Its odometer now shows 18,000 km. The Rostrenois, Pierre Blivet, begins his third year of traveling in America in 2025. For now, he is in Mexico in San Miguel de Allende. He abandoned his bike to take a few days off with his friend, Alexandra. She herself accompanied him for a few weeks this summer: “We crossed part of Central America together,” says Pierre Blivet. At first, it wasn't easy for Alexandra because she hadn't ridden a bike since childhood, but in the end it went well. »
Closer to the volcano
The adventurer has been on his own again since entering Guatemala. A country that reminded him that he was not done with the coasts. “I thought I could take a breather after the Andes mountain range but not at all, it climbs a lot in Central America. I had some crazy ups and downs in Guatemala, as was the case in Ecuador,” he rewinds.
It was in this country that he realized one of his travel dreams: to see up close the Fuego volcano which has the particularity of erupting every 15 minutes. For a good observation, you have to climb to the summit of the neighboring volcano which rises to an altitude of 4,000 m. The Rostrenois admits to having had a hard time but, as a reward, he was able to witness this very rare natural spectacle the next morning.
“Humans are good”
And it was in Guatemala that everything almost ended for him. “After a climb of 2,000 m + altitude difference, I was very tired and I stopped to drink a Coke before starting the descent. I paid and left,” he recalls. 15 km later, the Rostrenois was overtaken by a car. “People stopped me and I learned that I had forgotten my bag behind me and where it was everything: passport, money… They offered to give me a lift and I was able to get it back. This couple saved my trip. Humans are good. »
Meeting with drug traffickers
The Rostrenois will also remember for a long time his entry into Mexico, a country where he must exercise greater caution, and his meeting with a group of drug traffickers. “There were around ten of them, armed, hooded and asked me lots of questions. It was a very stressful moment. In the end, before letting me go, they asked me to take a photo with them. For my first day in Mexico, it put me in the mood…”
Pierre Blivet plans to get back in the saddle from January 10. Head to Baja California “where it will be very flat and it’s warm,” he assures us. Then, at the beginning of March, he will set foot in the penultimate country of his journey, the United States. The next objective will be Vancouver in Canada. His place of arrival.
