Winging it on Wheels
A 10,000 km solo bike ride across the Americas. I set out from Seattle with no plan,
no bike touring experience, and just cycled south.
This is my journal and photos from the road.
Prefer the photo tour? Browse the Google Photos album .
- Intro: How did I end up writing on a crazy guy website? · 0 km
What am I supposed to write here?
- The plan: You do have a plan though, right? · 0 km
No, not really.
- T minus 3 weeks: This shit is starting to feel real. · 0 km
I have booked my flight. I will fly from Ireland to Seattle on the 14 September, a little more than 3 weeks from now.
- Gear List · 0 km
This is the state of my bike gear as of t-3 days.
- The Night before: Last min tech troubles · 0 km
During a goodbye takeaway dinner with Family last night, someone asked how I was bringing the bike.
- A day of Traveling: Ireland to Seattle · 0.6 km
Total distance today: About 600 meters
- Day 2: Or the real Day 1? · 60 km
Day 2 · Location: Puget Sound, WA: Ferrying west out of Seattle, grinding hilly backroads into Belfair; ferries, soggy climbs, camp kindness · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 3: Belfair to Elma · 90 km
Day 3 · Location: Elma, WA: Threading forest backroads after a wrong turn, rolling into Elma for cookies and rest; logging hills, coffee culture, trail magic · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 4: Rest day · 0 km
Day 4 · Location: Elma, WA: Leaning into rest with tiny-town wanders, charger upgrades, and route dilemmas; recovery, gear tweaks, route plotting · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 5: Cooking shouldn't be this hard. · 70 km
Day 5 · Location: Twin Harbors, WA: Cruising easy rollers to the coast before a cursed camp kitchen ends in steak consolation; coastal miles, stove troubleshooting, budget splurges · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 6: Gentle hills and nice people · 70 km
Day 6 · Location: Bruceport, WA: Gliding coastal rollers into Bruceport, sharing elk tales, and getting a drivetrain rescue from a folding-bike Canadian; Pacific vistas, gear tinkering, trail community · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 7: A day of Beautiful views and wildlife · 59 km
Day 7 · Location: Long Beach, WA: Following a Garmin detour into owl-and-deer encounters before landing a Cape Disappointment bed and plotting the Astoria bridge; wildlife surprises, route intuition, creature comforts · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 8: Beer is great · 50 km
Day 8 · Location: Fort Stevens, OR: Braving the Astoria bridge into Oregon and turning the hiker-biker site into a beer-fueled story swap; big crossings, camp camaraderie, liquid diplomacy · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 9: Rest day... AND ELK! · 0 km
Day 9 · Location: Fort Stevens, OR: Lazy rest-day tinkering turns into elk wandering through camp and a veto on the Portland detour; recovery, drivetrain diagnostics, route choices · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 10: My first flat + rough hills · 60 km
Day 10 · Location: Nehalem Bay, OR: Fixing the first flat before battling the Arch Cape tunnel and sweaty coastal climbs into Manzanita; mechanical firsts, big ascents, hiker-biker reunions · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 11: I feel stupid · 65 km
Day 11 · Location: Cape Lookout, OR: Hunting a runaway valve core before leaning into hiker-biker banter and instant mash experiments; roadside mishaps, touring camaraderie, camp cuisine · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 12: Wind, rain, hills and racism · 70 km
Day 12 · Location: Lincoln City, OR: Grinding through rain-soaked coastal climbs, binning the wrong rain pants, and discovering which pubs honor Irish IDs; weather grit, gear realities, cultural surprises · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 13: Great views · 45 km
Day 13 · Location: Newport, OR: Spinning gentle miles along cliffside vistas before a motel reset and derailleur straightening; coastal panoramas, trail friendships, bike shop magic · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 14: 2 weeks in and maybe 2% done! · 60 km
Day 14 · Location: Carl G. Washburne, OR: Realizing the rain jacket vanished, rolling through lifting fog into camp early, and hacking campground wifi with a VPN; gear gaps, coastal scenery, camp logistics · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 15: a bad impress on tubeless tires · 73 km
