1. Again and again I happen to meet the same road workers along several hundred kilometers of highway 1. They are filling the potholes in the road. We seem to have more or less the same tempo. One day I see them all having a siesta under some trees. How Mexican. We greet each other. That afternoon I see them again, and I decide to take a break and have a chat. I get some fresh drinking water from the cooler. I compliment them with their work (the road is in excellent condition).

2. Slowly, very slowly a couple of Mexican soldiers in a Hummer pass me. One of the soldiers is hanging out of the window to take a picture. A little further down the road they stop. More pictures. Maybe I should stop too. The sergeant - with dark pilot sunglasses - approaches me. Shakes hands. How am I doing? Do I maybe need some drinking water? No gracias. Again a hand, and buen viaje. Great!

3. "Would you like some salami?" Four Californian surfers on their way back. I'll stop for that. They just left from the spot I want to go to. They tell me about the blue water, and the dolphins swimming in the bay. Their words feed my imagination. With renewed energy, and an extra orange, I continue my cycling.

4. A policeman in his car, while passing me, encourages me using his loudspeakers. A little later I meet him again. "Olé Olé!"

5. I take a break under a cactus. Three men in a pickup stop. We have a chat. About the bike of course. One has a catapult. They want to shoot an iguana. It's for in the soup.