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I am in Guatemala! After the huge 30-40 day crossings each of Canada, the USA and Mexico I am looking forwards to the smaller countries of Central America!

The contrast across the border has been greater than I expected in terms of style of living and scenery. Even the language, to my frustration, seems slightly different! All those Mexican Spanish words I learnt are no longer usable! For the first time in a few weeks I am into very long climbs and am well above sea level. Southern Mexico was never flat but I was following the undulations near the coast as opposed to climbing into the mountains.

Thanks for all the online responses recently. Understandably sentiments around the wild dog issues have been mixed and I am glad to report that this risk seems to be diminishing in the last few days. Last week I had to bandage up a farm workers leg which had been bitten to the bone by wild dogs and for a period in southern Mexico I was being chased every day. These are not badly behaved pets snapping at my heels where a bike pump or spray of water would deter! If I was seriously attacked by any wild animal then I would have no option but to defend myself fully. This is the harsh reality of travelling solo in places like this and doesn't affect my normal compassion towards animals. Life on expeditions always includes personal moral issues like this which I have to face.

Back to the journey ahead, I am meeting up with a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ cameraman tomorrow for the first time since Alaska so it will be nice to see a familiar face! My last request for him is to bring a cycle top with the wording 'I am not a gringo! - Yo no soy un gringo' to stop people shouting 'hey gringo' at me all day, every day!

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