Driving in Peru #41A

Every three months, I interview each of our 200+ missionaries individually.  This week included those in the Chanchomayo Region, which is one of the jungle parts of the Mission.  It's the middle of the rainy season right now, which loosens rocks and mudslides.  We had traveled uphill for about an hour, when we were stopped cold with hundreds of trucks and cars in line.  We hiked up and discovered the reason for the holdup.

Luckily, there was no one underneath.  We were told by the work crew, "Oh, sure, should be cleared by this afternoon."  Uh, yeah, OK.  

Of course, everyone had to watch and give their opinion about how this should be handled.

 

Our fellowmen here  have absolutely no respect for waiting in line.  So what did we do?  That's right, we snuck up a half-mile into a slot left empty by someone who gave up and turned around. Elder Fawson (left) said, "Now I really feel like a Peruvian."

There are many times when one encounters delays on the roadways here, for accidents, road repairs, falling boulders, no good reason, etc.  However, it is a BAD SIGN for the probable length of the wait if the snack sellers show up.  Unfortunately, they were there in force, appearing from nowhere.

Sure enough, after about six hours, with night coming on and no dent made in the big rocks, we gave up, turned around (thus losing our primo Peruvian spot in line) and headed back down the hill to the jungle, where we'll at least spend a warm night before trying again.
We hope the snack ladies don't show up next time you have to stop on the highway.
Dave & Paula