Saturday 28th June 2025 Tapachula to Mapastepec
Very early to bed last night, little bite to eat, proper Mexican tacos, nothing big, we are both knackered, always a bit of a stressful day when going through the borders and all the stuff going on with Steve’s recovery, good early night will sort all that.

Cornflakes for breakfast, bit different but that’s all we could find last night, see how they go, may have to supplement them with a few chocolate bars! Few bits of bike maintenance this morning before we leave, Bingo repaired a flat in his front tyre last night, now his back one is down, just an oil up and pump the tyres up for me, still on the road at 5:45, bit murky but very warm.

Heading towards Mapastepec today, about 65 miles, may do a little more see how we feel, through the myriad of back streets of Tapcgula, before we get on the highway then its plain sailing, just riding fast and hard, nice bit of road so make good time. Did notice a lot of police checks, seems like every town has its own security check, once again had to show are passport and tourist visa three times in the morning, each time they take a photograph of us, not sure why, I did ask if it was for Tinder, she just swiped right, no idea what that means.

Nice new road, that new there were no service stations at all, after about three hours, need to a stop, pulled over to a little shop, not open, but least they directed us over the road, nice place and open, “El Paraiso” celebrated with 2 soft drinks each and a coffee, all good, trying to source a place to stay, no signal, just have to get going again, nice chat with a few guys as we came out of the cafe, interested in what we were doing, don’t think they get many tourists around here.

Set off again, decide just to head towards Mapastepec and have an early finish, loads of washing to do, this is the glamorous touring life we need, been trying to air my tee shirt by tying to the back of my bike, just smells of diesel fumes and covered in dust now, another one of my failed cunning plans.

Got booked into the first hostel we seen, that was a hostel, not one of those others places of ill repute, all sorted, nice shower and wash the clothes at the same time, the outside of our room looks like a Chinese laundry, hopefully it will dry before the afternoon storm comes along.

Then down to the shack on the side of the road for some tasty lunch, refried beans rice and boiled egss, staple diet, keeps us going, no beer just a coffee, will have a beer later all being well. Back to the hostel to relax, sort out some more maps. Unlucky for me the beer did not work out last night, them refried beans went straight through me, felt crap, literally, walked down to the pizza place with Bingo, did not eat anything, went home took some dia-calm and hope for the best.