Day 96: Ferry to Mazatlan
Fell behind again on this journal. Story of my life! I think going forward I will not be so strict with 1 entry per cycle day. I need to be looking at my phone less. Maybe an entry every few days or more often when it makes sense.
Finally time to leave la paz. Is a little bitter sweet as happy to be moving on but also really enjoyed the time in la paz.
Was a short 20km cycle to the ferry once myself and Jan eventually got packed up. Arrived at the ticket desk around 3.30pm. They didn’t want to deal with cyclists so told us to come back at 5pm. Looking at the price list, the ferry would be full of trucks. There was a category for “crew helpers” or something so I guess that is what we would be. 1400 pesos (IIRC). I guess they don’t make enough money from us and are more hassle than we are worth so deal with us last.
We returned at 5pm, got out tickets and then cycled to the ferry. We were told to wait on the dock while we watched all the ferries and cars be loaded on. Departure time came and went and no one seemed bothered by that. We started to get a little worried when they started removing some of the anchor lines that fix the ferry to the dock (what are these called?). But just before they pulled off, they allowed us to cycle on. Literally the last people on the ferry. There was no real place to leave the bikes so I did my best to half lie it and half strap it to a wall in the lower level. I wouldn’t be able to access it again until arrival so I quickly packed what I thought I would need, namely a sleeping bag, pillow and sleeping mat etc. Then we ducked and dived around pipes, up and down many metal stair wells till we reached fresh air again. Lets just say this is not a passenger ship and health and safety wasn’t much of a consideration. It is a cargo ship. Tho did get dinner and breakfast which was pretty good considering.
Then played a game of “where to roll out the sleeping mat and sleep”? This is a great game if you have never played it, and playing on a cargo ship is even more interesting. Need to balance the annoyance to other people, who all slept in their vehicles, comfort level, wind and boat direction, and the many doors that could open randomly during the night. Ooo and the chance of rolling offboard.
Eventually settled on the top of the ship, just outside and behind the captain’s cabin. It was quite wind sheltered, great views of the night sky and no chance of bothering anyone… Some people did think we were mad and took photos of the crazy people sleeping on the outside and on the ground of the ferry.
That said, I had an awesome sleep. Woke up to sunrise and coffee and saw dolphins playing in the waves made from the ferry as we came into Mazatlan.
Am now in an amazing Airbnb in Mazatlan. Was surprisingly cheap considering how awesome it is. Even comes with access to gym, pool and sauna. I know I have had the last week or so off, but going to continue hunkering down here for Christmas. So once again you probably won’t hear from me again till after Christmas…
Feliz Navidad Happy Christmas Nollaig Shona Frohe Weihnachten Vrolijk Kerstfeest Glædelig Jul
