Archive for January, 2010

The wailing volcano hike and untouchable Lake Atitlán

The wailing volcano hike and untouchable Lake Atitlán

For some now unknowable reason I had decided to climb the still-burbling 3,772 metres (12,372 ft) Santa María volcano yesterday. This sounds impressive but the climb is only from the valley floor which means a climb of 1,400 metres (4,600 ft).

Dead Motorcyclist and the Border Crossing To Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

Dead Motorcyclist and the Border Crossing To Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

I woke at dawn in Tapachula, Chiapas, MX after sleeping somewhat fitfully worried about crossing the border into Guatemala.  Got the bike out of the hotel and drove to the secondary (but closer) crossing of Talisman all the while pondering how different it might be in Guatemala.  When I arrived near the  border bridge a [...]

From Puerto Escondido towards Guatemala

From Puerto Escondido towards Guatemala

After the mechanic in Santa Elena who was to work on the bike was drunk on the appointed day, I took my bike on the back of a not quite long enough pickup truck back to Puerto Escondido to the official Yamaha mechanic – Mario (just past the Crucero near the ADO bus station).   Mario [...]

Broken down in Santa Elena, OAX, MX

Broken down in Santa Elena, OAX, MX

After one night, Kai and I decided to leave Puerto Escondido for the less developed beach town of Mazunte found south on the coast by about 60 kms.   In the morning I  was dripping with sweat as we loaded the bike and put on heavy motorcycle jackets and jeans in the torpid humidity of the [...]

Under the volcano and through the Sierras Occidentales

Under the volcano and through the Sierras Occidentales

I drove into Mexico City on Tuesday afternoon rush-hour without getting stopped by any police – in fact I was blasting by some of them at twice the speed limit on the peripheral roads in the hopes that they wouldn’t notice I was a foreigner ripe for a little bite bribe/fine and wouldn’t want to [...]

Near the rich and amongst the expats of San Miguel De Allende, Mexico

Near the rich and amongst the expats of San Miguel De Allende, Mexico

Getting up at 8am and leaving Guanajuato with a certain amount of regret for not having stayed longer than four nights I drove the long route (unintentionally) to Dolores Hidalgo (‘the birthplace of Mexican independence’) and on to San Miguel de Allende.   The first part of the route was a beautiful calm ride through cold [...]

San Francisco to Guadalajara and on to lovely Guanajuato

San Francisco to Guadalajara and on to lovely Guanajuato

After five days in the tiny hippie beach town of San Francisco I convinced Seamus that my wanderlust needed sating and we planned our trip to Guadalajara for a couple of days.  With Seamus riding pillion we drove up the hilly jungle highway 200 towards Compostela hoping to put Seamus on a bus there while [...]

New Years Eve and Seamus on The Bike

New Years Eve and Seamus on The Bike

An hour before my mum left on new year’s eve, Seamus arrived with a headache and promptly lay under hot towels on the bed.  I had had enough time lounging around in Puerto Vallarta after about five days so I wasn’t to displeased too have New Year’s Eve’s entertainment and then leave for the beach [...]