|
Great!!....
:) . |
my original RTW plan was to go to Africa next year but if you have seen the news at all it is completely FUBAR over there right now, and having lived there in the past i'm really in no rush...
so a simple 180, do my route in reverse, kind of, but as you can see by the map in the previous post it could take a while to hit Africa as i just don't travel in a straight line point to point so heading south and further south still, yes i know, you are going to Mexico are you crazy...blah, blah, blah also remember if you read my previous ride report from last year i was chased by the Cartels and a friend was kidnapped, and i still feel safer in Mexico than in Africa right now, does that put it in perspective for you so i had found this and i'm sure some of you have seen it before - watch the whole thing it kind of explains a few things in its own way!!! |
Love the clip.
Most of the Americans we have meet have warned us about Mexico.Mind you Just about every country we have visited people warn us about boarding countries. seems everyone is scared of their neighbours ! Safe fun riding Dazzer and Leigh |
Quote:
|
Amazing ride thanks for sharing.:signthankspin:
|
Just amazing pictures Paul.Lucky you could fix that wheel bearing.:gbxtank:Did you fix your electrical faults .?:smilies0134:Safe riding.:redwine:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1460-XL.jpg
Well that's a fine looking chap in the England shirt. Ride safe 'Heir Smout'. |
do you mean the one with a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp :googly[1]:
Viva Mexico in the morning...if they let me back in!!! |
That's one tasty wasp !
Mexico ! Are you ****ing crazy? They kill Americans for fun down there lol |
too late i'm here and still alive :smilies0546:
Quote:
|
riding south from Canada was wet and cold thru NewYork state where the old and modern collide next to each other
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...IMG0716-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...IMG0719-XL.jpg camped in Pennsylvania and it seems like winter arrived overnight and the trees didn't even get a chance to change color and catch up...no leaf peeping for me this time around http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1463-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...IMG0725-XL.jpg just a few hundred miles down the road in Ohio it was still summer http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1468-XL.jpg as i got back on the bike i noticed the front tire had worn down dramatically since leaving Canada, time to find a new or used one for the last thousand or so miles to Louisiana where i had new Heidenaus waiting http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1470-XL.jpg i stopped into Hometown Honda in marietta Ohio, the made me a great offer, instead of a used tire how about a new one mounted and balanced for $48 and we'll do it right now...SOLD - super friendly dealership, i was very impressed http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1472-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1473-XL.jpg back onto the road next to the Ohio river where its power is harnessed multiple times as you drive south http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...-copy-3-XL.jpg i rolled into a state park late, late enough that all the ducks were already sleeping but as i rode up all i could hear was - aflec, AFLEC, AFLEC http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...IMG0741-XL.jpg do these horses need miniature jockey's??? http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...IMG0745-XL.jpg towards the end of the day (by now i'm in Alabama) i stop at an intersection and as i pull away i hear a loud crunch in the rear end...what now!!! i pull in the first open driveway, my right side rear sealed wheel bearing had shattered and there were the inner ball bearings bouncing down the road...not good the sun was starting to set, a woman came out of the house looked at me as i was pulling off the rear wheel - "i'm calling my son he rides a motosickle" (yes she did say 'motosickle') not two minutes later i red pick up truck stops next to me. the owner Chad told me he rode a Harley but if there was anything he could to help just ask? then he said "i have a friend who rides around the world on bikes, his name is Doug do you know him?" Do you mean RTWdoug? yep thats him he lives just down the road...but he's not there right now as he's doing the Cannonball Run i had the tools and the bearing and cush drive rubbers with me (as my bike isn't available here in the states) just incase, i used his tailgate as a work bench and my tools and we were done in about 30 minutes or so and the bike was ready to ride, i didn't take photos as i was doing it as the sun was setting behind the hills, time was short with an unrideable bike http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1480-XL.jpg all the time his young son was looking at the bike so of course he had to have a sit on it when it was back together, if could have reached the bars and pegs i think he would have rode off on it http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1481-XL.jpg |
down into Florida's panhandle and some camping by the beach, mainly to look at the Gulf of Mexico from this side as the next time i'll see it will be in Veracruz with MikeMike at his place
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1482-XL.jpg a week after freezing my nuts off in Canada at night i was now walking in the warm water http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1489-XL.jpg stayed on the beach until the sunset http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...-copy-3-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1499-XL.jpg i went back to the tent made some food and had the feeling i was being watched... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1513-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...IMG0750-XL.jpg these little suckers were everywhere... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1519-XL.jpg |
so this summers ride which included the following states:
Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Ontario all that tallied up to 14,500 miles and kind of looked like this: not real exact but you get the idea that i looped around a lot http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...9-29-at-XL.png Now its time to head south of the border |
my original RTW plan was to go to Africa next year but if you have seen the news at all it is completely FUBAR over there right now, and having lived there in the past i'm really in no rush...
