UPDATE. I am sorry if all my pictures aren't exactly where they should be, or sub titled correctly. It is because the underhanded "PHOTOBUCKET" company pulled the carpet out from under the feet of millions of users. I'm having to go through thousands of pictures and decide which picture I inserted. Several years later my memory is a little mixed. ===================================================== I am planning to leave for TDF on 12/1 or 12/2.I will leave from El Centro,California on an 06 KLR. I planned to leave 11/1.But my mother suddenly became ill and passed away in October. I think my bike is ready for the trip.But I haven't had enough time to decide on a route or POI's.I plan on about 4 months for the trip.I would like to ride some with other inmates.I think Throttlemeister is in Columbia now.Hopefully I will catch up with him sometime.And I think Sasper is taking a month to learn Spanish in Mexico.Should see you sometime soon. So,if anyone is within this time frame and wants company,let me know. Doug
I'll be watching your progress, enjoy, take lot's of photos and post. If I'm still in Costa Rica when you come through, I'll be glad to help in any way. Buen viaje
Hey live it up don't hurry too much you might miss something. I planned 2 weeks in Mexico ended up staying 6. It is an amazing place I'm currently in Xela Guatemala for 2 weeks studying Spanish my buddy and I are both on 08 klrs and will be heading to tdf after feel free to send me a message with any questions good luck.
I am finally on the road.Had a late morning start. I crossed in to San Luis,Mexico mid afternoon and stopped in Sonoyta at about 7pm.On the map it looks like it is about 3 miles from Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument,Arizona.Not much English going on here though.Rode the last hour in the dark.I took the second hotel I looked at for $41.The first place was already full.Thought I might have to tent camp my first night. I have had 2 bike issues so far.My GPS battery went dead.The relay terminal I had it feeding from was hot when the key was off and not when the key was on.My temporary fix was to attach it where my heated grips attach. My other problem is my kick stand.With everything packed on the bike,the weight compresses the suspension enough that the bike is almost vertical.I will need to do something soon before someone leans against it,or the wind blows,and the bike falls over. Alaskan Smoker,if you are in Guatemala for 2 more weeks,I may catch up with you.I want to get through C.A. before Christmas.I don't want to get caught in the holiday crowds.Hope I can get bike transit to Columbia.Are you all hotels or some camping?
Yesterday I rode to Mazatlan.About 480 miles,mostly cuotas (tolls),and not much to see.I was almost out of gas and suddenly no one took US $$$.I hadn't exchanged any money at the border and now regretted it.At my 5th Pemex station I got lucky and got a tank full.The guy told me I would be able to exchange at Mazatlan.The hotel I stay in exchanged $200 for me the next morning. Today I rode 500+ miles.Riding to Tepic was a great curvy road that reminded me of Hawaii.Cactus,mountains,cattle in the road.I rode "libre" (free) through Guadalajara.But after being lost for 2 hours I paid $40 to ride cuotas the next 250 miles to Morelia.A friend of mine was there with his wife.They drove down from Cincinnati to explore some more Mexico.He rode TDF in 2004.It was just a coincident that our trips overlapped.But since he was there and I wanted to go there,I rode in the dark hours the last couple days. As I rode into Morelia,I decided I would stay more than 1 night.It is very interesting.Tomorrow I will try to post some pictures rather than explain "interesting".
