SAMUC TO FLORES IN 13 HOURS ( November 13, 2014)

Left Samuc at 7 am after having fruit and granola at the hostel, Cisco had told me not to take the short cut road, so I took it .Road was closed for and we had to wait luckily cause my pannier had broken open and thankfully I did not lose anything..Fixed that hopefully and then it was time to go, the road was a knarly rocky road that I shouldn't have been on but was spectacular going through the mountains and villages. Was heading downhill when a hi- lux was coming up the one track loaded with 18 people , I moved over and was on the loose stones and down I went. The guys jumped out and picked up my bike while I gathered my self and my camera and off I went gingerly  back on the track. 

After travelling 40 miles in 4 hours  on this knarly rocky damn road I came to halt cause some trees had fallen across it. So much for the short cut, so back I went now uphill , back to where I started.  Along the way I encountered a guy who had strung a rope across the road and wanted 25 qeutzales ($3) and I told him I did not comprehendo and after ten minutes arguing he lowered the rope in frustration. Five hours later I was back where I started and now it was 1 pm. Battled my way through the towns cause there is no signage whatsoever and then came to a standstill cause they were demonstrating and closed the road for the day. I explained to some of the leaders of the pack that I needed to get to Flores which was 5 hours away and that I am just a tourist and by holding me won't help their cause. I pleaded in the 10 Spanish words I know and then they started arguing amongst them selves and told me To go , rapido,  then they cheered me on and off I went, but they didn't let any of their countryman through. I guess the government hasn't paid them in 6 months so they were not happy.

The road was excellent no potholes the whole way thankfully cause I did 3 hours in the dark following a Toyota Hi lux all the way to Flores arriving at 8:30am , 13 hour ride !  *@$€₩#&÷%.