so a simple 180, do my route in reverse, kind of, but as you can see by the map in the previous post it could take a while to hit Africa as i just don't travel in a straight line point to point so heading south and further south still, yes i know, you are going to Mexico are you crazy...blah, blah, blah also remember if you read my previous ride report from last year i was chased by the Cartels and a friend was kidnapped, and i still feel safer in Mexico than in Africa right now, does that put it in perspective for you so it's time to leave the (relative) safety of the States http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...L/flags-XL.jpg so i had found this video and i'm sure some of you have seen it before - watch the whole thing it kind of explains a few things in its own special way!!! <iframe width="960" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5Pzb3dIazGc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> |
the day starrted good and clear blue sky, but i was watched again as i packed my tent
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...IMG0755-XL.jpg then i rode mainly in the rain from Florida to Louisiana and then across to Texas where i got more rain!!! gulf shores http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1524-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...IMG0758-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1528-XL.jpg boats washed up on shore from hurrican Isaac http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1530-XL.jpg went for breakfast with a friend (mudslinger53) hope this wasn't directed at me!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1531-XL.jpg arriving in Texas http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/9...SAM1533-XL.jpg |
early morning start with a friend from HU AndyT
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1534-XL.jpg across the flat lands of southern Texas to Laredo http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1536-XL.jpg took a little time dealing with the TVIP paperwork as i had one from last year that wasn't cancelled, so this would be a $400 deposit for me http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1539-XL.jpg then off towards Monterrey http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1543-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1545-XL.jpg riding the cuota road (toll) we had to pay 205 pesos at the first and 130 for the second http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1550-XL.jpg we avoided the third part of paying a toll by taking the libra (free) road into Saltillo as they run almost side by side http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1587-XL.jpg somebodies been reading my diary :lol3 http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1555-XL.jpg |
so first of all many thanks to schizzman, tricepilot, jimex, mikemike, mystery rider and andy t for there input on the riding in Mexico, without them there is no way i would have had such a cool ride as i did today
it looked something like this... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...0-03-at-XL.jpg started the day riding out of Saltillo heading for Los Lirios http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1606-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1607-XL.jpg tiny back roads thru small villages http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1613-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0765-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1614-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1618-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1624-XL.jpg stop for a cold one in Los Lirios http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1628-XL.jpg |
then into an amazing box canyon
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1637-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1641-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1645-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1647-XL.jpg this was the sign for it as were headed out http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1651-XL.jpg next destination was Rayones, plenty of mountain roads, good elevation changes and amazing views http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1653-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1655-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1658-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1660-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1662-XL.jpg here's one for the NEVER ride at night south of the border thread http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1670-XL.jpg Rayones for lunch http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1675-XL.jpg so after that its the road to Galena, about 25 miles of dirt, dust, sand and rock but more turns than the Dragons Tail http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1681-XL.jpg into Galena for the night both hotels in town were the same price 280 pesos for a twin room http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1697-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1695-XL.jpg ...and tonights protection provided by the Mexican Army http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1686-XL.jpg |
Hi Paul your having good weather looking at your pictures. The road works you wouldn't want to ride into at night.Is that the the way the police collect the parking fines. RIDE safe:sbike:Barry.:byesmiley:
|
Quote:
|
Out of Galena in the morning, the road was good but with the occasional pothole big enough to swallow your front wheel�but somehow they all seemed to be in the shadows of the trees lining the road, funny how that happens
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1704-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1708-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1709-XL.jpg Up and over an 8000 foot pass and down to Villa de Guadalupe and then on to Charcas for lunch. http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1714-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1715-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1718-XL.jpg |
The nights destination was San Luis Potosi
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1727-XL.jpg walking around the historic district http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...-copy-3-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0786-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0794-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...emapped-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0806-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0808-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0810-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0818-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0823-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0824-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0832-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0846-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0851-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0894-XL.jpg |
doing some people watching
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0861-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...-copy-3-XL.jpg drinking some very large beers (2 liters) can affect your vision slightly http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1751-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0901-XL.jpg Doesn�t matter what country you are from as a kid chasing pigeons is universal worldwide�just never seems to get one, and wouldn�t know what to do with it if you did!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0879-XL.jpg Bike of choice for this town is a CG 125 whether riding alone or with the whole family http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1746-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0907-XL.jpg �stayed in the Le Terminal Hotel for 260 pesos with secure bike parking in the courtyard http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1729-XL.jpg |
besides this smallest Coke money can buy...
