From Palenque we headed back across the base of the Yucatan to Conhuas. We had decided to use Demetria's restaurant, La Selva, as a base for seeing some of the Mayan ruins in the area. Instead of our usual spot out in front, we pulled into the grassy area next to the restaurant and in front of some cabins rented to visitors. No one else was there and it was a nice spot.

Our biggest problem is that we forgot to get gas when we were going through Escarcega and there aren't any Pemex stations before Xpujil. From Demetria we learned that the station in Xpujil was out of gas so even making the 50km run there wouldn't help. She arranged for us to buy some gas from a local man but he wouldn't be back with it until the next day. Bobby and Patti were low and would need some to get to Chetumal and the next gas station and we needed some for the jeep so we could get to the ruins. We waited around most of the day but they did appear with 4 containers of 20 liters each. We paid a premium for it but it wasn't that much more and anyway we really needed it.

With gas in the jeep we took a short run up the road next to our camp to see the ruins of Balamkú. They are small but very nice and have a 17' frieze with the original paint still on it. They have rebuilt the pyramid it is in and closed it off to protect it from the elements.

The caretaker went up with us and unlocked it so we could go in. It's dark inside and no flash allowed so no pictures.

Outside he pointed out a family of howler monkeys and we watched them for awhile. After I told him we were interested in birds he pointed out a gorgeous woodpecker, huge with a bright red crest.

He also batted away this huge bug that was flying around us, he said that it bites. It had brillant red underwings when flying but once it landed on a stone wall you couldn't see any red at all. I had to take a picture of it.