March 7, 2011

Border day.. Didn't sleep well as normal. Got to the border around 8:30am and took until about 11am to be immigrated into Nicaragua. Had helpers again help us and had to go hear and there, pay for this and that and 2 1/2 hours later and $130 dollars lighter, we are into a new country. Road for most the day in 90+ºf heat. Arrived at a junction and got gas. My bike would not start. Pushed it over to some shade to do a quick check and found nothing, but was able to push start it. Michael then noticed my tire was low. Had another nail in it. Fixed. Just about that time, Juan, a Mexican on a GS650 rides up and we chat. He is heading the same way and suggest the Copan Ruines border to be a much better place to pass into Guatamala from Honduras, instead of going through El Salvador. As a motorcycle tour operator scoping out new routes in Central America, we believe him and ask to ride with him. Rode to the next town for the night and proceeded to rip the fairing and tank off the bike in the search for the elusive electrical problem. Found it in the handlebar starter switch and repaired, all the while its 93ºf with high humidity. We were soaked.