Motorcycle TransportationThis will make you laugh!
Mexico into Guatamala
Date:2011-11-08 12:02:58
Author:Wade Stubbs
This will make you laugh! Yesterday as you know we wanted to do a return trip to the Mexico border to get our bikes stamped out. We departed at 6am with an expected 2.5 hr ride ahead. We arrived at the border at 10 (4 hrs). We left the bikes on the Guatemala side and tried to sneak through. No luck. After 20 mins of bad Spanish they let us through with no stamping out. We talk to the Mexican customs and they explain that we have to drive 20. Klms to a place to sort it all out. No problems, back across the order and have a similar discussion regarding coming into Guatemala without going through immigration. 20 mins latter we are getting to our bikes and heading through the order. Stopped for a short discussion by customs again and then we are off. Direction - "it's easy just stay on this road" 15 mins latter there is a road closed and we are detoured......... Aaaaah!!! We are now along way from the city and decide to head that way for directions. Person after person and no direction. My Spanish is bad but not that bad. I decide to join the road that we were suppose to be on at the other end and back track. Good call. With in 15 mins I have found the place That was easy......... We are not finished yet! We line up and talk to 2 Canadians who tell us that we have to go somewhere else first...... Your kidding me!! No they were not We now have to find a place called "vive Mexico banajerico" the security guard gives me directions and what understood was straight at the first roundabout and keep going 15klms. The roundabout is only 500 meters away. We load up and depart, approach the roundabout, head straight and are immediately stopped by the police asking where are we going as the road is closed!! Luckily I got the security guard to write it all down and lucky they were cool funny police. 5 mins with my Spanish and they could not wait together rid of me. But they were very excited about our trip. They pointed us in the opposite direction to the border. This decision was not agreed to by all but I stood strong, after all they are the police and they know where they are! After 20 mins I was ready to declare my mistake when we see the building. It was like finding water in the desert! The offic soon stamped our paperwork and said we could go. Now what I did not tell you before is that the security guard at the first Place said that we needed this first stamp. Then go to a special bank, then return to him, then we are clear for the border. Once again I begin my spanish and this guy is cool. He informs me that we are finished and we will receive our card return tomorrow or the next day. You mean we can cross the border. Yes your bikes are clear to leave...... This all in fluent correct Spanish of course!! Cool let's go We approach the border and with people running and arms flying we jump the que in bully style and head straight through the Mexico gates. Cool we are in guatemalla. That was easier than expected........I hate it when I speak to early We bash through customs andthen immigration without even changing down gear but then it all comes to a hault with a boomgate a guy with a gun. Unfortunately they have alot of people who speak g Fluent English and we were soon told we needed to import the bikes. Photocopies, forms and payments. 1 hr latter we are ready to leave with our new blue sticker when the heavens decide to open, and open they did. This is 1330 by the way and the last time it will stop raining. We talk to the locals about the best way back to lago atitian and our warm bed and hot shower. They agree that we should return on the route we departed. "our first mistake" we had been discussing doing a different route home to see different things. When we reached the decision point of left (previous route andocal suggestion) or right (new route) which way do you think we went ....... Right of course! The bergaliaboys boys hate seeing things twice! After 15 mins we find a restaurant and stop for lunch. The owner tells us we have made a good decision and shows usthe quickest route which in all fairness is onthe tourist map in the same color as all major roads but is not on our gps. Who trusts electronics?? We are off and enjoying little rain and nice roads in direction of Mazantango. At Mazantango we head north along route C11. it has a number it must be good! It's now 1700 and with dark approaching at 1800 we are in good shape. 45 mins it all turns pear shaped. We have been riding on a small gravel road for the past 30 mins and are only 10 klms from a road previously ridden when the road ends. SHIT!!! The road is cut by recent storms, that was not on the tourist map! No problems we will head back and go around the long Way. About an extra 150+ klms. It's now dark and after 6. We have started heading back when Philip is flashing and sounding the horn. This can't be good. I pull up thinking that Kev has crashed. This outcome would have been the best. But no Kev has a front flat. No problems, scouts honor wade has packed a repair kit and electric pump, 30 mins and we will be on the road. It's Lready dark so it. Does not matter. We pull the bike over and begin setting up when again the heavens open. This time in true tropic fashion. We move under a tree and begin working under tourch light. To start you need to find the hole, we plug in the pump but can not get air to remain inside. The bead has popped and without a qui k burst of air this is not going to happen. It is bringing back memories of our time in the baja. Decision is made to ride the bike slowly to the next town and leave it. Ride to titian and return tomorrow with tubes. This by the way was our second mistake, always carry tubes! We dump the bike and Kev who is a big Irish man jumps on the back of my bike like a gay man at a pride perade. The next town is 10 klms away on dirt rough road. While going through Kev spots. Tire repair place..... Perfect. We dump Kev and reike off with our gear and Philip and I head back to the bike with tools to remove the tyre. It has now been non stop torrential rain and the road conditions were getting bad. I loose my bike in mud going down hill and my new accident total has just reach double figures. Philip has a smile from ear to ear. We reach the bike and begin dismantle but of course we do not have the correct front axel tool. Where is it.... At the hotel. I start dreaming of Maguiver, in a non sexual way and soon we have the wheel mounted on the back of phils bike. We return to the tyre repair shop where we find the cause of the flat was just the bead breaking due to Kev"s wheel being buckled 3rd mistake, for all you riders out there, if your wheels is buckled even slightly you need to install a tube We leave reike to protect the gear and we double Kev along with the wheel back to the bike. Remember my crash 1 hr ago, well just lucky Kev has long legs or it would have benn 11 for me. Kev walks the next 100 meters and then we continue. With the entire town (20) watching and laughing at kegs stomach vocals we are off o ce again with 3 bikes. Picked up reike and gear and onto solid ground all the time raining We are choosing the route home and it's once again not on the gps! Do we go for it, it will save us some 50-60 klms. 2 different groups of locals inform us it's good. They all could not be wrong Well I guess the suspence is killing you.......... The road was good and passable, the weather however was not so and made the conditions very dangerous,actually it was stupid fir us to be in it, but we had no clothes and no money, but we had fuel, good bikes and good lights. With grins from ear to ear, soaking cold clothes, and a story to tell, we reached the hotel at midnight. That's 18hrs on the bikes. Time for a hot shower and food As we park the bikes we mention to each other that it's rather dark and the town is very quiet. The security guard is showing us to our rooms with torches when finally the memory catches up with the situation. SHIT! No electricity. What a way to top the day. No electricity, no food and no hot shower. Straight to bed cold and wet. But the smile was still on face. This is called adventure riding and what you are reading is an adventure. One day to remember. Cheers Wade On 03/10/2011, at 9:37, "Roddy"
World Time
