.
Nancy, John, Davy, Daryl
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Read our other newsletters here:
Read y for takeoff: June 6, 2008
Dalton Highway in Alaska: June 28, 2008
Alaska Highway: August 3, 2008
Crossi ng into mainland USA: September 10, 2008
In Montana, Wyoming, and Utah: October 17, 2008
Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico: November 19, 2008
No rthern Mexico: January 25, 2009
Yucatan Peninsula: March 14, 2009
Belize, Guatemala, & Honduras: April 15, 2009
Ni caragua & Costa Rica: June 25, 2009
Costa Rica & Panama: July 21, 2009
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