Day 15 · Location: Tugman State Park, OR: Pushing a longest-yet day with German pacers before a roadside tubeless battle ends in a tube swap; relentless rollers, fast company, tire triage · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 16: Reality check · 65 km
Day 16 · Location: Umpqua Lighthouse, OR: Donning high-vis after a sobering roadside story, swapping a leaking tube outside Walmart, and finally wrangling Warmshowers; road safety, roadside wrenching, tour admin · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 17: showers are great · 60 km
Day 17 · Location: Humbug Mountain, OR: Gliding along fast-feeling coastal miles before luxuriating in the best hiker-biker shower yet; tailwind flow, cliffside vistas, trail comforts · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 18: last night in Oregon · 80 km
Day 18 · Location: Harris Beach, OR: Logging a biggest-yet climb day en route to Oregon’s farewell campfire while swapping raccoon heist lore; high-mile stoke, wildlife watchfulness, hiker-biker crew · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 19: First warm showers! · 48 km
Day 19 · Location: Crescent City, CA: Rolling a short border-hop into Katie’s warm showers community center and savoring first Californian milestones; border crossing, warm hospitality, milestone reflections · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 20: Rest day: Pints at church? · 0 km
Day 20 · Location: Crescent City, CA: Leaning into a rest day of laundry, tube patching, and churchyard pints with fellow tourers; recovery, maintenance chores, community nights · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 21: Begining of the redwood forests · 56.99 km
Day 21 · Location: Elk Prairie, CA: Surviving a sleepless warm showers night, grinding into the redwoods via drive-thru trees, and rationing quarters for a 60-second shower; sleep debt, towering groves, sparse amenities · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 22: Cycling to a deadline · 70 km
Day 22 · Location: Arcata, CA: Savoring quiet backroads before a lunchtime flat turns the dash to a warm showers deadline into a drop-bar sprint; rail-trail bliss, surprise punctures, hosted hospitality · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 23: First 100k and the Avenue of the Giants! · 100 km
Day 23 · Location: Burlington Campground, CA: Chasing a first 100 km day through the Avenue of the Giants after a failed Walmart tech run; century milestone, towering redwoods, camp cuisine upgrade · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 24: Hills and reantless heat · 70 km
Day 24 · Location: Standish-Hickey, CA: Wrestling punctures and merciless heat through redwood climbs before reviving at Confusion Hill; roadside repairs, desert sun, stubborn persistence · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 25: Rest day · 0 km
Day 25 · Location: Standish-Hickey, CA: Settling into a redwood rest day of map fixes, tube patching, and overstocked camp beers; recovery admin, gear maintenance, campsite community · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 26: Leggett hill · 65 km
Day 26 · Location: Westport, CA: Conquering Leggett Hill’s quiet switchbacks before blasting back to the Pacific and collapsing at a bare-bones hiker site; marquee climbs, big descents, minimalist camping · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 27: Great campground but racoons · 68 km
Day 27 · Location: Manchester KOA, CA: Grinding coastal rollers into a Jacuzzi-equipped KOA before raccoons raid the hiker bikes; endurance doubts, creature comforts, midnight wildlife defense · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 28: I survived the racoons · 67 km
Day 28 · Location: Salt Point State Park, CA: Slipping past raccoon raids, mending a stove pump, and sharing a gifted campfire under approaching-SF mile markers; road rhythm, gear fixes, starry hangouts · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 29: Wet day and walk down memory lane · 101 km
Day 29 · Location: Samuel P. Taylor, CA: Riding a rain-soaked 100 km singalong toward San Francisco and toasting Guinness from a hacked Gatorade glass; storm miles, soundtrack nostalgia, camp improvisation · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 30: Made it to San Francisco! · 57 km
