Friday 27th June 2025 San Sebastian to Tapachula (Mexico)
Here we go again the penultimate border crossing, up early, yogurt and biscuits for breakfast, put on the clean, well nearly clean cycling kit, get ourselves smart for the crossing, well we have 40 odd miles to do before the border, so both look like we have been dragged through a hedge backwards by then. Little check on the “English Patient” back home, another good night and now off the lung machine thing, just needs the ribs, collar bone sorted now, all good news

Off we go goodbye Guatemala hello Mexico, in 40 odd miles or so, first we have to tackle a 10 mile climb, should not be that difficult, but early in the morning no time to warm up, it may be. Just get into the climb, doing all right, not too steep, just go on and on, riding most of it on the hard shoulder so the lorries and cars can pass, every now and again you get a motorbike just stop in front of you! Felt like saying to one guy, you try and get this thing going again up here, but just blew him a kiss, he looked at me a bit strange I must say. Still going strong into the rhythm, now just a steady climb, legs pumping lungs full of air, that made me think of Steve, get well soon mate. Soon hit the top of the hill / mountain has to be a mountain at ten miles!Then there is a service station that can already taste the coffee, shame yes it was a service station but no coffee, just a soft drink, never mind had two of them.

Now for the good bit, nice downhill section to the border at Tecun Uman, coasted most of the way, enjoying the free ride, always something in the back of your mind, akin to “There is no such thing as a free lunch” you will pay for it later, same as the free ride, but enjoy it while you can. Glided into Tecun Uman, no problem just kept riding, till a guy in a uniform and a gun stopped us, No puedo pasar por aquí compañero (can’t go through here mate) or something like that, we turn back and look at the maps, fair play to the guy, he comes over and shows us on his phone where we have to go, brilliant we thought we had a 30 mile detour, his was on only 3 miles result. Stuck the new address in the phone and off we went, soon found the Guatemala immigration place, passport all stamped in less that 5 minutes, then the nice lad said just cycle over the bridge into Mexico with a good luck thrown in.

Here we go, found the Mexican place, straight away the guy said leave you bikes here, hard to see if he is smiling cause he has the biggest moustache ever, but do as he says. Show the girls the passport and the tourist tax forms, they mutter some Spanish stuff. I just smile, to no avail, it seems like we need three paper copies of the tourist tax form, guy comes out of the cubicle and shows us where to go and get them. Had to leave the bikes and walk out of the immigration centre, found the little shop doing a roaring business in photocopying cost $1, but because he was so nice gave him £2, with a warning, if they don’t let us in, we will be back. Back to the passport office, try smiling again. This time it works a little bit, though I have to pay a little bit more, no idea why, but pay it and get the passport stamped, we are in, how easy was that. All very nice and polite, really helped us, credit to the nation.

Change some money over, just the leftover Guatemala for some Mexican peso, then pedal into the southern area of Mexico, get out of town a little, then stop for a coffee and check the maps. All good, fuelled up with a strong sugared coffee, well pleased with myself, because it is past 12 and did not even consider a beer, still have 20 odd miles to go, heading for Tapachula, Bingo has sorted out a hostel so all ready to rock. Lovely little flat 20 odd miles down to Tapachula, made me think I should have had a beer, no worries, done the miles in just over an hour. Bit crazy when we hit the town though, missed a turning at a roundabout, then thought we would be clever and blag it, all through the back streets with open gutters and pot holes bigger than me. Was a bit leery and glad when we found the hostel, all in all a good day, nearly 70 miles on a border crossing day and yes I do look like I have been dragged through a hedge backwards. Even the guy who helped us store the bikes said we can do some laundry for you if you wish, not for us mate we are from Sunshine Corner Sunny Aylesham, he just held his nose a bit, bless him.

Bikes sorted, room sorted let’s eat and maybe have a beer.