Day 26 – Guatemala

The stay at the hacienda was absolutely marvelous! Two things I am certain off this trip – New Mexico and if ever own a house it will be designed as a hacienda – needless to say it needs to be in a temperate climate!

....here are some more pics of Antigua

....one of the volcanoes surrounding the town

....Pathfinder certainly looks comfortable in its private hacienda parking!

Have some news (will not classify it as good or bad) - it is what it is

Based on various factors of which the two most important ones are the increased shipping costs from Panama to Colombia and the wait time before I can actually get my vehicle in a container and on board a ship - the trip beyond Panama is no longer financially viable – and as I have already been to countries south of Guatemala to Panama, I have decided to turn back from Antigua as it’s a wonderful place and therefore fitting for a u-turn

So, heading home but it’s a long way back! And as I am taking a completely different route back - will keep the blog and snaps going!

Day 27, 28 & 29 – Mexico (return)

OK, here is some Mexico trivia –

• Mexico introduced chocolate, corn and chillies to the world!
• One of the largest windmill farms is located in Mexico - thousands of windmills in 140 square miles! BTW each blade is the length of a airliner wingspan (lots of smog and wrong time of the day for photography - but to give an image) 

• The most popular car brand is VW and the most popular car VW Jetta
• Mile for mile - Mexico has the most expensive highway system in the world – I should know!

Now a story on my number plates – in Mexico most people think the vehicle and I are from Colombia – guess they just ignore the British side of things J

Have passed one vehicle with BC plates in the mountains – resulted in a lot of arm waving and honking – god I love families in mini-vans as long as they are in Mexico!

After 3 days of driving and at time retracing my route I get to a small chaotic town and not a hotel worth the name in sight – my rule in this situation is to just keep driving in the direction I  am going and sooner or later I find something and this time guess what I found!

Now, these places are very hush hush – one drives in and faces a metal barrier and a one way glass window - all transactions are similar to a drive by ATM – communication is via intercom. Perfect for a clandestine encounter and then I show up – “Hello! Is anyone in there!!??” They must have taken me for quite the wanker! J

After some confused Spanish behind the one way glass – the manager walks out and we had the good old chat – he showed me how things worked and well I did not have the love but did have an auto so I was welcome!

It’s amazing how clean this place is – better then the so called motels in the US or in Canada

It’s like a drive in garage - you drive in and close the shutter behind you and then open a door and walk into a very clean suite with very confusing horizontal ‘S’ shaped seating with guidelines and a menu that is best left to the imagination – other than that it could be just another home in the suburbs! J

Day 30 & 31 - Mexico (return)

And yes the night was very peaceful!

....and I am back in the desert again 

Now on the most dangerous area in the Americas (Ciudad Juarez)! Here I was all geared up – checking for IEDs (kidding) but hey at the very least I expected a heavy military presence – but, not a sausage in sight!!??

Either the news is old/propaganda or the Mexican security forces did not get the memo?

I think that they have been fighting a losing war against the cartels – so they made a deal – we will go away and spend time in fancy hotels (and harass the wayward Canadian tourist) and you stop killing each other and get on with the traditional family business of cocaine transportation! Live and let live so to speak!

Amazing, did not see a single soldier or cop (everywhere else in Mexico they are all over the place) – on the other hand, to give them the benefit of the doubt – maybe they just had great camouflage!

Finally, cross back into US at El Paso, Texas

Day 32, 33 & 34 - US (return)

NOTE: these posts relate to my return trip as I had to turn back from Guatemala

Day 32 was Pathfinder maintenance day - took hell of a beating in Mexico and needed repairs.

Day 33 and 34 have been the best days do far - driving North through New Mexico, Colorado and Utah has been awesome - with NM and Colorado being the best! Actually its a kind of natural beauty that no photograph can ever do justice too.

Did you know that in Utah - restaurants will not serve you beer or wine!? The ones that do have a limit of 3??

Good thing I am just passing through - a man could die of thirst in this dry desert!

Day 35, 36, 37 - US & Home (return)

NOTE: these posts relate to my return trip as I had to turn back from Guatemala

After 17,000 km and 37 days - driving through all kinds of terrain under all imaginable conditions – I am home!

The smile and ‘welcome home sir’ at the border felt GREAT! Particularly after the number of searches I have gone through – some at gunpoint – the Mexicans were at least nice about it – they would always shake my hand before and after a search – while pointing automatic weapons at me!

Did you know that repos cannot repossess a vehicle on the reservation (actually no law other then the reservation police applies on the reservation) so they hang around the nearest Wal-mart waiting for the vehicle to show up!

I wanted a long road trip and I certainly got one! It had some glorious moments and a few nasty ones but all in all – what a ride!!!

The most important piece of equipment (other than the obvious) was my trusted 10 dollar electric kettle! It provided me with coffee for my early morning starts and, in a pinch, hot water for an instant meal

Pity, I could not make it to SA but maybe the gods saved that for another day J

Hasta la Vista!