Day 30 · Location: San Francisco, CA: Crossing the Golden Gate amid Blue Angels flyovers and settling into Aoife’s rooftop welcome; milestone arrivals, urban hospitality, skyline awe · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 31: Rest day: Bike upgrades and Cheesecake · 0 km
Day 31 · Location: San Francisco, CA: Rest-day hill walks turned gear upgrade spree capped with Cheesecake Factory indulgence; urban wandering, kit refresh, sweet rewards · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 32: Rest day - Planning for Big Sur + playing Baduk · 0 km
Day 32 · Location: San Francisco, CA: Plotting a Big Sur workaround, gearing up at Sports Basement, and dropping stones at the SF Go Club; route logistics, gear tweaks, board-game joy · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 33: Rest day - Last rest day in SF · 0 km
Day 33 · Location: San Francisco, CA: Soaking up a final city rest day with secret-menu experiments and Pan-Am planning pints; decompression, foodie detours, onward scheming · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 34: Back on road · 55 km
Day 34 · Location: Half Moon Bay, CA: Rolling out of San Francisco through foggy dunes, testing sand skills, and camping under a windfallen tree; coastal gusts, Baja prep jitters, golden-hour camp · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 35: A day of flats · 95 km
Day 35 · Location: New Brighton, CA: Battling serial rear-wheel flats en route to locking in a Big Sur train detour with help from fellow riders; mechanical gauntlet, route strategizing, coastal sunsets · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 36: Short 20km day · 20 km
Day 36 · Location: Sunset State Beach, CA: Spinning a token 20 km before being banished to the beach until check-in and resting up for tomorrow’s train dash; active recovery, enforced leisure, travel prep · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 37: skipping big sur landslide with a train · 44 km
Day 37 · Location: San Luis Obispo, CA: Dawn sprint to Salinas, enduring train mishaps, and trading tales with a fresh PCT finisher before a motel crash; pre-dawn hustle, transit hiccups, trail lore · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 38: Short day and some needless nerdy tech stuff · 27 km
Day 38 · Location: Pismo Beach, CA: Cruising an easy 27 km into pricey dunes while demoing the phone-and-termux touring rig; active recovery, Baja confidence, nerdy workflows · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 39: Racoons... · 78.7 km
Day 39 · Location: Santa Maria, CA: Waking to raccoon carnage, pedaling strawberry flats, and getting turned away by RV-only parks into a motel; wildlife mayhem, agricultural miles, lodging scrambles · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 40: A wrong turn leads to an adventure! · 52 km
Day 40 · Location: Refugio State Beach, CA: Taking a construction detour into singletrack chaos, hauling the bike through a dry riverbed, and dining spork-less by the surf; navigation gambles, hike-a-bike grit, camp improvisation · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 41: So many punctures today so go tubeless which causes more problems · 40 km
Day 41 · Location: Santa Barbara, CA: Evicting tent ants, enduring endless flats, and limping a half-tubeless wheel into a hostel for diagnostics; campsite critters, tubeless lessons, urban reset · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 42: Rest day in Santa Barbara + Bike upgrades · 0 km
Day 42 · Location: Santa Barbara, CA: Spending the “rest” day fitting a front rack, tidying drivetrains, and gaining confidence in a temperamental tubeless setup; gear upgrades, DIY maintenance, storage reorg · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 43: Unexplained speed boost · 87 km
Day 43 · Location: Point Mugu, CA: Riding surfer coastlines at a surprise 21.5 km/h clip, sans helmet, and filtering milky campground water after losing yet another spoon; unexpected speed, beachside miles, camp improvisation · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 44: LA! · 80 km
Day 44 · Location: Los Angeles, CA: Rolling from quiet coastlines into Venice bike paths and landing at Joshua and Kyla’s doorstep for tacos and a self-driving Tesla spin; urban arrival, serendipitous friends, city vibes · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 45, 46 + 47: Rest days in LA · 0 km
