Hey there, not to worry Krista you do have the right email address and I've been following along since the beginning. Thanks so much for the package! Your trip sounds awesome, I look forward to hearing about it in person.

Hotel espagna, in Lima is pretty wicked. That's if your not already there.
peace
Duker

The move last night at movie night was one of the craziest films I have ever watched. This Tim Treadwell lived with Grizzly bears in Alaska for the summers for ten years. Some of the best footage, one of the best put together films, it was sweet. There were some slight technical difficulties at the first, so I told fergs bear story from last summer. But ya the trip looks rad, it sweet to be able to read all of what is going on, not too much going on here, at least since we lost all our snow last week. well, Peace-out Lee Breen

Congratulations to Ross Neilsen for his East Coast Music Award (ECMA) nomination...wicked, wicked news and well deserved! The perfect example af hard work paying off...so very happy for you & the best of luck! Cheers!

Right in front of Mancora beach, in the Peruvian coast, it is located a welcoming place called Las Olas. This tourist establishment has been offering great service to foreign and national tourists for years.

Its location makes the difference with the other hostels in Mancora, just in front of the waves that delight the surfers which enjoy the "perfect wave" of Mancora.

Holy crap it´s hot here, it feels like a million degrees, ran into a million lochusts at the bus staion in Guiyquill, There were thousands of them, the bus station floor was totally covered in these huge smashed bugs, Krista could barely keep it together. Long night on the bus, I think I need a nap on the Beach. Fergus

Well, we have arrived safe in Peru...crossed the boarder last night at Huaquillas around 1:30 in the morning and arrived shortly thereafter in Tumbas, Peru. Decided to leave Montanita on the 4Pm bus and enjoy one last full day in the sun. Will really miss the place as we were there long enough to make some friends and find some favorite haunts. In particular we enjoyed our friends at the Rosa Mystica...where the two Peruvian surfer chefs worked. The night before last we dined with them and it is just like having your own personal chef...we had tuna salads for appetizers with ultra fresh tuna and then an African inspired dish called Taku Taku de la Mer. Essentially it is small handformed cakes comprised of beans and rice with various seasonings layered with marinated veggies then fresh seared white fish and grilled plantins (bananas)...it looked and tasted amazing...top meal to date in my books. These two guys have an Ecolodge and restaurant called the Condor near Manchu Picchu so we will try to find it and possible stay there for a night or two. Enjoyed this meal in a little courtyard with some nice Chilean red wine and the two young and beautiful girls from Argentina acted as our servers. They speak very good English as they take half of their subjects in English...they were visiting Equador with their Mom and Dad...very nice family...ran into them again the next day when they were learning to surf. First bad night with the mosquitoes...rained in the night...we had been sleeping with the door and windows open previously with no problems so we were surprised to wake to some bites...lesson learned. They really Love Ferg...bugs of all kinds it seems...he had an incident earlier in the day with some fire ants as well...have never seen the likes...he never complains though! We enjoyed one last breakfast at the Chief in town...4 days straight...fresh basket of bread with marmalade, eggs, cheese, various veggies and coffee all for 2.90$...can't beat that! After breakfast we headed back down the beach for our swimsuits and spent the afternoon swimming and sunning...by far the hottest day yet...well above 30 degrees...today I have a red nose again! After one last swim and refinement of the shell collection we packed and checked out of the Baja Montanita...hard for me not to bring the whole beash home... grabbed our packs for for the long walk down the beach...talk about a workout...no fun in boots and pants! Grabbed a quick lunch and then headed to the top of the hill to catch the connector bus to Guayoquil...almost 4 hours later...and 2 busses...we pulled into the terminal. Turns out Guayoquil is not our favorite place...first it was the mystery meat and then it looked liked we had stumbled upon the beginning of the Apocolypse...I am not exaggerating when I say that the place was inundated with locusts...or giant 2 inch long flying grasshoppers...hundreds of thousands of them...children were crying...people jumping and frantically trying to detach them...really really insane. Got tickets for the bus that actually crosses the boarder and had an hour to kill...sat down for about 2 minutes before I decided I preferred to be a moving target...there were so many that guys were actually walking around with dust pans sweeping up the dead ones. It was overwhelmingly hot and still I was walking around with my fleece wrapped around my neck...looked crazy and didn't care...Ferg said he too has never seen the likes of it! They were crawling all over our packs and I had to also tuck my pants into my socks...for the first time all day I was happy for my pants and boots....Ferg had opted for shorts and sandals and he wasn't too long joining me as a moving target...never so happy to get on a bus before! Still not totally safe though...Ferg got hit in the head thru the window just as he was falling asleep...it was the kind of scene nightmares are made of. After 6 hours we had sucessfully negotiated the boarder with our Equadorian exit stamp and our 60 day validitity stamp for Peru. Have not heard of or encountered any flooding but will keep eyes and ears open...Thanks for the heads up. Arrived in Tumbes at 3 in the morning...lonely little bus station with iron gates and a dude watching soccer on ESPN from his lawnchair...had a 2 hour wait so did some writing in my journal and then continued the crazy 8's tournament with Ferg...got trounced last night but still maintaining my lead overall. Caught the bus at 5am to Mancora. After about an hour an a half we arrived in the surf town around 6:30...is a really nice little town that again largely caters to surfers. Ferg found us what looks to be the dreamiest place in town...everyone was asleep when we arrived....except the gardnerand the new morning glories... so the lady of the house arrived an hour later to find us camped out on her patio...me barely conscious...'Mr. I can sleep anywhere' caught a few more Z's than I did last night! Still can't believe he fell asleep on the roof of that train. We cannot check-in until around 1 or 2 so still going...energizer bunny style...feel much more human after breakfast of fruit and nice cheese omlette...you can get lobster everything here, even omlettes and spaghetti...looking forward to dinner tonight. Need to get wet & refreshed...will likely sleep on the beach after finish on line. Looks like it will be really, really hot here today...fun watching the town wake up. We are planning on staying 2 days and then heading inland to Lima. Have been going for about 18 hours now but no complaints...just part of the game! So very Sorry to hear about Tigger...he was a great kitty and will be missed! Will be thinking about you guys. K.