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1764-XL.jpg ...its all about San Miguel de Allende...this is a mass upload of photos - enjoy http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1771-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1773-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0915-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0922-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0925-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0939-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0940-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0942-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0946-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0957-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG0998-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1001-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1013-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1021-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1035-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1037-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1038-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1039-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1057-XL.jpg |
pemex station from 1947
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1070-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1079-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1087-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1094-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1105-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1107-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1115-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1118-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1131-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1134-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1149-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1155-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1171-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1174-XL.jpg if you are in town stop by and see Adventures Sol Y Luna, super knowledgable about the area and great people too http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1181-XL.jpg |
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1188-XL.jpg
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1194-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1199-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1202-XL.jpg to finish the day we asked for a recommendation for a restaurant from Reynaldo and Antonina from Sol y Luna - they suggested Taco Don Felix, they told us he used to have a taco stand with table covered in white linen, but now he was in a building outside of town but it was worth going...the drive there about 30 pesos in cab takes you through 'the ghetto' kind of so don't be surprised...but what i was surprised at was one of the absolute best pepper steaks i have ever had (and i have had many around the world) and very reasonably priced if i might add http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1779-XL.jpg |
the plan for the day - Zacatlan....FAIL...but in a really good way!!!
out of san miguel in the morning http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1789-XL.jpg another one for the reasons not to ride in the dark south of the border...wide load here is a lot wider than in the north http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1793-XL.jpg here's another http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1805-XL.jpg and another http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1838-XL.jpg riding parallel to the mountains in the high desert http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1802-XL.jpg route planned to find this back road to Zacatlan, thru the mountains...this is what it looked like on a map, makes the tail of the dragon look like a straight road, and this is all dirt http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...0-06-at-XL.jpg this the real view, if you are even the slightest bit bothered about heights this road is not for you, some corners had atleast 2-3000 foot shear drops http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1806-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1807-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1816-XL.jpg ...and this is the view from the top of Barranca de Tolantongo and down to la Gloria Tolantongo http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1817-XL.jpg |
so there is these guys at the top of the mountain, legit fee to go down to a resort (its saturday) and to get to the bottom takes one hour (it's 3 pm) and they assure us there is no way out to Zacatlan, the map shows one, Garmin GPS shows one, then a couple in a car come up the hill and agree there is no way out "no salida"
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1819-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1820-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1822-XL.jpg if it was before noon it would have been a good ride down and back up just because, but due to the time we doubled back kind of!!! we saw a different road which the guys said we could go on, we ended up in a tiny village, not even on the map, at a fork in the road we stopped and this little old lady came out to talk to us, she told us there was no way down we needed to double back...i wish i had a video camera, she said (in spanish) where do you want to go? not here right, nobody comes here! and then she giggled like a little girl and smiled at me showing me her gold teeth. I don't think she had ever seen gringo tourists in her village. And yes she was about 4 feet tall http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1826-XL.jpg looking back this was the sign heading back http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1832-XL.jpg doubling back down the mountain dirt road http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1225-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1835-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1837-XL.jpg our new destination was Pachuca, found a hotel called Los Banos...yes yes i know what it means, but it doesn't really :lol3 anyhow the roof access was open and this was the view of the city http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1850-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1847-XL.jpg bikes parked inside the lobby http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1853-XL.jpg amazing clock tower in the main square http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...-2-copy-XL.jpg the city at night http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1226-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...IMG1230-XL.jpg and the absolute weirdest thing of the day, a guy playing bag pipes, sounded Scotish from a distance but as we got closer it was mariachi music...try and get your head around that :mbounce: BAGPIPES, scotish music only :rtfm: http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1856-XL.jpg |
och aye the nooo...great pics ...keep 'em coming!!!
