Mexico La Paz
to Mexico City.

This week took the team from La Paz across the water to Mazatlan, where they were welcomed by local truck drivers and picked up a new game of dominoes on the ferry. From there, the route continued along the coast to San Blas and on to Tequila, with time to sample the local tipple before pressing on.

The final leg brought the riders through Guadalajara and into Mexico City, where they made a last-minute decision to tackle the city traffic. After sorting out a few directional problems, they reached the Zocalo and then found themselves weaving through crowded streets, Christmas shoppers and a parade on the way to the hostel.

Goneriden

This week’s route

Mexico La Paz - Mazatlan - San Blas - Guadalajara - Mexico City

1La Paz
2Mazatlán
3San Blas
4Tequila
5Guadalajara
6Mexico City

Week 05 routeMexicoRegional context

Road sections use current OpenStreetMap roads · ferry and flight legs are direct guides

Memorable moment

Memorable moment.

Following a last minute decision to brave the traffic in one of the biggest cities in the world we came off the toll road into Mexico City. Minor directional problems were solved, and we made it to the Zocalo (Central Plaza).

The road to one end of the hostel was blocked so we followed another car to do a lap of the block. To our surprise we came across thousands of stalls and xmas shoppers packing the so called streets. A city of 20 million people which gets an additional 2 or more million xmas shoppers proved to be really buzzing.

After some pretty harsh stares and nearly run over children we made it to the hostel. Luckily our bikes were able to fit through the front door and take prime position in the hall, away from the thousands of smiling and startled xmas shoppers.

Original Week 5 account

Pictures of the week

Three moments from the road

Tequila and dominoes with the locals, good Spanish practice, grammar possibly needed more work.

We walked past this shop while looking for a bar. With the shutters down it was obviously a bike shop and a good place to start looking for a new rear tyre. We were slightly amused the next day when we returned to find other items for the rear.

Quote of the week

"I thought they were pineapples." – Jamie, as the Goneriden team stopped near the desert town of Tequila to check out the cactus plants used to make that friendly drink.

Competition

Who could be the first to see a croc during the mangrove boat ride at San Blas?

Winner: Ramone, the boat driver.

Highlight

A guided tour of Mazatlan with a couple of local guys we met on the ferry. Tour guides happily pointing out the sites (and wolf whistling at the better ones) from the back of our bikes.

Risk activity

Playing dominoes with the locals on the ferry. Risk of Boxy being thrown overboard if he beat them.Risk factor2/10, lucky we shouted tequila.

Lowlight

The midgies at the beach in San Blas. The insect repellent worked on them though, unlike the drunk who would not leave us alone later that night, requiring more threatening repellent from Martin.