Sunday, 11th October, Tehuantepec: the long and winding road
The name of the place we were heading to, Tehauntepec, caused us to get into a massive fight. Or rather, for me to be a massive bitch to Mike. Leaving Oaxaca, the road to said place is not immediately clear so we had to ask directions 3 or 4 times. Each time, Mike asked about “TehuantepIC”. On the 4th time of asking, I got very quiet, then when we pulled up for petrol 5 minutes later, I told him that I thought he was rubbish at languages because he seemed incapable of remembering pronunciation. And vocab, for that matter. A completely unjustified attack, given that he is the team’s Spanish speaker. An hour passed in silence.
We became friends again when Mike gently extended a hand down to the sidecar, to let me know that he’d forgiven me. What a guy. I have promised not to be mean again, he has promised to try and remember words. Ah, compromise, thy name is marriage.
A day of driving the high, windy roads out of Oaxaca to the south west. It started to feel very tropical – lush green forests, and humidity. To top off the tropical feel, it started to piss with rain. Only the third time we’ve seen rain on the entire trip. Out with the sexy wet weather gear, much to the amusement of a passing truck full of lads who jeered and laughed at the mad sartorial scramble happening at the side of the road as the heavens opened.
No doubt we’ll see more rain during the rainy season in the rainforest.
October 11th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Long days of travel,… how’s the bike and sidecar doing?
October 12th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Lester! We were wondering what had become of you, our most loyal commenter. Bike and sidecar doing surprisingly well! Mike changed the oil yesterday in the pouring rain, much to the amusement of a Mexican mechanic who did little to offer him any sheltered place to do it. By and large, it’s going great guns. The roads are beginning to get worse, and the Mexicans are obsessed with speedbumps so our sturdy little Ruski is certainly being put through its paces. And we’re behind schedule (surprise surprise) so we’re racing to cover some ground so doing lots of hours a day. But the bike, currently (touch wood), is not complaining. We’ll keep you posted!
October 12th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Hello Mike and Alanna,
I have been in the grind of work and little play. The Ural Patrol is back on the road after some analysis and work with Mickey. The mystery noise comes and goes infrequently now, but is still hauntingly there, waiting for the long trip to return in force.
With the cold coming on and the rain here in Alaska, not many long trips. I need to get to the South and get some sun.
Display more Ural photos for us now armchair bikers that long for the journey. I am looking forward to your South American travels!
Take care and be safe.
I am following along.
Lester
October 14th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Hello Uralites!
Brimming with envy and seething with jealousy at all the epic drama and adventure that unfolds between the driver’s seat, the sidecar and beyond. Amazing. While I tuck into my third skinny late of the day and contemplate which Pret sandwich I am least bored with for lunch tomorrow, you are negotiating central american potholes and degreasing bike engines, all while keeping your foot firmly on the gas and changing into tropical wear. Damn.
Visiting your blog is now firmly on my quotidian menu of lunch-time browsing expeditions (yeah, I too am an explorer, taking my Google Chrome to wild places on the www) and is by far the biggest contributing factor to my being in a grump for the rest of each day. Thanks.
On a more positive note, thank you for all this amazing high-tech blogging business – it means that even though you are manymanymany miles away, for at least a few minutes every day, we are there with you. Live feed from the side car perhaps?
Hip hip hurrah to the Uralites!
…
Right, back to m’latte.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Hi I just read your post don t sweat it about the propper pronunciation some of the towns and villages in mexico and central america are impossible for us native spanish speakers to pronounce, hope you like Guatemala! And yes COMPROMISE is the propper way to say marriage.
October 16th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Pret sandwiches: smoked salmon, every time. (Literally, every time I go there) Though I quite like that chicken and basil number. Am so delighted to be contributing to the daily gurmp 0 I hope you realise that Mike and both have our daily grump – him in the morning, me in the evening. His gets cold and distant and bats me away, I’m poisonous and snipey. Ah, the joys of the road. Thank you very very much for bothering to read the site – love you for it. And much love to the Mile End Massive and that little rat you share an abode with xx