The final day was upon us and with the first car out at 6.01am it was cool and breezy by the sea as we departed. We only had 326 miles between us and Acapulco. Hero, having had its rear axle and its steering reservoir topped-up yet again, was ready for the last day and felt as responsive and ready as ever. Sue and I were sad that the Rally was coming to a close but were not suffering the gloom of others as we were to drive on and up the Pacific coast road of Mexico to the USA.
The last 330 miles were largely uneventful, and on excellent road we were soon to arrive at Acapulco where, causing inconvenience to the local traffic, our slightly depleted line of cars, from 59 down to 45. filed ceremoniously under an arch to have our photographs taken and be presented with a fine trophy as a Finisher. But that was not all, for at the awards ceremony during the evening gala dinner, we received the esteemed honour of being presented with the Flying Tortoise Award given to the most unlikely car to enter and finish. Mikkola had won, and we, in our way, had also won.
We now had time to reflective, the first such opportunity for over 30 days, and consider what we had liked about the rally and which aspects of it we didn’t. Apart from wanting to spend more time at certain places such as driving through Bolivia, staying in La Paz, enjoying the tropical splendours in Colombia or luxuriating in Costa Rica, we could find nothing to regret save for the myriad of beautiful, colourful butterflies whose gay lives we had unavoidably extinguished in our relentless quest to see the exotic vistas of their habitat. It was the best organised rally through the most interesting countries and one in which we would gladly take part again. Hopefully next time the organisers may consider more time for us to enjoy a most wonderful Continent that has not been spoiled.
Some four days later, Sue and I set out alone from Acapulco driving leisurely up the Mexican Pacific coast and 10 days later crossed into the USA at Nogales. After visiting the Grand Canyon, we drove eastward through Texas to Missouri where we left Hero with our good friend and Bentley enthusiast, Jim Moore, until we return in October to point Hero’s proud bonnet south and towards the sun to compete in the Carrera Panamericana. All in all, we finished having travelled 15,466 miles since leaving London, with a minimum of maintenance – a true Continental and a real Bentley motor car.