Sorry for the lack of updates on this blog – I’m spending too much of my time cycling (not complaining! ) and adjusting to life on the road in Mexico (food & language being the biggest problems). The app for updating the blog also continues to be problematic – I was not impressed to say the least when it deleted a blog post I’d been working on for 6 hours.
I am still making daily updates to Strava with a photo and short comment from the day (you need to sign with Strava up to see these, but it’s easy and free)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/12305969
The tracker page is still being updated (account ref 572079, password keithdotbike)
Though there continue to be intermittent problems with it reporting its position, so I’ve got a second tracker that reports back via satellite (so doesn’t have the mobile network related problems of the original tracker). You can see where I am on this page:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0l7imKPgIxqYP28q82lNmPoMlLGvqHT4o
Other than that, the big news is that in Monclova I reached the third of the way mark: 5,000 miles done, 10,000 to go! While that last statement is factually correct, it is a slight over simplification of the challenge ahead!
Finally some of the better photos from the past few days:
A monunent to the steel industry and a very large flag in the centre of Monclova:
Some welcome rain just before Monclova:
Not that there was enough to turn this into a river!
Rough camping in Mexico is a bit riskier – but at least there aren’t any bears. Then shortly before my first night camping I saw this sign:
Other wildlife – butterflies:
Just loads and loads of butterflies!!!
And this wee critter hitched a ride:
Keith's Big Ride 
Always great to read of your progress Keith; safe and happy journey !
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Thanks Simon – looks like you had a good time on your travels in Cambodia and Laos.
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Liked the butterflies – not so sure about the bear – and absolutely loved the Saskatchewan marmot which arrived today. Very many thanks for the card! Congrats on the 1/3 landmark and hope the food and laguage get sorted out! xxx
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Congratulations on your continuing progress!! We were very suprised and excited to get the post card from u in the mail!! The boys thought it was very cool!! Hope your travels continue to go well and we will keep following your epic journey!!
Chad, Christie, Austin and Carter Erickson … Wolverton Minnesota
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I’m glad you got it Ok – especially as I forgot to get your exact address. But I figured Wolverton was the sort of place where even a badly addressed postcard would get to the right place! Thank you again for having me as a guest.
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Good to hear from you again. I feared you might encounter language problems, but I didn’t think of food (maybe not as simple as “Let’s go out and have a Mexican to-night!) I also thought that you’d left bears behind – I can’t quite make out the writing on the sign below the bear picture. You didn’t mention weather, I assume it’s hot but is it as humid as in some of the USA? In my experience high temps are easier to deal with if the humidity is low. Take care. Dad
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I think the writing below the sign is something like “if you see one, call us” rather than any sort of warning. I’m now up at Alpine altitudes – night before last I used my sleeping bag for the for the first time in almost 2 months (1800m). The air is noticeably cooler (and much less humid), but there is a lot of heat from the sun – a bigger difference than I was expecting. You are right about this being easier to deal with – if I get too hot, I just need some shade – not air con! Lots of big coaches on the road – most of them new looking. Mexico is much better served by busses than America. How’s the work at Lathalmond progressing? Got the electrics done? (Sound system, LED lighting, TVs etc). Hope all is well.
Keith.
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