How could I forget Harmon's. You made my son and I take pictures with the cook and I felt like we were part of his family. Two Brother's...sounds interesting. Just a reminder Tricepilot. If you are in town...My family and I are driving to Leon for Christmas. We leave KC the 20th and we will be in Dallas. The plan is to leave Dallas to head to Laredo on the 21st in the morning. That means we should be hungry and passing near San Antonio mid day the 21st. Will you be around? You'll get to meet the whole family and my brother as well. We will be in the Leon area for most of Christmas break. (I'm a HS Spanish teacher and I still get Christmas break) We plan to take day trips to San Miguel de Allende, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Celaya and possibly Patzcuaro. We have a hotel reservation in Real de Catorce on the way down. I can't wait. My whole family in Mexico. What a dream! I've been meaning to ask the community... I feel pretty comfy riding my bike in Mexico. Any extra precautions as I drive a vehicle into mexico? My brother will be caravaning with me. His wife is from Leon. She and the kids will be there starting 12/8 and then he will drive them home with us first of January. Any input would be great.
As long as you are not driving a pimped out gangsta ride you will be fine. I also never wash my cars but that's because I'm lazy. You know the drill, avoid driving at night and remember that Mexico has the same number of hwy fatalities as the US but with a third the population and less than a third the number of vehicle/drivers. Traffic accidents are more of a worry than any narco violence. Have fun
I do that with my bike. Most of the incidents at Christmas are with pochos returning heavily laden with gifts and carrying cash. Shake downs are more common during Christmas. Over the last decade, the federal government has made extra efforts to control this. Petty theft is much more common leading up to Christmas as many Mexicans receive a mandatory aguinaldo and some form of P.T.U. profit sharing. This weekend is El Buen Fin which is the relatively new Mexican Black Friday shopping idea. Crime will increase accordingly, I doubt this year will be any exception. Cars are always ripe for the pickings, bikes are not. If you park in secure locales, you'll be fine. Traffic will be heavy, deals will be plentiful in the tianguis markets, the economy sucks.
Jeff, In addition to Tom's virtually monthy circuit from Banámichi to Sierra Vista AZ, SR was just here at the Casona/San Antonio, having driven his Jeep up and now back home (7 hours Laredo to Durango!) Jimmex loaded his dirt bike in the back of his Toyota Tundra a few months ago, and drove from San Angelo to Durango and back to ride the Sierra Madre. I'm sure they'll also tell you: no issues And yes, definitely make a BBQ stop here on your way south. Setting aside Harmon's and Two Brothers 'Q joints, I can say that SR and his wife tried my fresh-off-the-Tricepit pulled pork, and I'll let him remark on what he thought of it. To be fair, I had an advantage it was just off smoker when they arrived, and at the peak of excellence having rested just the perfect amount of time. I fresh-chopped it on the block right there in the kitchen before their eyes, folding in just the right amount of seasoned bark and smoke ring goodness. Maybe your timing will be similarly good!
Pat Sherwood and Ian Wittenber are Crossfit HQ staff members given a couple of KLR 650s and blessed with the task of riding from Montana to Chile, stopping in Latin Amerca Crossfit franchises and making a motocycle video documentary on the brotherhood of Crossfit in the Americas. Their current episode (#9) talks about "Looking for the Boogeyman" that doesn't exist - the fear that travel south of the border means somebody is around the corner, out to get you. Excellent stuff on riding through Mexico, crossing borders, and jumping the Darien into Colombia, and making their way south. Bonus: Sherwood is hilarious #1 <object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/rqRCXohS-_Q?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/rqRCXohS-_Q?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> #2 <object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/XS-2QciBL48?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/XS-2QciBL48?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> #3 <object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/cEIrO3Zb4l8?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/cEIrO3Zb4l8?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> #4 <object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/0R-3VPLYwFQ?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/0R-3VPLYwFQ?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> #5 <object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/GqlFk48gnFE?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/GqlFk48gnFE?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> #6 <object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/u1-60QEi2Dg?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/u1-60QEi2Dg?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> #7 <object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/EVtLADIy9dg?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/EVtLADIy9dg?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> #8 <object width="640" height="360"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/uLc1dpolaIs?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/uLc1dpolaIs?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object> #9 <EMBED height=360 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=640 src=//www.youtube.com/v/T5j6XRebohU?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0 allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></EMBED>
Can anyone tell me if you can turn in your TVIP at the Laredo World Trade Bridge crossing? Or would one of the other crossing in Laredo be better? Also a side note, the mordida was alive and well last weekend between Los Mochis and Topolobampo. Looked like they were trying to earn their holiday money from the way they were lighting people up. I even got to make a contribution.
Just back from my first ride down into Mexico. Austin Texas to Oaxaca......Amazing country. As for safety goes my impression is things can be sketchy but that happens all over the world. I have been down to Mexico quite a few times and keeping your eyes open and moving fast is recommendable especially closer to the boarder and the bigger towns. I stuck to the same policy when on the bike. My Spanish is fluent so I didn't have issues with language.....except for when I pretended I didn't speak any....usually with the cops and military....but I could see not speaking Spanish being frustrating at times especially if lost in large metro areas. Cost me 100 pesos to pay for an "escort" :huh out of San Luis Potosi by a bike cop......not supposed to be on the inner city highways with bikes....apparently this happens in places like Mexico City also so don't be surprised if they try to shake you down. I figured 8 bucks was an except able price to pay for a good story and it had been awhile since I had paid off a cop! Our biggest concern was driving at night....we got caught out a few times after dark pushing it....animals and crappy drivers and bad roads were the biggest fear. Plenty of places to stay although we were glad to have the tent and sleeping bags when I broke down outside of Durango.....it got pretty chilly.....otherwise unless you are hitting the beach or organized camp grounds they were not very useful. All in all Mexico is rad and I will be back down on the bike soon!
I've always used a credit card when entering Mexico but I'm considering using cash. Is the TVIP fee ($44?) the same if you use cash for the guarantee deposit instead of a card? Are there disadvantages or advantages to using cash? I'm going next week.
Hey Charlie, Fees are all the same. You will have to stand in line after you turn in the TVIP to get your cash deposit refunded. Only real difference from using a credit card. Have a great trip! JD
Nice to meet you and Kevin in Creel and then find you guys again in Parral Sounds like you broke down the next day on the way into Durango. Do tell more about the emergency camp out and what went wrong with the bike. It looked in top shape. And how did Kevin's front tire hold out? Thanks for the heads up on SLP moto cops
Matadora Maripaz Vega, female bullfighter from Spain, entertains in México City: <EMBED height=360 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=480 src=//www.youtube.com/v/wA9S50bIP-c?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0 allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"> She's also demonstrating the prototype BMW riding suit at the same time </EMBED>
Craneguy has a suit just like that! But the only bull he fights is when he's listening to me at breakfast.
Sounds like fun! The Holidays in Mexico are a great time of year. The border and N-S traffic is a zoo around the holidays. Lots of people heading down in December and lots heading back up in January. Right around Christmas and New years almost everyone is drunk, so drive defensively. In terms of security, as long as you are not driving a brand new suburban, you will be fine. Like on a motorcycle, all the checkpoints go smoother with the family in the car. Just open up the back window so they can see you are with family and they will let you go through. This weekend we caught the red light at the Aduana in Laredo with a bunch of merchandise, and they just let us go. I think it was because we were a family and they were being nice by not holding us up.