Day 45 to 47 · Location: Los Angeles, CA: Soaking up Redondo downtime, pre-dawn Hollywood wandering, and splurging on an InReach while plotting the Baja push; city sightseeing, transit marathons, safety prep · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 48: A great warm showers host · 88 km
Day 48 · Location: Orange County Coast, CA: Rolling south with Dave’s escort before taco-fueled fireside stories at Zack’s warm showers haven; coastal miles, trail camaraderie, hosted hospitality · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 49: A long cycle and hit San Diego · 114 km
Day 49 · Location: San Diego, CA: Hammering a longest-yet 114 km into San Diego, detouring around a Marine gate, and hauling the bike into a hostel; endurance push, security reroutes, urban staging · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 50 + 51: Rest days - And last days in the USA · 0 km
Day 50 to 51 · Location: San Diego, CA: Racing through Baja prep—new 2.3” tire, GPX splits, InReach support—and trading maps with Kerry before the border; gear readiness, route planning, mentor meetups · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 51: HOLA MEXICO! · 1 km
Day 51 · Location: Tecate, Mexico: Rolling through an unmanned border, chasing down the FMM visa, and christening Mexico with Tecate tacos; border crossing, paperwork hustle, culinary kickoff · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 52: A rough day one on the Baja divide! · 55 km
Day 52 · Location: Pete’s Ranch, Baja California: Meeting the Divide with sand traps, dog chases, and a hard-earned shade lesson before camping at Pete’s oasis; rugged climbs, canine diplomacy, desert camp life · Winging it on Wheels
- Mexico: Baja · 0 km
Mexico: Baja
- Day 53: A fun days cyycle in Baja! · 65 km
Day 53 · Location: Northern Baja Desert: Freezing under a rainfly-less tent, slogging sandy tracks to the first rancho tienda, and accidentally deleting the day’s Garmin track; desert nights, data mishaps, supply treats · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 54: Got a good beating today · 67 km
Day 54 · Location: Uruapan, Baja California: Field-testing dog countermeasures, surviving brake-melting descents, and bumming a lift when the hiker camp was closed; canine tactics, punishing terrain, trail generosity · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 55: First wild camp! · 50 km
Day 55 · Location: Pacific coast near Santo Tomás, Baja: Linking up with a multinational Baja crew, topping up tubeless sealant, and sharing a sunset wild camp above the surf; trail camaraderie, roadside fixes, coastal bivy life · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 56: Should I skip a section of Baja divide out of bike worry · 40 km
Day 56 · Location: Colnette, Baja California: Breaking from the Divide to nurse the bike toward Fass Cycles while horse pace lines and Baja 1000 crews color the day; mechanical anxiety, desert detours, racer camaraderie · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 57: First run in with Mexican police · 47 km
Day 57 · Location: Vicente Guerrero, Baja California: Trading Divide sand for highway shoulder until police reroute me to dirt, then rolling into town for a bike-shop rest bloc; enforced detours, language gaps, recovery planning · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 58 + 59: Rest days and bike shop · 0 km
Day 58 to 59 · Location: Vicente Guerrero, Baja California: Handing the bike to Salvador at Fass for drivetrain rehab, wax lube tutoring, and parts logistics while soaking in true rest days; pro tune-up, gear schooling, deliberate downtime · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 60: sand and more sand · 40 km
Day 60 · Location: Pacific dunes near Camalú, Baja California: Wrestling relentless sand with Blake and Marcus, sharing trail magic, and camping on the coast ahead of Baja 1000 rest plans; dune pushing, rider camaraderie, seaside bivy · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 61: Some sad news from the Baja 1000 race · 40 km
Day 61 · Location: San Quintín dunes, Baja California: Escaping a tide-trapped camp, trading stories with fellow tourers, and hearing tragic Baja 1000 news over beach beers; tidal surprises, rider community, race reverberations · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 62: Cycling on the beach + the Baja 1000 race · 10 km