Where have I been the last few days?I stayed in a Hotel El Carmen,built around 1650 AD. I met my home town friend Merril and his wife Dianne. We went to Lake Patzcuaro.We saw rock sculpting on a grand scale. We went to an old convent built in 1531 then converted into what looked looked a museum.But it is a display of the best artists in the state.They produce and sell their works here. Morelia was the first really interesting place I saw on my trip.I hope to bring my wife here next year.So much more than I expected. I was up till 1am on Skype.Then when I went to bed my neck started hurting.I couldn't sleep at all.4:30 I got up and took a hot shower.It relieved the pain some,but I didn't sleep 1 minute the whole night.It happened to me about a month ago also.Anyway I was sore and tired as I told my friends good bye.I thought I would have an easy day. A 3 hour ride to the butterfly sanctuary.Then a 2 hour hard hike up and down hills to see very few butterflies in the air.They were just big clumps of them hanging in trees.I know I was 1-2 months early for the big show. I haven't had a lot of time for eating.Before going on the hike of the monarchs I stopped and ate a bag of chips and an orange drink.That was all I had till before going to bed and eating 2 granola bars and a bottle of water. 4 of the 6 days I've been in Mexico I have only had 1 meal.Well after the hike and having no sleep I needed a room. Bananaman told me about these luv shaks.Well it was pretty nice.Electric garage door opener,tile floor,king bed,best hotttt shower pressure I've had in a long time.Great for washing clothes. In the morning I found a new place to get lost.Mexico city.But I started the day off right With lunch. Then trying to find my way out of town.I finally gave up and got on the cuota till Puebla.It was worth it.Tonight I'm in Tehauca.And my neck is almost pain free. 2 days before I thought my trip was in danger because of it.In a couple days I plan to be in San Cristobal de las Casas. I may meet up with someone from this forum.It would be the first riders I have seen other than 2 BMW's I saw going north in Morelia.It would be nice to see other ADVriders.
Looks like my pics didn't work.But I'm too tired to try again tonight.Maybe they will heal with a little sleep too.
Eat! You're missing out on a chance to never want to eat American Mexican food again. Jeez- a guy could easily make a ride through Mexico a glitton's delight. A gourmand's epic. Mexico food isn't for missing. Do yourself a favor. Skeedadle back to Texas and start over.
I thought that Mexican style food would continue through Central America - I was wrong. As soon as you leave Mexico the tortillas are gone. Same with the flavor and variety. Max is right, eat well when in Mexico
Fish cheeks and ceviche in Grenada. A burger on Quito. Nothing else worth remembering till you get some parilla in Argentina. Savor Mexico.
Good Start Doug (sorry to read about your Mom) I find that anything close to 500 miles in a day on a 650 gives me a "pinched" neck and it sucks. Big wind days are the worst. You should of retrofitted the Harley fairing to that badass KLR I might have to come up with some neck exercise routine before the next trip. I'm jealous you, John and Stephen are all on the road. Eliz and I have been saving our pennies and should have enough for Mexico pretty soon. (getting away is the far bigger challenge) I would have to say I do the same on most trips. Jerky,granola bars and energy drinks for the first few days then feast. (Don't skimp on H2o) Hope to see you catch Thottlemeister and pass Sasper(bet he's already got a GF by now) Be Well Greg/Eliz and of course Carhartt
I ate today.About 4pm.Call it desayuno o cena.I'm not big on food.At home the wife asks what I want,I say the first thing she suggests.When traveling,she tells me to decide where.I head to the nearest McD.She doesn't like that,so she decides.I'm not particular.I don't like to go hungry for more than a day and a half.I am out of wack right now though.I usually eat more than what I have been. And I don't know what's up with my sleeping.I went to bed last night at 1am.Didn't go to sleep till 6am.Got up at 7:55.Got on line to see what I am doing wrong trying to post pics from photobug.Gave up and fixed a wiring problem for heated grips.I packed pretty minimal except for gloves.5 pair.Well after 2 consecutive days,I now have 3 and 2 half pair.I lost the right glove of 2 cheapy pairs. Finally got on the road about 10:30.I road rt 131 into Oaxaca.What great curves.Wore some of the side rubber off.That was about 80 miles of fun,fun,fun,fun.I thought about turning around and doing it again.But then I didn't want to see that cop again.Yea,the one that stopped me and a string of other drivers in a 60kph spot.I don't think I was going a lot over.He let me go after a short talk. I got to Oaxaca about 3:30 and thought it was time to eat.Ate at a sidewalk restaurant by the main plaza.It is a town a could revisit.As I started riding out of town,I thought maybe I should see more of this town.So I turned around and got a room near that plaza.I saw a small army of people dressed up like clowns and parading down the street.Sure was interesting.It maybe something for senora Guadalupe day.If I get the photo thing figured out before I fall asleep,I'll post. The biggest things I have realized so far on this trip: 1.While the Latin driving system looks crazy,it seems way more efficient than ours.Bananaman,you alluded to that in Minnesota.The only horns you hear are when people sit a a green lite.These people pay attention to their driving.And I am not as concerned about them pulling up close to me.They seem to respect a bike a bit more. 2.The people are great.I was at the plaza tonight.There were thousands of people there.No attitudes.Just people having a good time.Everyone dressed conservative.I didn't see anyone wearing clothes they wouldn't wear to church.I would like to complain about that though. While in Morelia,my friend Merril hit the topes on the hard side.He took the car to Midas to see if he could get a quik cheap fix for it.Didn't want Midas because you would expect only all new,front to back.But time was an issue.So they put it up on the rack.3 guys working on it for 10-15 minutes-bailing wire.How expensive was it?They would not take any money.Unbelievable.
