Day 110 - Santa Marta - Maicao

(Ursula) We arrived at the Magdalena River and took the ferry across to Fundación.

Then we hit a poorly maintained dirt road with many potholes, questionable bridges, and missing wooden planks. Heinz had to drive slowly and navigate cautiously.

After Santa Marta, we continued Route #90, which led along the Caribbean Sea through the lush foothills. It looked like paradise, with palm trees and glimpses of turquoise-blue water in the background.

Later, the landscape changed to something like a flat, stony desert with cactuses and dry shrubs. How the people here could make a living was a mystery to us. They wore wide cape dresses and just sat by the roadside waiting for something, or we saw them at water fountains filling up plastic containers.

We wanted to stay on a beach, but after several warnings about banditos, we continued to Maicao. Unfortunately, there was no campground or trailer park. Then we found a hotel with a large parking lot, but they wouldn’t permit us to park for the night. The gas stations and the airfield didn’t appear to be safe either.

So we left, drove to the Venezuelan border, and parked next to the customs building.

We woke up frequently during the night from the noise of wandering donkeys, barking dogs, and our Büsi roaming around the camper. It wasn’t the best place to stay, but at least it was safe.

Stats: Miles 305, Expenses $6.15Read more