Day 62 · Location: El Rosario, Baja California: Hangover-pushing bikes through tidal sand before cruising firm beach to catch the roaring Baja 1000 trucks; beach hike-a-bike, race-day spectating, desert logistics · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 63: Today was brutal · 48 km
Day 63 · Location: Cataviña desert, Baja California: Hauling a loaded bike through lonely post-race sand and hitting a personal elevation PR on my first solo wild camp night; relentless hike-a-bike, water calculus, desert solitude · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 64: Valley of the candles · 75 km
Day 64 · Location: Valle de los Cirios, Baja California: Defrosting a frosty camp, gliding through alien cactus forests, and refueling at El Sacrificio before cactus thorns test the tubeless; desert vistas, morale rebound, field repairs · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 65: To skip a section of the Baja divide or not? · 75 km
Day 65 · Location: Cataviña, Baja California: Rolling desert tracks into Cataviña, weighing resupply gaps, and choosing Highway 1 over a dry Divide stretch; route decisions, resource planning, desert transitions · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 66: Mini photo review of Mex 1 road · 55 km
Day 66 · Location: Highway 1 south of Cataviña, Baja California: Battling brutal crosswinds on Mex 1, cataloging shoulders and potholes, and camping behind a local’s house; highway grind, wind management, roadside hospitality · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 67: Downhill + tail winds · 100 km
Day 67 · Location: El Rosario, Baja California: Soaking in Milky Way skies at Eugene’s rancho before tailwinds and descents rocket me toward camp with Fiona; night-sky awe, wind-assisted cruising, roadside hospitality · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 68: Gotta catch 'em all - Pokemon · 82 km
Day 68 · Location: Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur: Daydreaming a Pokémon-themed tour while crossing into Baja Sur via wind-blasted, checkpoint-laden Highway 1; mental games, milestone borders, roadside encounters · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 69 and 70: Rest days and refreshing some tech skills · 0 km
Day 69 to 70 · Location: Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur: Lingering over cafe rest days, swapping stories with Jan, and tinkering on his NGO website while the clock shifts; recovery downtime, trail friendships, tech tune-up · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 71: a normal day on highway 1 · 75 km
Day 71 · Location: Vizcaíno, Baja California Sur: Knocking out another straight-shot Highway 1 day while finishing Spanish With Paul and lining up a mailed tire swap; audio lessons, highway monotony, logistics in motion · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 72: San Ignacio · 70 km
Day 72 · Location: San Ignacio, Baja California Sur: Sleeping in before highway rollers deliver me to the oasis plaza, splurging on Spanish lessons, and reuniting with Jan and Fiona; easy miles, language investment, mission-town vibes · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 73: Rest day · 0 km
Day 73 · Location: San Ignacio, Baja California Sur: Lounging in the oasis campground journaling, resupplying, and drilling Spanish before rolling toward the Sea of Cortez; restorative pause, admin catch-up, study session · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 74: Fist pumping road magic · 75 km
Day 74 · Location: Santa Rosalía, Baja California Sur: Climbing alongside the Tres Hermanas volcanoes, fist-pumping passing motorists, and catching roadside kindness en route to pick up new parts; volcanic vistas, morale boosts, serendipitous gifts · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 75: Mulege · 62 km
Day 75 · Location: Mulegé, Baja California Sur: Rolling into Mulegé for Spanish podcasts, classic rock, and a BajaPack pickup with fellow tourers; routine highway miles, gear resupply, social catch-ups · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 76: Rest day and the Mexican Fisherman · 0 km
Day 76 · Location: Mulegé, Baja California Sur: Recovering a forgotten passport, wrangling my first tubeless tire swap with gas-station air, and sharing beers with a real-life Mexican fisherman; rest chores, mechanical lessons, local folklore · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 77: Upset stomach · 23 km
