N+1 – Part 7 – Juliet

So, Mexico, travelling, grand plans. (you know how they go!) The plan was to backpack from LAX to San Francisco, then back to LA, San Diego, Tijuana and through Mexico, hopefully into Belize, possibly Guatemala, before running out of money and heading home.

I got into Mexico, hated Tijuana, and escaped down the Baja peninsula as fast as I could. Didn’t get very far before I met a Canadian couple – Tanya and Kelly – and an American – Chris. On bikes.

For some reason, at this point, touring had never occurred to me – but suddenly made perfect sense. So, I resolved to get a bike. Found a guy, who knew a place, that sold me a bike. Enter Juliet!

Make no mistake, a Specialized Rockhopper is not the ideal first touring bike…

But with a few modifications…

She did a rather good job! …and continually evolved…

and with a few bit’s from Ireland (ChainReaction)…

Untill eventually…

She could almost pass for a touring bike! (still with a radial front wheel!)

I managed to get pretty far through Mexico, but having spent so much of my budget on parts……had nothing to do with when I returned home!!

Instead, this bike too, was stolen. Along with all the stuff. And my passport. And phone. And ID. And socks. And shoes. It was an experience I’d rather not repeat.

Needless to say, that ended my trip, so back home I came!

To Cora.

Part 8 – 11:59, 29/12/18

Chris out.