After a few weeks of rough paddling we were all feeling the effects of sore muscles. I remember one day when we used our sleeping pads folded in half as boogie boards to ride the 6-foot surf while we broke for lunch. All the Honduran Indians, as well as the villagers along the coast welcomed all of us with open arms. We met a family who lived along a river delta and they let us pitch camp in their front yard, which was a riverbank. The family, the pig and the dog were all part of good company. We had beans and rice again for dinner and off loaded some food by giving it to the family. They expressed deep gratitude and amazement as we explained about instant milk and other dehydrated camp foods.

A few days later the anxiety of knowing the trip was almost over set in. We felt somewhat downcast and excited all at the same time. At nightfall rain began to pour down about fifteen miles from La Ceiba, one of Honduras’ largest towns. As the clouds got thicker and the waves on the coast grew bigger we knew we should try to make it to town the next morning before it got any worse. We awoke to the familiar sound of rain, and the groaning of Rob not wanting to get up and leave. He was up and ready to go when he realized Colby and I were going to leave him there. All three of us got drilled by the surf on our launch and were paddling in very heavy chop while heading for La Ceiba.

After what had to be the longest fifteen miles of the trip we were in front of La Ceiba looking at immense breaking waves. They were breaking onto a fifty-degree beach...very steep! It was ironic that after 70 days one of our last landings was going to be the most difficult. Rob did NOT want to land. Colby and I assured him he had no choice as we paddled behind a big breaker headed for shore. The two of us couldn’t have timed it better. We landed as a big swell pushed us up the incredibly steep beach. We both jumped out and helped each other push and pull the loaded boats out of harms way, which was over the lip of the top. "Just like pros" Colby said. Turning around we saw Rob still out there in the mess. He was looking at the waves in fear. He began coming in and got caught by a wave, which began to surf him toward the wall of sand. Rob braced frantically and was swept up to Colby and I who were now in the water to help. I grabbed his bow and Colby grabbed the stern, we dragged him up the beach and he hopped out. We carefully lifted his boat over the lip and onto the dirt lot above. We all shared a hug and knew we had just beat the storm that could have stranded us for a very long time.