Saturday 21st June 2025 Potosi to San Miguel (El Salvador)
Bingo’s birthday meal last night consisted of a giant bag of quaver things and loads of beers, nothing open in the sparkling little port Potosi, so off we trudge back to the hostel with a little carry out, many happy returns of the day Bingo.

Least we had breakfast to look forward to in the morning, one of life’s great luxuries, had to wait till 7 though, up with the larks, as two parrots, big green ones, having a chat outside around 5:30 in the morning, no worries both stirring so all good. Checked the updates on Steve, still not good reading, but at least he is in the right place and getting the best treatment, both of us feeling for him, the family back home have been marvelous with so much love and support.

Both hank marvin so we wander out to the breakfast are pretty early, get served a coffee and another one, then the much anticipated breakfast came, fried eggs rice and fried batter things, we demolished it with ease, nice and filling though, waited a while then decided to ride down to the jetty, met the guy who was organising this end, just as we left the hostel, 3 copies of the passport required, took us into a little shop, go them sorted, he took two copies and gave us the other one, give it to the immigration guy he said as he shot off on his little motorbike.

We arrived two hours early at the immigration post, they had not opened yet, no worries, we are not going to miss this boat hopefully not, sat outside the place while the two guys inside got ready for the rush, about 18 people max on the boat. We were the first no one else around when they casually opened up the window, well a bit of plastic, passed the passports over with the $3 not a bribe, just had to pay for the ink in the passport stamp or their wages. All sorted, only another 1.5 hours to wait, no worries, read a book and wait.

Bit of activity, bus turns up, a few more people congregate down by the pier, not the boardwalk! we amble down there, table set up definitely a boat coming in, within 10 minutes here we go a small boat turns up about a dozen people on board all like tourists, as they have to jump in the water and walk up the black sand to the desk, the guys on the boat collect all their luggage. Then it’s chaos in the first degree, all the passengers have to open up their backpacks and show the border guys the contents, very strange, takes about an hour to process, then another boat turns up, same thing, Bingo and Gringo just sitting on the pier watching it unfold.

Sorted the second boat out, guy comes over, says take your bags off the bikes and put them in the first boat, bags off, Bingo and I wade out with the bike over the shoulder to the boat, guy just lays then down at the front, not much room. Then instructs us to bring our bags to the table, everything out the guy just looks at the tents, sleeping bags and stuff, all good, try and repack, then Bingos turn sure enough they notice his drone, big problem, end up marching him up to the offices, me looking after the bags. Then the guy comes over, you need to get the bikes off the boat, not looking good, bit of translation stuff, but sure enough I have to wade out again and get both bikes off the boat.

All going a bit pear shaped, but sitting patiently in the shade reading my book for a couple of hours, eventually the first boat leaves at 12:30 very late, then more passengers turn up for the second boat. They get all their baggage checked and searched, little chat with a few, what are you waiting for, just my brother he is up there in jail, I joke only a few drugs, only jokingly had a drone, is that worse in this part of the world who knows. Anyway they all get on the boat and it just sits there bobbing in the water. About an hour later Bingo reappears from his prison cell, minus the drone, come on we can go, frantically load the bikes up and all the baggage as the passengers already on the boat think we are the cause of the delay, yes we are. Soon set sail on to El Salvador, roughly a two hour crossing.

Nice crossing if the truth be known I slept most of the way, quite therapeutic, the rocking of the boat and the fresh sea air, fast asleep, woke up just as we were entering La Union, but better this side we did not need to wade into the sea. Luggage and bikes off, then cycle down the pier to the El Salvador immigration, not so bad, passports checked, no need to check the baggage all done in half an hour. Say a few farewells to some of the travellers on the boat that Bingo chatted to , while I was sleeping like a baby.

Off to change some money, then a little 30 mile dash to San Miguel, all being well, sorted some cash out, was unaware they use US$, topped up with them then we are off. Did not leave La Union, till after 3 in the afternoon, so a big ask to do the 30 miles or so before it gets dark, but will give it a go.

First part was a 5 mile climb out of the town, that got the legs going and the concentration as the road was pretty busy and rough, sorted the climb out, then just pedalled, eating up the miles, did feel a bit strange with the sun going down in front of us. First time we experienced that on this tour, as the sun dropped it was getting difficult to see, we just pedalled through it as fast as we could. Finally hit the outskirts of San Miguel, rode through the city in the decaying light and finally found the hostel on the other side of the city, a good move really as it will make tomorrow’s start a bit easier.

Booked into the hostel, quickly shower and wash the kit then straight back out to eat and eat, nice meal walk back via a supermarket stock up on supplies, including the chocolate then back to the hostel to sleep.