:) . |
Fantastic pictures Paul.You can quickly get lost around there.:thumbleweed:Safe riding looking for ward to the next pics. Barry:runaway:
|
This morning Andy T and I split as we left Pachuca, he headed off in the direction of Guatemala, searching out the shortest route, me on the other hand; I will be in Guatemala but first I am riding in the direction of Belize
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1865-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1867-XL.jpg As I left this morning riding solo for the first time in a week it felt strange as last time I was riding alone in Mexico (even though I was with a group) I was chased by the cartels for about 40-50 miles and a friend was kidnapped. (If you hadn’t read about that its in my other ride reports, not going into that at all in this thread.) http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1874-XL.jpg Anyhow its kind of like re-finding my comfort zone, as I left Pachuca I rode about 40 km’s out of town towards Tulancingo and then my GPS locked up completely whilst trying to recalculate it stuck on 50% for an hour. Everything else worked (speed/ elevation/ compass etc) so I had a paper map, not the greatest one and a compass…so my heading was southeast to Vercruz. I got turned around a few times in Tulancingo but eventually found my way out of the one way system heading southeast to what I thought was the road to Zacatlan…wrong, I was on the road to Cuautepec which is basically a dead end unless you have a good map or a GPS to find the small back road out of town, all I found was dead ends. Now add to this Andy was the Spanish speaker of the two of us. I asked for directions, but it really didn’t help, still found dead ends! Then bingo the GPS kicks back in and points me in the right direction, I have it set for no toll roads and it sent me down an unassuming road a right turn off the 130 that for 20 k’s or so was very cool (signs showed it was the Ruta 2010 anniversary route) skirting the side of a mountain looking down into the rain forest below, then it took me downwards, the paper map agreed and off I went. I rode for maybe two more hours thru some very small villages and was eye balled a lot, there was a VERY strong police presence (more than I saw in Pachuca the night before for a city of about 1,000,000) for such small areas, but I was headed in the right direction towards Poza Rica south of the 130. My mind was working overtime, as I rode, not surprisingly but the road condition for the most part was very good until I went from 8000 feet down to about 1000 feet and then it was a mix of black top and gravel and dirt, with a river crossing thrown in for good measure which turned out to only be about 8 inches deep http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...875-001-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1880-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1887-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1891-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1893-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1894-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1897-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1901-XL.jpg I got caught in very heavy rains so decided against hitting Xalapa (I’ll catch it on the way north) and headed for the ocean. I finished the day just north of Palma Sola in a small hotel in MAr Azul on the ocean for 195 pesos and had a fish supper. http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1903-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1905-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1907-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1910-XL.jpg The guy that owns the place is called Manuel and every time I hear that name because of growing up in England it makes me think of this - Fawlty Towers, too much butter on those trays. And my Spanish is at about the same level as Basil I CAN NEVER GET VIDEO'S TO SHOWON THIS SITE SO HERE IS THE LINK - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uszo8w9G9GM Talking to Manuel, he asked which route I took, he frowned when I told him about the small villages and the route i took, he said good to see you got here! Those little villages used to be bad but now the bad guys have blended in with the good guys…and he left it at that, but then said from here on south its all good, not sure if that made me feel better or not? So I locked the bike against a concrete pillar and turned in for the night |
Left Mar Azul headed to Veracruz and then Catemaco�I left the hotel and got some insider advice from Manuel on how to avoid the toll going into Veracuz by taking a side road at Salmoral which would come out right after the toll, he said find the road that goes between the river and the train line. Not difficult to find, just follow the taxis!!!