Day 77 · Location: Bahía Concepción, Baja California Sur: Pulling the plug on a planned century when my stomach revolts, holing up at a gringo bay motel with stunning views; health pause, flexible plans, seaside recovery · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 78: Loreto · 110 km
Day 78 · Location: Loreto, Baja California Sur: Hammering a 110 km rebound along the Sea of Cortez, scrounging mid-route water, and landing in a friendly Loreto campground; endurance push, coastal vistas, community camp life · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 79: biggest distance to date · 121 km
Day 79 · Location: Ciudad Insurgentes, Baja California Sur: Tackling a 120 km highway push with Manuel over long climbs, Fantas, and friendly truckers; endurance milestone, climbing gains, riding partnerships · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 80: alcohol and pier pressure · 80 km
Day 80 · Location: Ciudad Constitución, Baja California Sur: Riding ruler-straight Highway 1 with Rocky anthems, stealth-camping behind a restaurant, and letting beers spark a La Paz century dare; monotonous miles, roadside hospitality, bold plans · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 81: Peer pressured into my first 100 mile day! · 157 km
Day 81 · Location: La Paz, Baja California Sur: Dragging sore legs through a peer-pressured 157 km dash into La Paz, fueled by sunrise starts, roadside dogs, and Airbnb lockbox improvisation; century milestone, mental games, lodging adventures · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 82 - 95: La paz, rest days, great times · 0 km
Day 82 to 95 · Location: La Paz, Baja California Sur: Two weeks off-bike in La Paz swapping philosophy with tourers, failing at windy kayak outings, and diving into urban food, markets, and nightlife; city recharge, community hangouts, off-bike adventures · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 96: Ferry to Mazatlan · 20 km
Day 96 · Location: Mazatlán, Sinaloa: Rolling onto the cargo ferry as the last passengers, bivvying under the stars on deck, and waking to dolphins before settling into a Mazatlán Airbnb; ferry adventure, ocean crossing, mainland arrival · Winging it on Wheels
- Mexico: Mainland · 0 km
Mexico: Mainland
- Day 97 to Day 104: Rest in Mazatlan for Christmas · 0 km
Day 97 to 104 · Location: Mazatlán, Sinaloa: Lingering through Christmas in a high-rise Airbnb, wandering markets, flying the drone, and soaking in sunsets with new friends; extended reset, seaside routines, holiday reflections · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 105: Finally on road again · 70 km
Day 105 · Location: El Rosario, Sinaloa: Shaking off Mazatlán comfort, threading dog-lined outskirts onto Highway 15D, and droning over agave fields en route to El Rosario; restart jitters, highway strategy, aerial breaks · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 106: Silly accommodation problems · 150 km
Day 106 · Location: Ruiz, Nayarit: Knocking out 150 km on Mex 15D before a nighttime cash hunt and motel shuffle amid a town basketball final; long-haul grind, logistic hiccups, unexpected help · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 107: Steep hill · 64 km
Day 107 · Location: Tepic, Nayarit: Grinding up 1,400 m of post-holiday climbs into Tepic before collapsing into a grassy campsite; steep ascents, conditioning reality check, camp reset · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 108: New year eve kindness · 110 km
Day 108 · Location: Coastal village near Mex 200, Nayarit: Choosing the Puerto Vallarta route, coasting a huge descent, breaking yet another pair of sunnies, and ending New Year’s Eve sheltered by a retired SEAL; route gamble, downhill relief, unexpected hospitality · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 109: Pictures of signs · 62 km
Day 109 · Location: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco: Rolling into PV with a New Year’s care package, collecting ever-escalating wildlife signs, and dodging city traffic; roadside kindness, visual curiosities, urban arrival · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 110 - 121: Hard to leave the conforts behind and get on the road again · 93 km
