Wednesday 25th June 2025 El Astillero to Santa Lucia (Guatemala)
Lot better service in the restaurant last night, think we may scared them a bit when we were hangry in the afternoon, the rule is never delay a cyclist eating, it can end up in carnage, but all’s well that ends well, they apologised for the delay, we apologised for getting a bit agitated. Lovely pasta meal so all good in the end.

Same old thing in bed by 9, sorted out some more routes then fast asleep, we both slept so well, we really needed it.

Getting used to the early morning routine, now first thing check the update on Steve’s injuries, all positive this morning so that gives us a boost, also check if we need to supply any information etc. once again all good this morning. Then get on with breakfast, today’s offering was gruel, some medieval mixture of oats, barley, nuts and water, just what two highly tuned athletes require in the morning, but that’s all Bingo has, so it will have to do.

Straight on the road, after the hearty breakfast, nice early start, heading towards Escuintla, get a few early morning miles in before the traffic builds up, that’s the plan, need to get some oil pumping around these weary legs before that happens. Always the same legs feel like they belong to someone else first thing in the morning, only takes half an hour then I have them back in control, trouble is then I can’t keep up with them! Still very green, with the volcanos mystically shrouded in clouds in the distance, looks good, just hope they do not start to erupt, that would be fun riding away from the red hot chili peppers, sorry red hot larva, knew it was going to be a jukebox day.

As we eat into the early miles, my head spinning with all the old music Steve used to play at 69 Attlee, bands whirling through my head last night, trying to think of some poignant tracks, from way back then, first one is Patti Smith Horses/Land of a Thousand Dances, mainly because I like the album cover as a 14 year old, great track will need to play it again sometimes, can only remember a few lines, but can still picture the white cover on the album. I will need to play that when we finish today.

Stop at a little cafe Brito, loads of flies so do not stay too long, just time for a quick lukewarm coffee and a soft drink, then hit the road again. Getting busy now with the lorries thundering past us, most of them give us a wide berth, but you get the odd one that gets a bit close, pretty scary. We soon hit the town Escuintla, about 40 miles in, eventually found a place inside with air con, need to keep away from the flies, so nice to have a relaxing drink and rest without pesky things buzzing around us, probably something to do with how we smell I would think. Anyway we got a luxurious coffee, KitKat and a soft drink, what a holiday, living the life of Riley, who was he. It was only 10:30 so I had a bit of a break, then decided to push on for another 20 or so miles.

Sort out some digs in Santa Lucía, another coffee then on are way for another 20 odd mile stretch, getting hotter now, it’s better to be riding that standing still, with the volcanoes in the foreground, got me thinking of another one of Stevens tracks “Ballad of the Beacon” this one I can recall a few of the lyrics:

“We’ll be leaving this town in the morning
Tomorrow we’ll be able to see
I’ve had me enough of the city
And she’s had enough out of me

Say if I climbed to the mountains
Would you still follow me there
Steal me away in an echo
The mountains will always be there”

I am rocking, head in a spin, with my long golden (grey) hair, look like some sort of 1970’s groupie, but singing at the top of my voice, hope Steve can’t hear me, he would just mutter, shut up and listen to the track, never going to do that. Soon smashed the final 20 odd miles, with me murdering the song so badly, at least I enjoyed it. Had to shut up singing as we rolled into Santa Lucía, not only a hotel, but a very nice one, let’s enjoy it.

Few beers, a spot of lunch, then the best shower in living memory, washing the kit in hot water, how good is that, relaxing with a few beers and catching up on the family stuff.

Good days riding again.