2013 Latin America Rider Rallye - Everyone's Welcome

[Throttlemeister]

Originally Posted by bananaman

But wait- the Paraiso del Osa is like US$120/night? And you expect us to believe you stayed there?

Deals can be worked out easily and besides will only be cheaper if we are camping. I stayed for free last time I was there, just paying for dinner and breakfast. Lots of other options for headquarters down around CC area on easier paved roads.

[BobLoblaw]

Originally Posted by bananaman

New Deal: Nata Harli is out. Apparently he blew his wad in Cambodia having the time of his life, and now he has a new job that includes working just about every summer weekend. Sure, it's not going to be the same without him, especially since he's been the biggest disorganizer.

So, we're going to need somebody else to pick up the disorganizing where Nata Harli didn't even get started.

If nobody picks a real spot, you can fall back to where we were yesterday, or I mean last year. Maybe Throttlemeister can pick up where Nata Harli left off.

As for Copper Canyon, or anywhere south of the border, I'm very seriously trying to figure out how to get there in May, probably before my daughter graduates from the University of Tucson.

Except that I might drive a minivan...

But I digress.

Finding a spot, like a camp site, isn't really that hard. All the usual complaints, "It's too hot/cold/windy/remote" don't apply, on account of already having had it in the snow, which set the bar pretty high for a low point.

If we have it at my place, the cost is zero, except for what you eat and drink. There are barns and sheds for shelter and stuff, there's room for camping, and there might even be room in the house for a few FF's- last year I think we squeezed a total of six guys into the three upstairs bedrooms, the front porch, and the living room. The rest camped.

OK But did he also spend a lot of money

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by bananaman

...But wait- the Paraiso del Osa is like US$120/night? And you expect us to believe you stayed there?

I don't think the bear place is up to $120, but maybe I'm wrong (not unusual). He's an ex-cop from Ohio and does host some tour groups.

Regardless, you want to base in Creel. That's where the most services/stuff are close. Los Pinos Hotel, smack in the downtown (relatively speaking - stretch your imagination, or get a buzz on), was about $25 usd for 2 persons, secure courtyard-type parking, and decent rooms the last time I was there. Stayed there maybe 8 or so times, I think triples were about $30. Unless things have changed, there's one real bar in town, and it's two blocks away....something like that, anyway. Sometimes a few Euro chicks show up.....

The used-to-be KOA campground down at the end of the town strip has 2 person cabins for $50 usd or so, and tent camping. They charge $3 for a beer at their bar.

I've done Margarita's, too. She has two places in Creel, plus the hi-$ one away from everything in/near Batopilas.

If you're there for a week or so, you'll probably be bouncing between Creel and Urique....with maybe a Chinipas overnight, depending on how and what you want to ride. Alamos, on the western foothills of the sierras, has some fancy and historic hacienda rooms, if you want to shovel out the bucks.

[Throttlemeister]

Also know another guy in Alamos who's got some property we could probably camp on for a roaming rally. He's got a real nice set up on the edge of town.

Edit: Well scratch that, Arthur is a good soul RIP


Have to go for a visit and see if his wife is still living in the area.

[bananaman]

We should resolve the issue of dating.

If Throttlemeister is interested in hitting the boring rallye a couple of hundred miles north of Boaz, then maybe we should aim for the weekend before? This would give him time to woo the gals at The Lonesome Dove, party with the hippies in Gays Mills, and ride the TWAT up to Cornucopia. From there, it's an easy couple of hours to Duluth and the Boring Rallye.

I might even tag along the TWAT.

Cannonshot's smugmug has the maps for the TWAT irrc.

[what car??]

Albeit for me to say as I don't know any of you fellows: why is it called LARR meet up if it's not being held in Latin America? I'm assuming it's for people that have ridden in Latin America? I would be game to join in...

Thanks,
what car??

[bananaman]

Originally Posted by what car??

Albeit for me to say as I don't know any of you fellows: why is it called LARR meet up if it's not being held in Latin America? I'm assuming it's for people that have ridden in Latin America? I would be game to join in...

Thanks,
what car??

It was originally called the US-Based Latin America Rider Rallye. It was actually originally just going to be me and Ken each riding half-way between Kansas City and Madison to have a beer. The winter before, while Barb and I were riding South, Ken was riding North. Somewhere along the way we missed each other. So we promised that we'd make up for it by having a beer. One of us or both of us accidentally told somebody else, and the next think, a few dozen other lunatics were saying, "I LIKE BEER TOO!!!" We took a vote and settled on meeting in Colorado because it was less inconvenient for everybody. Now, something like 5 or 6 years later, it looks like Ken isn't going to make it, but Throttlemeister will. This will make me, Ken, and John equally incompetent, since Ken hasn't missed one before, I missed the one in New Mexico (I was having a tantrum on account of having been temporarily banned from advrider, which is something we should all aspire to- I think Ken has been banned, and John's ban is coming any day), and John missed last year's at my place in Wisconsin.

