On a recent Sunday morning, attempting to enter the Central Highway portion that is under repair (and has been for four years - about 3.5 years longer than the initial estimate), we learned to our dismay that the closing time had been changed without warning to 7:00 AM instead of the 8:00 AM to which we had been accustomed. "Desvio" means "detour," and it's what the lady with the paddle signs said we had to do.
Well, what a lovely passage of the countryside! We drove on the dirt road through bucolic villages awakening to the sunny morning.
However, the road got sketchier and sketchier as we climbed, sharing it at times with other travelers. The lady on the horse answered, "Sure. Cars go through here frequently!" We unfortunately didn't hear the next part, under her breath, "Yeah, sucker gringos, the last one was in 1987. Heh, heh."
It only got worse. We spent a lot of time in 4-wheel drive, dodging all sorts of stuff. Then it turned ugly. This was the approach to one of several curves where the center had fallen out.
Just like the L.A. freeway, no? At the 2.5 hour mark, on what should have been a 45-minute passage without the "desvio," we found the worst corner.
I made everyone get out of the car, buckled my seat belt, checked the air bag light, and went for it.
In my mind, I could just hear folks in Salt Lake on the other end of the phone, asking, "He was driving WHERE when the CAR GOT SWALLOWED UP??!!
Anyway, we and the car made it through, late for the church session we were to attend. We put a big red "X" on the map next to this route, which even had a name, "La Cumbre," meaning "The Peak." We quit mentioning to the locals that we had driven it when they started making the "he's loco!" sign to each other.
We hope your Sunday-morning drives are not as exciting.
On a serious note, we appreciate the continued prayers for our safety.
Dave & Paula
1 comment:
Ah, the memories you are making. As long as you stay alive I'm okay with that. Prayers for safety shall continue.
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