WEEK 7 : 1 4th Dec - 20th Dec 2001
Trip Distance (km) Quote of the Week Country
008395 "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 Mexico
Zipolote - Tuxtla Gutierrez - San Cristobal - Palenque

Memorable Moment

Rain Riding.
After 6 weeks of dry riding we experienced our 1st day of rain, and socking rain at that. Started at an altitude of 2200 meters 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 buses 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 in our helmets- 'yeeeaaaah what a cracking days riding'.

 

Pictures of the Week

Competition

Avoiding being bitten by the dogs that chase bikes.
Loser: The mut who got a little too close to Boxys bike and boot..

Highlight

Watching Boxy eat the worm out of a 20 Peso bottle of Mescal.

Risk Activity

Passing 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 factor 8/10.

Lowlight

Hearing Boxy complain about a sore stomach for the next 2 days. .

Accident Tally

1: 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.