http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1911-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1912-XL.jpg if you sell bananas you have to have a yellow truck!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1914-XL.jpg Riding thru Veracruz I got a nail in my rear tire that shredded the inner tube, luckily I had another and it happened right next to a motorbike repair shop�coincidence? http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1922-XL.jpg So I figured I would let them do it as next door there was a tire repair shop so it would be quicker than me getting out all my repair stuff�now remember here my Spanish is almost zero. So I pull out the inner tube and it�s the wrong size!!! This is the second one I have got that was wrong but in the right box, last time I had a 12 inch instead of a 17 inch, this time it was a 17 but 17 x 4 not a 17 x 5.10 like I needed. Luckily there was a spares place across the street so I got a new one and a new spare. Tubes were about the same price as the states 156 pesos� each or around $12 My old tube got to hang on the tree of shame; it�s the one on the top, split right down the middle http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1924-XL.jpg When the tire was put back on the sidewall expanded creating a bubble, small but it was there all the same, it�s a Hiedineau with only 2000 miles on it. http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1930-XL.jpg I stopped for gas and a Ford Ranger that�s seen better days pulled up with a cow n the back, I�ve seen mini trucks with Llamas in the back in Argentina and a horse in Mexico before but never a full grown cow�.add this to the reasons not to ride south of the border at night�just think if that thing took a dump as the truck was moving!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1926-XL.jpg So I carry on and get to Catemaco, the rain was intense most of the day and I ended up in a hole of a hotel (hotel campestre) for 200 pesos, I had to move rooms as the first one, the wall started leaking from the heavy rain and the floor became a swimming pool. I did have a video but can't get it to load via smugmug??? The video is nothing on how it was really raining as the trees blocked almost all of it, but it gives you the idea of the place. I did fid a better place for the same price on the main square but they had no parking and wanted me to leave my bike two blocks away on a side street � nope! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1933-XL.jpg Once the rain stopped I went out to lube the chain and noticed the bubble has grown considerably so now tomorrow its time to try and find a new tire, Hiedeneau�not impressed. I got it from Revzilla so hopefully they will stand behind the product even though I can�t return it for obvious reasons |
It was a morning and night for firsts come to think of it�
The rain that started at 3 pm carried on with its torrential downpour until about 2 am. Heavy enough and loud enough to keep me awake, then at about 4.30 � 5 am I get to find out there is a small farm behind the hotel, there wasn�t a smell to let me know, maybe the rain stopped that but it sure as well didn�t stock the dam rooster screaming its lungs out every five minutes, which then woke not only me up but what sounded like lambs and goats as well So the first first!!! I was packed and ready to go by 6 am but I was stalling for the sun to come up, 7 am came around and still no sun�I took off in the dark � yes, yes I know the first rule of adventure riding don�t ride in the dark � got it, send the adv police out for me Next, first�Army check point, I�m in southern Mexico I had expected quite few of these but this was pretty simple, open that bag, undo that zip, what�s inside that�off you go. No photos of that obviously After that I stopped to look at the rear tire, it was getting a lot worse so I definitely needed a new one, I headed into Tabasco and surprise there was a Yamaha dealer. http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1943-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1945-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1946-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1948-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1949-XL.jpg Now another rule of adventure riding, in a foreign country if you need something and its right there in front of you, and you need it, buy it, don�t think it maybe available again down the road. They had a 17 inch street tire, not what I wanted but it will have to do�I started to remove the wheel and help out the guys at the dealership with the included price of a tire change with my new tire 1100 pesos BTW While this was happening up front in the dealership (unknown by me) the Metzeler tire rep had shown up, the manager told him about my problem and he called literally every shop in Tabasco that stock tires and only found one other for 3000 pesos��see�buy now is the rule, and it was confirmed So if you find yourself in Tabasco and need something, the manager speaks perfect English and is more than willing to help overlanders Now it was time to ride along the coast headed for Campeche and another first for this trip, a Tuktuk in the way as usual as I was trying to go over a tope he swings a hard left for no reason and nearly takes me out! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1964-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1952-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1954-XL.jpg so here's the little ride around the gulf so far... http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...0-10-at-X2.jpg Here�s a rainbow and guess what�s at the end of it�frigging rain that�s what � lucky charms my ass!!! http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1968-XL.jpg Into Campeche and the Hotel Campeche right on the main square and the bike goes in the atrium outside the room, sweet. So just as the sun was setting I went out and took a few night shots, tomorrow morning I will do the rounds with the camera http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1975-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1978-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1982-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1988-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM1990-XL.jpg http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...SAM2003-XL.jpg ...on another note; interesting looking around while you are sitting at traffic lights in Mexico, never know what migh be standing there :evil http://dmh65.smugmug.com/RidingRTW/o...a-light-XL.jpg |
A fish and chips.:typing[1]:
|
Lovely - keep em coming fella!
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:39. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2019, vBulletin Solutions Inc.