Day 110 to 121 · Location: Escuinapa & Mazatlán, Sinaloa: Busing back north for reunions, slipping into coastal comfort, and rebooting Spanish study with Dreaming Spanish; deliberate reset, language reboot, community time · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 122: Bike problems · 83 km
Day 122 · Location: Ixtlán del Río, Nayarit: Grinding uphill toward Tequila country while nursing a chain jam wedged behind the cassette and limping into a no-frills motel; drivetrain scare, steady climbing, rough lodging · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 123: Tequlia - from field to flavors · 73 km
Day 123 · Location: Tequila, Jalisco: Climbing into Tequila for José’s field-to-glass tour and savoring small-batch agave while camping at the distillery; cultural deep dive, artisanal spirits, hospitable camping · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 124: Guadalajara · 69 km
Day 124 · Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco: Rolling out of Tequila hangover-free into Guadalajara’s traffic to set up a maintenance break and DIY drivetrain fix; urban arrival, gradual climbing, planned wrenching · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 125 - Day 129: Guadalajara rest days · 0 km
Day 125 to 129 · Location: Guadalajara, Jalisco: Parking the bike for a multi-day city break filled with DIY drivetrain repairs, salsa socials, and Go club nights; urban downtime, wrenching wins, cultural sampling · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 130, 131 + 132: Guadalajara to Guanajuato. · 285 km
Day 130 to 132 · Location: Guadalajara to Guanajuato, Jalisco/Guanajuato: Knocking out three rolling days via Tepatitlán and León, battling dark tunnels, and landing in Guanajuato for a Go-club break; staged transits, urban hops, night-ride scares · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 133 - 136: Guanajuato - Rest days - Mostly a Go entry · 0 km
Day 133 to 136 · Location: Guanajuato, Guanajuato: Soaking up the Coco-like city while cramming Go marathons with the local club and plotting the route toward Puebla; cultural wandering, board-game deep dives, planning pause · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 137 - 139: Busted rim and bus to Mexico city · 201 km
Day 137 to 139 · Location: Guanajuato to Mexico City, Guanajuato/Hidalgo/Mexico City: Rolling toward CDMX amid podcasts and Spanish drills until cracked rims and broken spokes force a bus hop; mixed media rides, mechanical failure, contingency travel · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 140 - 145: Rest days in Mexico City + Bike Repair. · 0 km
Day 140 to 145 · Location: Mexico City, CDMX: Stashing the bike for a rim rebuild, wandering Reforma parks and speakeasies, and gearing up for the tough ride to Puebla; urban hiatus, mechanical overhaul, city wanderings · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 146 + 147: Robbed at Knifepoint, Scaling the Pass of Cortés, Record Altitudes and Freezing Temps · 160 km
Day 146 to 147 · Location: Paso de Cortés & Puebla, Mexico: Fending off a butter-knife robbery, pushing above 12,000 ft between smoking volcanoes, freezing at the pass, and descending into Puebla; high-altitude epic, surreal encounter, frigid bivy · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 148 - 156: Rest in Puebla · 0 km
Day 148 to 156 · Location: Puebla & Cholula, Puebla: Laying low with friends, deep-cleaning gear, sipping mate, and logging more Go games while plotting the route toward Oaxaca; restorative pause, cultural sampling, planning session · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 157 - 159: Thunder, Lightning, Music, and Gunshots · 175 km
Day 157 to 159 · Location: Puebla to Oaxaca backroads, Mexico: Chatting with roadside chefs, detouring around rivers, weathering a hillside thunderstorm, and hearing distant gunfire en route south; rural hospitality, wild-camp drama, uneasy soundtrack · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 160 -163: large climb and arrival in Oaxaca · 295 km
Day 160 to 163 · Location: Oaxaca, Oaxaca: Savoring long descents, conquering a 2,100 m climb with lifesaving tortas, and rolling into Oaxaca escorted by local riders; varied terrain, endurance climb, warm welcome · Winging it on Wheels
- 164 - 171 Oaxaca: I have a big head (apparently) · 0 km
