(For Part 3, Click Here)
12:30pm Turns out that our volcano climb put us behind schedule. We’re going to have to make good time to make
it to the waterfall before dark. Good thing we’re in Ol’ Reliable. And
we’re off.
12:35pm We’re stuck in the dirt.
12:39pm Un-stuck.
12:49pm Stuck again.
12:59pm Un-stuck.
1:14pm A weird smell begins to come from the front of the truck.
1:16pm We figure out the weird smell when the people in the interior of the cab scramble out of Ol’ Reliable. “Everybody run!” A few seconds later the radiator explodes
into pieces and sends hot water all over the interior of the cab. Stuck again.
1:17pm We realize we’re going to be here a while, and the waterfall is now a distant memory.
1:25pm We find cell phone service and call a tow truck. They’ll be there in an hour.
1:29pm Every mattress, pillow, and sleeping bag are pulled out of the
truck and laid on the side of the road. Nap time.
1:35 It’s May in Nicaragua. It’s hot.
2:45pm We awake to a truck full of volcano-surfing Americans driving towards us. The road is too narrow and
they can’t pass us. They get out of their truck and help us roll Ol’ Reliable to the side of the road.
2:46pm Now they’re stuck.
2:50pm We get them un-stuck.
2:53pm We didn’t move far enough and they still can’t get by. They’re not thrilled about this.
2:55pm We move the truck over more.
2:58pm They’re stuck again.
3:07pm Un-stuck.
3:13pm They finally get by and on their way. Where’s the tow truck?
3:45pm Haven’t eaten since before the volcano, so we build a fire and
roast some leftover hamburgers. No
bread, no ketchup or mustard,
just hamburger.
Where’s the tow truck?
4:30pm Find a cigar in my backpack (how’d that get there?) and put it to use.
5:10pm Nearly 4 hours later, a truck with a large bed, definitely not a
tow truck, pulls up. The tow truck’s
here.
5:30pm The truck is loaded and ready to go. Finally we’re getting out of here.
5:40pm The tow truck is stuck. Everybody out and push.
5:47pm Un-stuck
6:05pm The tow truck has a flat tire.
Everybody out to change the tire.
6:10pm About five minutes after the tire blows, the community begins to
come out to watch the tire being changed.
Apparently there wasn’t a lot on
television tonight.
6:30pm There are now about 30 Nicaraguans and 9 gringos outside just standing around taking in the thrills that come with changing a tire. We take a group picture and head out. Again.
7:00pm Finally. Finally, we get off the road that Barbs had deemed one of the worst roads ever. We arrive to Leon a few minutes later, where we get some pizza and find a hostel for the night. Tomorrow, to conclude our weekend, we were heading to the beach to relax before heading back to our ministry site.
The best part about this day was that, well, it was a lot of fun. We were
stuck on the side of the road for hours after climbing a volcano. We had to get in and out of the truck so many times. It was hot. We were dirty (really dirty) and hungry. Yet, our team had so much fun together. And instead of complaining and being negative, we just appreciated the day for what it was: a day worth blogging about.
I’m not sure that if I had a similar day before leaving the Race, I would have been as thrilled to be there. But through the craziness that is the World Race – crazy travel days, large bugs, hard countries, bad food, constant company, etc. – I’ve learned that attitudes are so contagious. I just want mine to be worth catching.
Such a crazy day. Not in a million years would I have ever believed that tomorrow would make today look like a relaxing day spent at home. But, unfortunately, it would. Part 3 coming soon.
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