Motorcycle Trip Central South America

Brutal day. I suppose you have to have the yen with the yang but laying in bed and utterly exhausted. It was a Murphy's law day and everything took forever and it was miserable. First, tried to take a short cut through the mountains to Riobamba and ended up doing a two hour loop back to Banos. It was pretty but very frustrating after talking to several locals and very bad roads. I ended up taking the conservative route and proceeded to get rained on at 9,000 to 12,000 ft for 4 hours. Oh yeah there was hail, lots of hail. Not fun on sharp turns in the mountains with dirt roads and no where to turn off. Just chalking it up to the adventure. This wouldn't have been so bad but my winter gear was packed since I wasn't expecting it be that cold. Every time i debated stopping and pulling it out it would clear up a bit. My hands were completely numb for a couple of hours but thawed out once I got over the passes. It continued to rain in the lowlands but the traffic was bad and forgot it was Saturday. I still don't know why they call this the PanAmerican 'Highway'. Once I made it back on I had the grand illusion the roads would be better and have good signage. No. The highway is two lanes, asphalt, unmarked huge speed bumps (I hit two at over 40 and thought I was going to loose it) and it turns to dirt and pot holes at the strangest times. I need to stop having expectations on how the roads are going to be which would have reduced my frustration today. Needless to say didn't make it to the border but to Machala which is on the coast and sweltering. It is so strange going from freezing to sweating in a few hours. Didn't make it in until 8 and found out when it got dark that my headlight has burned out again. This is unbelievable, the third headlight since I started and this was supposed to last for 2000 hours and payed a premium at the motorcycle shop in Medellin. I must have a leak somewhere in the light chamber and will check in the morning and go for a search about town although it is Sunday and don't have high expectations. Not much of a town although not as seedy as some I traveled through this afternoon which is why i didn't stop. Will head for the border tomorrow and hopefully no rain.