left guatemala, back in the lush mtns. of oaxaca

wow,
Its been along time, anyway last week me and a friend Katie decided to bike 100 km from 9000 ft to sea level at a beach called Champerrico... We left at 6 am and it was coooold man, The first half hour was tough going up hill, but we got passed that bear and then it was all down hill from there. .We started in the pine forests area where vegetables are grown and descended into lush coffee and cattle country where it turns hot and steamy.. There were huge holes in parts of the road due to hurricane stan so we had some detour.. The scenery was incredible, except for Katies brakes were making some weird noises, so a little fooling around with the leatherman took care most of that problem, it was just the passing traffic which worried us, but thanks to God. All went well.. The last 40 km were flat hot and steamy, we were dripping and getting blisters on our hands but a couple of water and fresh pineapple brakes kept us going... We eventually made it 5 hrs later and rode into the market and it kind felt like a marathon because the people in the market were whistling and howling and we could see the beach straight ahead.. We met up with the other students from our school and goofed around on the HOT beach for the afternoon which was a nice break from the chilly town of Xela.

I am now writing this letter in the Jungle town of San Jose El Paraiso.. Monday after getting back I spent 2 days traveling to Mexico to go on a coffee expedition.. I thought it was a 4 day trip and found out it was 15 days and I was the driver and only gringo, we have 1 incredible indian guide and a computer guy who is entering our info. I have spent the last 4 days hiking with the indians through lush jungle, coffee farms and bushwacking, luckily I picked up a new machete and leather case and a new cowboy hat for the trip, which is coming in handy..
I am dead tired already walked over 25 km up hill in the mud, rain, cold, horrible weather. Nobody anywhere is working except us locos who have to visit 15 farms a day which are atleast 2 hr away from town up hill.. .We are making recomendations for the organic coffee and I am responsible for getting altitudes from everyone, which means we got to go to all the farms whic has never been done. .Anyways IM gonna go pass out, my feet are all tore up, bleeding sore and tired but we gonna GET ER DONE, 4 days done 11 to go.IM praying heavily for safety cause these muddy trails are little more than ant trails at best and the machete and mud boots are a mans best friend today, and of course the corn tortilla which is keepin everyone alive here-
i
If I makeer out in 1 piece I got some gooodie pics to show.