May 2012 Trip: Three Cities Tour

The trip in May will be visiting D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Here is a "small" map showing the approximate route. The trip includes three baseball games, a full day cycling D.C., cycling through five states, several bike trails, and, as always, great food.

This Thursday (2/02/12) - Bike Programs on the Brink

Today, the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives is releasing its long-term federal transportation bill. Cycling groups expected the bill to be bad news for biking and walking, but we didn’t think it would reverse all progress made in this country in the past twenty years.

The House Transportation Committee will vote Thursday, February 2, on whether to approve this bill or amend it to include biking and walking programs. Find out if your Representative is on the committee by clicking here -- and if he or she is, then take action right away.

May, 2012 Ride?

Our friend Paul, who organizes a May ride (last year it was the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive) each year, has four ideas for the May 2012 ride:

Tour Idea #1: Grand Canyon & Southern Utah

#2: Outer Banks NC

#3: Florida Keys & Everglades

#4: A Tale of Three Cities (DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia)

Information about each ride is available at http://faculty.tcc.edu/PGordy/personal/may2012.pdf

Of course, I would love to do tour #1, but when you ride with Paul, it's a joy (and hard work) no matter where you ride.

Copan Ruinas, Honduras

 On Sunday morning, John and I visited the Copan Ruinas, an ancient center of Mayan civilization. We got there early and had the place almost to ourselves. An amazing experience.

Great Small Engine Motorcycles You Will Never See in the United States

In Antigua we saw small engine motorcycles everywhere, 125-200 cc. Efficient and capable on the cobblestone streets, families driving around on one motorcycle. Americans would never be seen on such bikes. I did see one groups of American riders in Antigua- bmw r1100s, fully loaded with expedition bags and complaining about the bumps. The size of the motorcycles seemed excessive. 

Our original plan in Antigua was to rent motorcycles and ride them to the libraries. But the  motorcycle rental agency, CATour, said they had no bikes for those dates.... I honestly think there was more to it than that, but they weren't saying. Anyway, I would love to ride through Central America and down through South America one day.

Chichicastenango, Quiche, and Consequences of Street Food

(Photo, Public Square, Quiche)

After a series of five different local buses, John and I traveled from Lake Atitlan to the Department of Quiche, an indigenous area of Guatemala, altitude of 6,500 feet.

(Following photos, Chichicastenango)

John and I visited a library in local Chiche on Wednesday afternoon and spent the evening in Chichicastenango (Chichi), the largest town in the area. Chichi is known for its large market, held twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays. Wednesday night we walked through town accompanied by loud music and fireworks in celebration of the Christmas season. We sat at a local food booth, as we had before in other areas, and ate fresh pineapple, pupusas, lemon pie, and a delicious hot chocolate oatmeal drink.

I suspect it was the "salada" on top of the pupusas that did it. I brushed mine off, John ate his. Poor John. Anyhoo- that night was a rather strange experience. Did you know that the sound of many roosters at night can sound like souls crying out, burning in hell? And that fireworks at 3 a.m. are more annoying than celebratory? Tie together with a heavy string of nausea and tummy troubles. A good ("good") travel memory.


Next day started with white bread and black coffee. We didn't have much heart for shopping but managed to buy two things, a set of place mats/napkins for John and a shawl for myself. Now I wish I had bought more, but I didn't have the appetite at the time.

If you ever have the chance, Chichicastenango is an incredible place. Go in early December and you will encounter few tourists and can catch some of the Christmas celebration.

Lake Atitlan, the communities of Panajachel and San Juan

We arrived at Lake Atitlan by a series of local buses on December 5. Found our rather smelly and dreary hotel in Panajachel (which will remain unnamed- a warning to fellow travelers, never travel with a seven year old travel guide-- obviously this place had seen better days). The next day we were to visit the library in San Juan La Laguna, across the lake, and to celebrate John's birthday. (photo: Church both old and new, in San Pedro).



Panajachel is a tourist town along the lake, a base for exploring the many surrounding communities. Lake Atitlan is gorgeous and easily traveled by the many public boat taxis.






Photo: Lakeside in Panajachel.

We had a great time exploring the area, enjoying the wet and wonderful ride across the lake at top speed, and found a great taqueria by our hotel to celebrate John's birthday. While other tourists were eating Indian or Mexican fare on the main street, we were eating tacos, three for $1.25.

Feliz Navidad Rudolph!