Wow! My mind, body and spirit have been adjusting to the new sensory inputs and trying to respond as they should. Everything has been running on overload. It is exhilarating! I rode 350 kilometers in the first four days while towing a heavy load, not bad for an old guy who hasn’t been riding his bike much. I was in some serious pain out on the highway for the most part, however the feeling at the end of the day makes it all worthwhile.

Do you want to know what it feels like to be a celebrity? Ride your bike across Mexico. Literally everyone on the side of the road waves and greets me. When I am in a city, I feel like I am a politician in a parade waving to those on the right and then those on the left, I don’t miss anyone. When I stop for water a crowd usually develops. They all have a lot of curiosity and questions about my trip. Everyone wants to play a part and help me on my way. Just south of Valle Hermoso, a well dressed couple pulled over to talk, they gave me all their contact information and told me we would have dinner together when I reach Merida. On the outskirts of San Fernando, a rancher pulled over to talk, he offers a  place to stay and says he has sheltered some Canadian and German cyclists before. As I entered Ciudad Victoria I was stopped by a journalist for Elcinco   a major daily newspaper. He whipped out a recorder and interviewed me on the spot. He took some pictures too. There are many more things that the Mexicans have done to make me feel welcome, but you get the idea. Presently, I am resting in Ciudad Victoria for a few days, it’s a big city, the capital of Tamaulipas, and has a pleasant climate this time of year.

Thank you all for the kind comments and emails, mark