La Union, El Salvador to Zunzal Beach, El Salvador
December 14, 2009

Honduran mountains
Mountain road
Oxen cultivating coffee
Sugar cane drying on teh road

Well we left La Union and the Comfort Inn for the north and a pleasant ride along CA Hwy 2 which was to follow the coastline. On the way the real adventure started. As you know Scruffy the canine wonder and I are always on the lookout for adventure. Bev could do with less adventure in her life but goes along with us. Along the way we did find a small lumber yard and stopped to see what they had. Well $33.00 later we had ourselves three nice pieces of Guanacaste wood inside the RV. Don’t ask me where they are but we are bringing them home with us. They should make nice desk tops as they are about 6 feet long and about 26” wide. But, unfortunately we could not get one thick enough to build a really good dining room table out of.
We needed gas and to get groceries and it was Saturday but going thru Zacatecoluca we saw lots of street vendors and stalls full of fruits and vegetables that looked really great but with the RV there was just no place to park. Finally down the road in Taipa I think we did spot a Mercado that had most of what we needed but their fruits etc were not nearly the quality of those in the street stalls that we had seen.
Next it was time for gas and as this is an area that abounds with Playas or beaches I asked if we were on the right road (remember the signs are not always as good as you would like) to Playa San Diego. The attendant said no we were on the ancient or old road but just to go back 1 block turn right and then right again in two blocks and we would be on the new road. Then there was a big discussion with he and a taxi driver that the RV was too big and the bridge was not tall enough I thought to allow the RV to go over it.
Well if that was the case I thought we would get to the bridge and just have to turn around and come back and go to one of the other beaches along the way. So off we went. Well the bridge was not to short for the RV as there was no bridge. Yessssireee, we got there and the bridge had been wiped out by a hurricane and therefore no bridge. But these little kids kept waving me forward and then onto a verrrry, verrry narrrrrow side street and down another narrower area until we were at the river. Now across the river is a big sugar cane truck waiting to come my way and there is no turning back so we forded the river. Yes you heard that right folks we forded the river with Big Tiger and then went up the bank on the other side with Bev saying all the way “I DON’T THINK WE SHOULD DO THIS!!!!! I DON’T THINK WE SHOULD DO THIS!” Well we did it and survived.
There was only one other bridge that we had some trouble with but what are skid bars on the back of an RV for if not to skid on when the bridge ramp is somewhat eroded and sunken. I later learned that the last hurricane here wiped out some 16 bridges. So we only have to find the other 15 of them before we leave the country. Next it was on to Playa del San Diego. Leaving the highway we stopped a pickup truck and asked what was at the beach and they told us nothing much was there but that there was a much better beach down the road and that they were going there and just ro follow them. Well no problema we can do that. So off we go on another hayride adventure.
They go down a narrow and I mean NARROW cobblestone road turnoff in about 10 miles with cars only able to pass by each other at certain places. Now we are at the end of the road and the only place we can get into says no we can not stay there but must go back two places and they may take us. Ah the joys of backing up in such a situation are just what makes you feel the adrenalin pour into your system.
Then we had to ask if they would allow us to park in the lot and they said sure so they opened the gate which allowed me about 3 inches on either side to get thru. Now someone has to come with a pole to lift up the 220 main electrical line going across the front of the property so I can fit under it. You just hope you don’t get electrocuted. Now we are in and have to thread our way thru and between palm tree stumps to find a place to park. But the place is great, and we are under the palm trees in the grass and can hear the Pacific Ocean at our virtual doorstep.