14 Dec 2001 – 20 Dec 2001
Mexico
Mexico Zipolote - Tuxtla Gutierrez - San Cristobal - Palenque
The modern week-by-week edition
The wet season found the team in the mountains of Chiapas.
One minute the road would be bone dry and dusty; the next they were riding through rivers that had decided to join the pavement. Between Zipolite and Palenque came an oil-covered corner, Cañón del Sumidero, roadside stalls, rain, landslides, fallen trees and a final flooded-road crossing.
Goneriden
This week’s route
Approximate route using modern roads · OpenStreetMap contributors · route via OSRM
Week 07 in the full journey
The preserved 2002 maps provide full-trip context while the modern interactive journey map is developed.
Memorable moment
Rain Riding
After 6 weeks of dry riding, we experienced our 1st day of rain — and socking rain at that. Starting at an altitude of 2200 metres, we wound our way through the wet mountain roads in the driving rain to sea level, negotiating on our way a multitude of landslides, fallen trees and sections of tarmac totally washed away.
Nearly at our destination, we were faced with a 500mtr long stretch of flooded road. Cars were backed up on either side and the locals were out, presumably to laugh at anyone who tried to cross. We contemplated crossing for about 3 seconds, then, presuming that we couldn't get any wetter, rushed across following a bus. Things nearly came unstuck when the water level rose to 2 ft and the bus's speed dropped so much that balancing the bikes in the strong currents became difficult.
We arrived in Palenque 4 1/2 hours later, socked to the bone, yelling into our helmets — 'yeeeaaaah what a cracking days riding'.
Original Week 7 accountPictures of the week
Quote of the week"Gee these bikes are hard to start when it cold and wet" - Jamie after 10 minutes of trying to start his bike that was out of fuel
CompetitionAvoiding being bitten by the dogs that chase bikes.
Loser: The mut who got a little too close to Boxys bike and boot..
HighlightWatching Boxy eat the worm out of a 20 Peso bottle of Mescal.
Risk activityPassing trucks and buses on mountain roads in the rain and fog whilst being cautious of oncoming mad Mexican bus drivers who put their buses into 4 wheel skids:Risk factor8/10.
LowlightHearing Boxy complain about a sore stomach for the next 2 days. .
Road tally1: An altercation with a oil covered mountain road nearly brought the whole goneriden team unstuck. Unfortunealy Boxy due the short straw and tried to mop up the oil with body as he side across the spill. No injuries were sustained by either rider or bike.
Week 07 photo diary
The mosaic follows the numbered sequence in date-and-time order. Select any image for its full-screen view and comment.