In Sula, my new friend Will Ramirez offered to take care of Bruiser for me so that he could rest up. Still lame, walking was not an option for Bruiser. I hate leaving horses behind, it is the worst, but sometimes you have to put your ponies health before your emotions.
From Sula, my two palominos and I made our way to San Marcos. As the day grew hotter and hotter I began to take more and more breaks for the horses. Dude has transitioned better to the humidity of the tropics while Frenchie is constantly taking deep breaths.
During the day we were also stopped several times by people asking just what the heck I was doing. This was the first time I was on a bigger road in Honduras and my presence stirred up a lot of questions.
“Where are you going?”
“Where did you start your ride?”
“What breed are the horses?”
“Where are you staying tonight?”
The further south I get the nicer the people get. It’s crazy! Maybe it’s because I am farther from my starting point, but the more I trek south, the more the journey and the horses are celebrated. It’s amazing.
Just after 1pm I spotted a nice river with a little house next to it. The house was surrounded by trees and the breeze coming from the water made it a perfect place to rest the ponies. I gave them water and soon enough the entire family was outside with a puzzled look on their faces. I introduced myself and explained to them what I was doing.
“Wow that is so great, I had heard of people traveling by car or motorcycle, but by horse is a first,” the mother of the family told me.
Like the grand majority of Hondurans, this beautiful family lives under the poverty line. In a hut made out of mud, the single mother raises 4 children with the help of her mother and father.
“Would you like some water or something to eat,” she asked me as the kids stared up at Frenchie in amazement.
This family may not have a lot of possessions or money, but what they have is much more valuable. They have the generosity and compassion some of the richest people in this world lack. They were willing to share the little they had with a complete stranger. It’s moments like these that make my heart smile.
“In 1998 Hurricane Mitch destroyed our home and everything we had,” she told me.
The Hurricane, one of the worst Honduras has ever seen, affected many people. Due to a cold front the storm stopped on top of the country causing extreme rain and wind for days. Those who had their homes close to large rivers as this family, had everything they owned stolen by the forces of the dirty water.
“It was a very hard time but we had to keep fighting as we always do,” the mother told me.
Inspired by this loving family, I continued riding south. Only a few kilometers later I arrived at Claudio Pena’s ranch just outside of San Marcos. The beautiful property, originally owned by Claudio’s grandfather will be home to the ponies for the next 2 days.
