Crossing into the United States felt a lot like a job hand-over in the corporate world. Ready to go, but not. Having chosen to leave, then feeling pushed out, not yet ready to say goodbye to… everything.
I felt relief, mostly. Some grief. And a lot that would take some decompressing.
The last few weeks walking through northern Mexico stripped me bare. Not the terrain (though it was doing its best) — it was the context. We were in a high-risk zone where cartel enforcement groups were active. The safest way through was to hire a van and rotate support crew in relay. The idea was to hike while avoiding unwanted attention. It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked — until it didn’t.
Sleep-Deprived and Strung Out
The people who hired the van to us weren’t forthcoming about its condition. I’d hike 50 kilometres a day, then return to deal with breakdowns — both mechanical and emotional. I was averaging four hours of sleep, spending nights translating at mechanic shops, fielding political PR requests from local officials (elections were looming, and I was seen as a good alignment in the lead up to the frontrunner being elected — a woman), and constantly watching my back.
Even when the van was mostly “fixed,” I didn’t feel safe. We were sleeping in it at night, and I couldn’t relax for fear someone would try (the locks didn’t lock) to break in. I had this creeping anxiety every kilometre that the next clunk or rattle would leave us stranded, or worse.
And through all this, I felt responsible for the people helping me. I’d promised them something safer, smoother — dare I risk saying, fun. What they got was duct tape, ratchet straps, chaos, and a lot of blind faith.
Crossing Over
So when we finally made it to the U.S. border, the dominant feeling wasn’t joy or sadness — it was overwhelm.
Elation, because I knew we could dump the van and make its inevitable death not my problem.
Grief, because I was leaving Mexico, a place I’ve grown to love so deeply — a culture that’s wrapped around this journey like a second skin. It’s sad to have left on such a sour, traumatic note, especially knowing it had nothing to do with the people or places I came out from.
Relief, because we were safe — for now.
And beneath it all, a sliver of something softer. A moment where the road didn’t feel like it was trying to break me. Where I wasn’t calculating ten steps ahead. Just… walking. Letting the trail hold me for once.
There’s still a long way to go. But for the first time in weeks, I wasn’t propelling myself forward out of fear that stopping could mean forever — I was moving without resistance — and a feeling of doing something I was born for.
Lucy + Wombat 👩🌾🐶
11 comments
Robyn Mortimer
Happy Birthday Lucy 🎈🎉 I hope you did or ate something special. Keep on keeping on ✨
Ron Mines
Go Lucy and Wombat and your ground crew You are a great inspiration Wishing you the best for your birthday and for your ongoing journey
Bridget
You’re the best!
Kimmi
Keeping you and Wombat in my heart. Sending strength, peace and love. Wishing you safe travels here in the US. 💚 Kimmi & Keegan Poodle
Julia
Is it your birthday today? The 3rd? If so, happiest of birthdays to you🥂🍾 I hope Wombat cooked you a nice steak!
Glad you made it safe through Mexico!!
Julia
Howard
Happy birthday y’legend!!
🌻❤️🔥🎈
Natasha Georgiou
Lucy, you are such a resilient and determined person. Not many would’ve survived that ordeal but you did and I’m sure that walking through the States has restored your faith in people and the joys of the trail.
pip rasenberg
well done Lucy and Wombat, incredible journey through some of the most dangerous county in the world hopefully the next bit will allow you to sleep better onwards and upwards x
Bea
Epic trip sounds like it got epicer. Mexican politics sounded interesting. Good luck rest the continuing adventure.
Alan
Hey Lucy,
Well done! You continue to be an inspiration to my ‘regular’ life. Hopefully some less stressful km’s ahead for now.
Rob
Hey Lucy
So glad you’ve left that junk van wayyyyyy behind you. Look how far you’ve come. Wink wink, corny I know.
Your travels are always amazing and inspiring.