Day 164 to 171 · Location: Oaxaca, Oaxaca: Soaking in Oaxaca’s food scene, crafting a zip-tied sun hat, and automating Garmin downloads while playing Go with locals; extended city stay, DIY solutions, nerdy tinkering · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 172 - 186: Boiling, Brakeing and Beaching Whales · 210 km
Day 172 to 186 · Location: Miahuatlán → San José del Pacífico → Barra de la Cruz, Oaxaca: Lingering in mountain hostels, dodging brake failures on the coast, camping with surfers, and watching whales breach; staggered travel, mechanical scares, beach downtime · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 187 - 193: Chiapas, Wind + an end to the Mexican chapter · 565 km
Day 187 to 193 · Location: Oaxaca Coast → Tapachula, Chiapas: Hammering windy Tehuantepec straights, dodging ants and electrified showers, riding with Louis, and closing the Mexico chapter in Tapachula; high-mile push, harsh winds, milestone moment · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 194 - 196: Guatamala · 337 km
Day 194 to 196 · Location: Tapachula, MX → Guatemala → El Salvador border: Navigating exit fees, losing-then-finding an ATM card, hammering big Guatemalan miles, and rolling into El Salvador; border bureaucracy, high-mile hustle, roadside kindness · Winging it on Wheels
- Central America · 0 km
Central America
- Day 197 - 201: El Salvador · 315 km
Day 197 to 201 · Location: El Salvador coast: Climbing soaked volcano tunnels, revisiting Bitcoin Beach, wrestling tubeless punctures, and pushing toward the Honduran border; coastal miles, reunion hosts, mechanical persistence · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 202 - 207: Honduras and Nicaragua · 520 km
Day 202 to 207 · Location: Honduras & Nicaragua: Blitzing the Pan-American toward Costa Rica, wrangling border bureaucracy, dodging drone questions, and enduring more tubeless puncture drama; rapid transit, admin gauntlets, rolling persistence · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 208 - 217: Costa Rica · 450 km
Day 208 to 217 · Location: Costa Rica coast: Paying the gringo tax, botching a brake bleed, swapping calipers, resting in pricey surf towns, and losing a bank card before the Panama line; tropical heat, mechanical improvising, wallet mishaps · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 212 - 225: Panama · 490 km
Day 212 to 225 · Location: Panama: Settling into David, adding aero bars, battling catastrophic punctures and bridge repairs, waiting out floods with locals, and rolling down the Amador Causeway; gear tweaks, mechanical gauntlets, city arrival · Winging it on Wheels
- Colombia · 0 km
Colombia
- Days 226-244: Medellin rest days · 0 km
Day 226 to 244 · Location: Medellín, Colombia: Settling into a two-week city stint of yoga plans, Amazon deliveries, scams and near-muggings, Go games, and Garmin replacements; extended urban break, errand sprint, restart prep · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 245 - 249: Medellin to Salento · 240 km
Day 245 to 249 · Location: Medellín to Salento, Colombia: Grinding lush Andean climbs, dodging rain, being adopted by local cyclists, and rewarding the legs with Salento chess nights; big elevation gains, roadside kindness, coffee-country pause · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 250 - 251: Colombians are the incredibly welcoming · 200 km
Day 250 to 251 · Location: Salento to Cali, Colombia: Enjoying Andean descents, collecting roadside gifts, and being escorted into salsa-filled Cali for hostel dance classes; generous encounters, rolling transitions, city arrival · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 252 - 263: Dancing in Cali · 0 km
Day 252 to 263 · Location: Cali, Colombia: Living at a salsa-hostel—private lessons, Calle de Sabor street parties, nightly Go battles, and a failed yellow-fever paperwork hunt; dance immersion, board-game nights, admin prep · Winging it on Wheels
- Day 264 - 274: Dangerous Tours, Andes Climbs, and a Dog Bite in Southern Colombia · 400 km
Day 264 to 274 · Location: Cali to Mocoa, Colombia: Touring Cali’s toughest barrio, battling southern Andean climbs with Jason and Sarah, visiting Popayán, and finishing with a rabies scare after a dog bite; gritty urban tour, mountain mileage, medical detour · Winging it on Wheels
- Winging it Home · 0 km
The final chapter of Winging it on Wheels: 10,000 km, countless campsites, and memories to last a lifetime.