The day I left Zamora, was long and emotional. I got up at around 7, finished packing my 3 bags and cardboard box that contained most of what I own..including my cameras. Then off to school to give make-up exams, and having to submit marks.
After that I had a very nice lunch with the family that owns the place were I was living. The weather was warm and dry, so we ate on the patio. It was a very pleasant in the greenery of Andes looking east towards the Amazon.
Next was the Graduation ceremony for my class… followed by a get together at my favourite Cafe, and a chance to see some more friends before I left. There are so many nice people I will miss.
I wanted to spend time on the coast before I left Ecuador. To do this it was important to take a bus from Loja that evening. This required me taking a taxi at about 8 PM, to get to Loja by 11 PM, so I could catch a bus to get to Guayaquil by 8 AM to catch a bus to San Clemente. In Ecuador it is not a good idea to plan on things working to such a tight schedule.
I knew this, but I still thought I would try, with the idea if I didn’t make it, so what. I would at least try. This is the country where, in the past, a 3 hour visit to Loja turned into a 3 day stay because of mud slides on the mountain roads.
First hic-up was the taxi didn’t appear. I didn’t understand all the conversation, but I think the one that was supposed to drive me, took some people to another town and had not returned. A taxi did arrive, we covered my 3 bags and cardboard box in plastic ( the taxis are actually four door pick-up trucks) and we set off. Before we reached the outskirts of town, the truck stalled. It just lost all power. The driver said it was his gas.
He called another driver and after transferring my 3 bags and cardboard box, and covering them in plastic we were off. The road between Loja and Zamora can be a well paved and enjoyable drive or it can be a slow, wet, foggy, rock and mud covered slog.
Luckily it was the former, this was one of the few times I have traveled it where there wasn’t even any clouds to climb through.
We arrived with enough time for me to visit the washroom, stretch my legs, store my 3 bags and cardboard box, have a small disagreement with a lady over which seat on the bus was mine, and then we were off to the big city of Guayaquil.
I have now learned how to sleep, fitfully, on busses. The trip was uneventful.
We arrived at around 7:15 am. I got a porter to help me move my 3 bags and cardboard box through the terminal. ( the Guayaquil bus terminal is massive…150 plus bus bays on three floors). I had enough time to go to the washroom, stretch my legs and then load my 3 bags and cardboard box onto the bus and we were off. This was about the 24 hour mark since I had gotten out of bed.
San Clemente is a small village on the road between two towns. The bus stops, by request only, at the side of the road. The driver and conductor had changed a few towns before so they were a little surprised when I asked to get off…and I asked for them to open up to get my 3 bags and cardboard box. My friend Gerri was waiting for me ( I had phoned her so she knew when to expect me).. the conductor unloaded my 2 bags and cardboard box, hopped back on the bus and drove away….2 bags and cardboard box.
The bag with my camera equipment was still on the bus!
It was 11:30 in the morning. Hot sun beating down. 60 lbs of luggage at our feet. I looked at my 2 bags and cardboard box. I looked as my most cherished possessions disappearing over the hill. What to do?
Call David.
David hopped on his moto, brought me a helmet, I gave some money to Gerri, David suggested she call Ramon to move the luggage, and we hopped on the bike to chase my camera…. two gringos speeding down the road on a motorcycle, the one on the back wearing a nice comfortable bright pink helmet… I don’t think anyone got pictures.
We arrived in Bahia after the bus had unloaded passengers, but was just moving around to unload packages… I got my camera back. I then had to take a bus back to San Clemente, along with the pink helmet while David rode the bike back. I did not put my camera under the bus this time. People looked at me, as I sat there clutching my camera bag and a nice bright pink helmet. No idea how many thought “another crazy gringo”
I finally made it to Gerri’s about 1 o’clock, safe, sound with my 3 bags and cardboard box and a story to tell.