Hey guys, My mom forgot to tell you after 20 years, Tiger is dead. He had what my dad thought was a stroke on Saturday. His back legs no longer worker and he wasnt eating or drinking. So Dave took him to the Vet and had him put down. Dave declined the ashes. Just thought you would like to know. Benny might have a home if he needs one.

Good Morning, Your photos and updates of your travels are amazing! Krista, you do have the edge on travel updates. Keep up the good work and save some of the stories for the days ahead at French Lake.

Take care and travel safe
Dave & Loraine

Really great to hear all your news. Having a blast prorably doesn't do much to describe your journey I am thinking. Really wicked photos. Take care and travel safe. Enjoy every minute

Well what a train ride...6 hours on the roof and a bird's eye view of the Equadorian countryside...neat to see people just going about their day as we rolled past. The countyside with all the farmer's fields are lush and beautiful...the farmer's children run when they see the train and passengers throw them balloons, lollipops, pens and candy...neat to see them excited and waving. Was quite a day of travel, up at 5 then over to the train terminal where an old guy was typing out tickets on an old fashioned typewriter...speedy process. The train took off at 7 and I scored a pair of mitts from a little girl on the rooftop. People are definitely resourceful when it comes to making a living down here. Was chilly so I was thankful! Also the train would stop periodically and pick up other girls who were a lot braver than I...they walked the length of the roof of the train...while it was moving, selling thier wares...delicious Empanadas de Queso...essentially fried dough bundles stuffed with cheese...common here with many different fillings. 8km outside of Riobamba we had a wicked view of the snow capped volcano Chimborazo...over 6000 high...one of the biggest down here! Ferg snagged a few really great photos which I believe he is putting on the site as I type. Travelled ao Allusi and had a quick break before heading on down the Nose of the Devil=Nariz de El Diablo...I bought another layer and wrapped a gorgeous red Alpaca scarf around my neck...had given Ferg my mitts as I actually had my winterjacket on and was able to keep warm by tucking my arms inside. Eventually the sun rose high in the sky and somehow we both ended up with red noses and forheads...full spectrum day. The train was 7 cars long with the engine...5 cars sit on the roof and one to sit inside, so when we hit the station we quickly grabbed our packs and headed to where there looked to be busses leaving. Got lucky and caught one that was already pulling out for Guayoquil...Equadorian style the guy hanging out the door stopped for us and stowed our packs and we were off. 4.5 hours later on a bus that does not really stop...& also does not have a bathroom we arrived in Guayoquil...the heat was stifling after being up so high in the mountains...ears stayed blocked for quite a while. Guayoquil is right on the coast and on the way we passed fields and fields of banana trees...Ferg thinks about 600square. Dared to eat at the bus terminal...I was only brave enough to have rice but Freg with his iron guts went for the mystery meat as well...happy with my choice in the long run! Caught another bus about 20 minutes later and headed up the coast to a little town called Montanita...town of 2000 or so...economy largely driven by visitors looking to surf and party. Lucky to catch the last connector bus on the side of the highway and arrived in Montanita after almost 16 hours of travel...long day but worth it to wake up at the beach...was over 30 degrees and super nice swimming...Incredible waves! Checked into the Funky Monkey and had some cocktails...you beer drinkers would love it here...a double size beer costs 1$US. Ferg is in heaven! Changed from the hostal to Hotel at the other end of the beach in the morning. Really not crazy about sharing room with pigeons...especially Ferg!...and it was very, very loud as they party all night here...this Saturday was the Full Moon party and the place was hoppin'. The Baja Montanita is paradise and situated exactly where the surf breaks at the other end of the beach...our room is on the top level and we have our own deck so we can sit and watch the surfers from our view over the pool while enjoying Ferg's bartending on the road skills! A quart of Vodka is only 5$...Yippee. Have been a few days updating the site because we really have just been kicking back and enjoying the swimming, surf, and delicious fresh seafood! Had lunch cooked just for the two of us at a little place yesterday with 2 Peruvian chefs...saw the 2 most beautiful little girls I have ever seen...such beautiful eyes. Last night we had Cerviche again...we both really have developed a taste for it. Essentially, it is raw seafood marinated briefly in lemon and lime juice...typically served with onions. Had some with whitefish at lunch... and last night with octopus and squid...tentacles and all. Is a nice light meal in the haet and packed with flavor! Tonight will be our 4th here and then we will likely spend the day and catch the 4:30 bus to Guayoquil...will definitely pack a lunch and avoid the bus terminal. Hoping we will be able to connect out of there and travel overnight towards a little beach town in Peru. Think the sun burn factor has diminished enough to be able to sit on the bus and endure...Ha Ha! This place has been everything you could want and we have thouroughly enjoyed stitting in the sand. Love that we will be staying on the coast for a while. This is definitely the life! Can't tell each and everyone of you how excited we get to hear from you all...it means a lot to have so many great people and their positve energy behind us! Hope you all are Happy and Healthy - XO Kris

Hi Guys,
Just got to look at all your pictures and they are beautiful. Great you are having a good time and all is going great. It is raining cats and dogs here today so no fun. HArd to believe that you have already 2 weeks in so be good and keep the pictures coming. Enjoy