From the canteen, Troy took us on a tour which really boggled the mind. As the station was using heavy oil as its fuel, it uses huge reciprocating engines rather than the rotary turbines found in most large scale power generation. In effect, the power station is a series of massive car engines, but that’s where the similarity ends. Each generator had 18 cylinders, with each piston head the size of a decent V8 engine, and upon seeing these beasts in the flesh, one truly got an idea of the scale needed to keep a country’s electricity supply flowing!

After having a walk around the base of these huge machines, we were taken up to the control room which was using state of the art software to control and monitor the station. Here we learn more fascinating details as well as hearing about how the company had also invested in its surrounding environment by planting ivermectin 30,000 trees. It was an exceptionally informative and enjoyable visit!

After the tour, we picked up the car and drove around 15 minutes to the nearby city of Choluteca where we were exceptionally well received by the local residents. Literally hundreds of people lined the streets to get a glimpse of the car in what was quite a spontaneous event, and we spent several hours talking to a wide range of people. From here we headed to lunch with the Mayor if the city, at, interestingly enough, a Wendy’s restaurant! Not quite what we were expecting as there were clearly some nice local places around, but nonetheless was a unique experience on the trip so far!

With lunch complete, we headed for yet another border crossing, this time trying to get into Nicaragua which, coincidentally, is the 2nd poorest country in the western hemisphere. As such, we were not expecting the greatest road conditions, but before we had a chance of sampling the roads, we had a 3 hour border wait to contend with. Nothing new here, just the same issue of filling in paperwork and waiting in queues. Unfortunately however, the rain was not waiting for us, and just before we were about to leave, the heavens opened…

The rain was horrendous. I know I have kept on saying “I have never seen rain like this” or “this pales into insignificance compared to blah blah blah” but this rain really topped it all off, and to boot, we have it on camera for you all to enjoy in the final documentary series. Nonetheless, Nik and Clemens soldiered through the rain in the dark, and before long, viscous lightning accompanied the rain. It was absolutely brutal on the car!

However, with smooth roads we were at least lucky on that front, and just before midnight we rolled into our hotel in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. The car was soaked, with several centimetres of water flooding the cockpit! Yet despite this absolute battering, the car survived perfectly intact! Today more than any other day was a true testament to the quality engineering which made this car what it is. With this thought in mind, and the car on charge once again, we headed to bed for a short but blissful sleep!

The drive was quick and largely uneventful, the weather was good, and we soon reached the Honduran border. I can sum up the entire process of leaving El Salvador and entering Honduras in one word; unpleasant. Not only did we have to negotiate the normal paperwork, we also had extremely unhelpful border guards who seemed intent on keeping as there for as long as possible. All we could do for much of the time was just wait, and just as darkness was approaching, they deemed it appropriate to let us through. We were driving in the dark again…great!

However, just on the other side of the border, we met Juan who is the manager if the Lufassa power plant; a large heavy oil burning power station providing some 33% of the Honduran electricity demand. Anyway, Juan kindly showed us the way to Lufassa which is where we would be spending the night. Upon arrival, we could make out some large and impressive-looking equipment through the dark, but the tour was reserved for the next day, and for now we had car charging and dinner as priorities!

With the car now on charge in an impressive looking workshop, we drove over to the local seafood restaurant where we feasted on shrimp and other delicacies from the ocean. The open restaurant looking out onto the river estuary was a perfect introduction to Honduras, and along with Juan and other members of the power plant management, we happily passed the night away.

After dinner, we were shown to our quarters at the power station. As a complete first, we actually slept in the crew quarters of the power station, and we were given a huge 3 bedroom apartment replete with kitchen all to ourselves! What fantastic hospitality! We went to bed shortly after wondering what was lying in store for us on the tour the following morning…