Trans America and beyond, 2005

Mexico City is inhabited by more people than live in the entire country of Australia!

So we could not imagine what it was going to be like to visit there. You dont just visit Mexico city, you experience it!

We are so grateful to know Garry who lead us in and out of the city on his BMW 1100GS or the Honda CBR 1000 and Ivonne, who has the most amazing driving skills, took us every where in the van!

Bikes at Tres Marias - Near Cuernevaca

Tuxtla Guitierrez is the capital city of Chiapas. It is quite modern and has a wonderful zoo where you can actually roam about with many of the animals. ZOOMAT was founded by Doctor Miguel Alverez Tores to ensure the preservation of the native animals and plants enabling the local indigenious people access to thier heritage.

On Valentines Day we said our Goodbyes to Mexico and crossed the bridge into Belize where we secured 1 weeks insurance for the bike and went for a tour around the duty free shopping zone before arriving at Belize immigration.

Belize (formerly British Honduras) has a population of approximately 230,000 people and gained independance from England in 1981, it has only just been recognised as an independant country by the Guatemalan Government.

We crossed into Guatemala at Melchor de Mencos, it was a straight forward affair, all departments are located close together. You first pay Q12.50 to have the bike disinfected, then Q40.00 for your vehicle permit and a dodgey Q20.00 for your tourist card (there is no cost for this but some people charge it!). We could not buy vehicle insurance at this border.

On a winding road we passed many small villages and farms. The mountains started emerging out of the flat ground, forming sharp peaks and deep troughs.

On the Road to Panajachel

A battered welcome sign greeted us

Semana Santa Procession - Gracias

Reflections of Miss Piggy

Miss Piggy

One year on the road finds us in Nicaragua, Central America.

Thank you to our families and friends for thier support and encouragement throught out the past year and to our new firends that we have met along the way.
Grant

Border Crossing Los Manos - Nicaragua

We approached the Nicaraguan border post of Los Manos with caution and nervousness (after our episode entering Honduras two months ago), steadfastly resolute that we would not succumb to any corruption... as if.

Sighting the Honduran Aduana (Customs) on the left side, a group of small offices with numerous money changing operations on either side, with the usual gaggle of trabajadores and hanger-oners we parked Miss Piggy.

'Hey Jules, theres a bloody big hole in the bridge!'

View from Volcán Poás

Slowly edging closer to South America we entered Costa Rica. The border crossing was reasonably easy though somewhat confusing and time consuming taking approximately 2 hours to complete.We arrived in Peñas Blancas at what appeared to be a large bus terminal.

Beach - Panama

Panama - The Bridge to South America. A country literally cut in half by a man made Canal. Home to the infamous and wild Darién Gap. We were looking forward to our last country of Central America.

BORDER CROSSING

Puente de las Americas (off in the distance)

View over the Valley - North of Bogota

Miss Piggy and her mounts rolled gently to a stop only inches from the deep gully at the edge of the road yet another checkpoint, 'Routine' we thought after riding almost 2000km from Bogota to Cartegena and return we had become used to the constant military and police presence on the roads.

The second most frequently asked question by Colombians (after 'Where are you from?') is 'How do you find Colombia?'. Colombians are very proud of thier country and conscious of the publicity foreginers receive about thier home.

¡Hola!'¡Aye, muy lindo!' (Very beautiful), we reply as they smile and chat amoungst themselves.

Ecuador is famous for its snow capped grandios volcanoes. The promise of viewing Cayambe, Cotopaxi and the recently erupting Tungurahua all beckoned. We travelled south along the Avenida Volcànes, and yes we did see the volcanoes.... well only the lower flanks as cloud after cloud rolled over allowing us only tiny glimpses of thier magnificence.

Volcàn ImbaburaBorder Crossing

Road to Caral

The deep sandy track continued on in a seemingly endless search for the horizon. With the worn front tyre next to useless in these conditions we ploughed on through steadfastly resolute on our destination. Miss Piggy showing sure-footed stability inspired us to confidence.
Sandy Track - Supe Valley