I think a have a neck nerve problem.It was a problem before my trip.And it started bothering me at the end of a none riding day. I do have a Harley windshield on it.I think it helps making my foot pegs vibrate stronger. I passed Sasper 3 days ago.We missed each other.He is doing the life style trip.If he get south,fine.If not he will probably be just as happy.
Usually I don't eat either. It drives women mad. Coffee when I get up, then a late dinner. Eating 5 or 6 times a week is plenty. Unless you're in Mexico. I could gain 200 pounds just experimentally eating different kinds of chiles.
Had a nice room in Oaxaca. Saw a lot of old buildings-a lot of history here.A beautiful cathedral. Before leaving the next day,I had breakfast at this old former convent. Then I hit the road for San Christobal.20 miles out of town I hit a detour.After 25 miles of detour I thought something was wrong.I saw the highway a few times.And it still had northbound traffic-but no southbound.But I kept going farther away from my road.Well I stayed with the dirt and gravel another 90 miles.I thought I may spend the nite in a tent under some bananaman trees.It was semi jungle.Gps didn't see any roads. I stopped to take a picture right after passing some road work.Before getting off the bike I saw a Nissan truck in my mirror rolling backwards at me.He wasn't a foot from me by the time I pulled the clutch in and did the Fred Flintstone run thing.There wasn't time to hit the start button yet.No contact,but it was close.I did a lot of night riding on the dirt.I think till about 9-9:30.When I hit pavement it still wasn't on the GPS.As I passed a truck,going about 60,a big dog ran across the road.I think I missed him by about 4-5 feet.Around 12:30am I finally found a hotel.I'm still a couple days behind on posting,but it's time for me to get out of my room.
Whoa! Two forks? I ain't never eaten at no fancy restaurant like dat! I knew when a restaurant was in my price range if it had plastic tables and chairs Keep on having fun! I'm jealous
Benny,that was $21 US with the tip.When I looked at the place,I thought I didn't care what it cost.I didn't even ask.Glad I did it.
2 days ago I left San Cristobal and rode to the Palenque ruins.I was told the road was washed out and there was a long detour.No detour-just some repair work going on. It was a great road to ride.Even better if it wasn't raining..I got to the ruins a half hour after they closed.So I went to a campground and set up my tent. The next morning I was at the Palenque Ruins when they opened.More than I expected here. When I left the ruins I hoped to make it to the Guatemala border before night. But in Conital I stopped at an Autozone to get stuff to repair my tailbag mounting problem.I was`trying to get some washers.Try explaining that in English.A guy with a helmet came over to assist me.He said down the street had a better selection and better prices.I followed him to the other place and got some big washers.Then we went to his house and drilled some holes and mounted the bag properly. After looking at some of my other trip pictures it was getting late.So,he took me to a hotel in town.It was 9:30 and Guatemala would have to wait for another day.Bananaman told me to forget the 500 mile days.I'm barely squeking 200 miles/day.I'm starting to understand.
