The Cycling Learning Tour is a combination of a learning tour with a unique opportunity for cyclists to participate in a Honduran bicycling event called “Costa a Costa” (Coast-to-Coast), organized by Transformemos Honduras (Let’s Transform Honduras), a movement made up of various organizations that works for change in Honduras at systemic and community levels, holding government and other leaders accountable based on Christian principles of justice for especially the most vulnerable.
For cyclists participating in the event, it is a unique way to show solidarity with the movement and to see many diverse parts of Honduras, alongside Honduran cyclists. The group passes through 9 different cities, from the Northern Caribbean coast of Honduras to the Southern Pacific coast. You can see pictures on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/costaacostahonduras, and the website for the event is: http://transformemoshonduras.com/costaacosta2014/
This year six people from British Colombia have come to participate in this event and show their solidarity with TH’s goal of improving education in Honduras. This week, we will be sharing their thoughts on this blog as they cycle from one side of the country to the other.
Today was day 1- starting day! from the city of La Ceiba to Tela on Honduras’ north coast.
Here is what participants said about the day’s journey and the beginning of their trip:
The “tour d’ Honduras” start with a blast eve before it started. The Wall’s departure and arrival went smoothly. Reimer and Henry’s trip didn’t go as planned. Their plans were to do the red eye to Newark and then sleep a couple of hours on the hard airport cement floor and then to Honduras. However, lucky for them, the east coast snow storm of the century delayed their flight which then allowed them to take a much more direct flight and even arrive one hour earlier than expected. They also met up with CBC students Jessica and Ryan on the flight who had pre booked this flight. Reimer and Henry’s luggage was a day late but we were all happy to share toothbrushes and t shirts.
Today the “Costa a costa” bike trip started for which for which we came on this trip. The rain on the dormitory’s tin roof did not encourage us to have a restful night. However to our joy we awoke to only cloudy skies and wet pavement.
Our ride ended in Tela on the Atlantic coast to glorious weather. The Hondurans are incredible hosts and the countryside beautiful and interesting.
I heard a squeaking chain behind me. A young kid was catching up. We chatted in Spanish as much as we could understand each other. He did not know how much farther to Tela (40km) and found it incredible that I was going there on a bicycle. another kid with a bag of flour across his handle bars put out incredible energy to pass me.
I am really impressed and surprised with the diversity of this event. So far I have met people from eastern Canada, the U.S, El Salvador, Chilli, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and of course Honduras. A wide array of beliefs and faiths are represented including evangelicals, Catholics, Mennonites, the reformed church, and even Muslims. For me, this is encouraging as it goes to show common values really has the potential to bring together all sorts of folks. It would seem that political transparency and accountability, an empowering local education program, and peace and cooperation are just a few things that are important to the participants of this event.
This has already been a wonderful and encouraging trip seeing what God has been doing and continues to do here in Honduras! What a privilege to be able to witness Him at work worldwide and in various ways. In addition, both yesterday and today we have seen presentations of awards (good ones!) to students of excellence. These events will happen daily in each city that we visit. I couldn’t help but feel so proud of the students who blown away with the awards for their accomplishments – accomplishments that are seemingly rare in a country where the education system faces many challenges. The cycling, albeit difficult, has also been amazing: offering views and experiences that typical travel days lack. What a beautiful country this is!
Stay tuned to this blog for more updates and pictures.