Does that confuse you enough, or should I go on about hand dug whales?

[what car??]

Bananaman thanks for the history of such event. I don't know all the handle to names yet, but I too like beer (actually brew my own). Depending on when this event will kick off or be held, I'm down. Currently in Guatemala and depending on whether I get an extension or not on my moto permit, will be leaving Guate sometime in May, sooner if no permit granted. I have an open schedule, just want to get back to the states in time to make more money to head back south come first of the year. Though I can work as I go along (when back in the states mind you), so yeah I'm game to try and make it. Is there any idea when/where it will be held this year? Is there an open invite or just for those in the know?

Thanks again,
what car??
aka Juan

So what are hand dug whales? Where do they come into play?

[BobLoblaw]

Originally Posted by bananaman

We should resolve the issue of dating.

If Throttlemeister is interested in hitting the boring rallye a couple of hundred miles north of Boaz, then maybe we should aim for the weekend before? This would give him time to woo the gals at The Lonesome Dove, party with the hippies in Gays Mills, and ride the TWAT up to Cornucopia. From there, it's an easy couple of hours to Duluth and the Boring Rallye.

I might even tag along the TWAT.

Cannonshot's smugmug has the maps for the TWAT irrc.

blah blah blah....... got a date yet? You're going to party with some gays in Hippie Mills

[bananaman]

It's a fairly open invite.

The date will probably be the week before the Very Boring Rally, which is scheduled for Aug 23-25. If I do my math right, ours would be Aug 16ish. Now go ask Throttlemeister if that works with the steel in his leg.

The "Very Boring Rallye" is a stroke of aerostich marketing genius. It's up north, in Duluth, MN.

If any of you are unfamiliar with the TWAT, aka the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail, it follows as many non-paved roads as possible from Illinois to Lake Superior. I rode it from Prairie du Chien to Cornucopia a few years ago. If you like off-pavement riding, or if you need practice before going south of the US border. It's a nice ride through very-rural Wisconsin, especially through Amish and Mennonite country. Once you get into the northern third of Wisconsin it gets into the Chequamagon National Forest, and if you only pay attention half the time, you'll see deer, bear, and maybe elk, wolves, coyotes, and cougars. The trail ends in the hamlet of Cornucopia, on the south shore of Lake Superior.

If you want to do a really, really run ride, go to Hayward and then turn West towards Duluth and follow the mini-continental divide, the one that divides the Great Lakes water shed and the Mississippi water basin.

Or, when you get to Cornucopia, turn right, and keep Lake Superior on your left until you get to Duluth, in about 1500 miles. Bring your passport because you'll be going into Canada.

Usually around this time of year (April), we start talking about who is coming and what kinds of presentations will be made. Anybody who is interested in riding Latin America is free to bring up questions.

Last year we had a gynecologist from La Cross ask an awful lot of extremely dumb questions about riding Mexico and Guatemala. By the end of the weekend I'd drunk most of his beer. A few months later, he and his girlfriend were having an awful lot of fun in Mexico and Guatemala. Or maybe Honduras. Somehow he made it down there and back and even though we tried to give him terrible advice, he survived. Which is proof that the LARR might be worth attending for Noob's.

Regarding the specific location:

Boaz, WI, has two bars and a convenience store. It's about 8 miles to Richland Center, WI, which is where Frank Lloyd Wright got born, and where Joseph Stalin's daughter Svetlana Alliluyeva lived most of her life. Richland Center has a hospital, a Walmart, and a motorcycle shop. My farm has barns and sheds where you might find tools to fix just about anything but we can only weld steel, not aluminum. It's a working farm, with cattle and horses, and in late August we might be making a little bit of hay.

I'm still open to having it anywhere else.

[BobLoblaw]

OK August 16 works for me. Put me on the list for a room in the mansion

[Throttlemeister]

Hope to make it myself. Next year this thing needs to get down to CC finally.

[bananaman]

Probably Attendees:

Throttlemeister
Bobloblaw
What Car??

[patched]

Hey Max I was there last year on the versys. Thats the same weekend as the central adventure rally in Eagle River. I'l have to make a last minute desission, or do both. don't hold a place in the house for me i'l hammock camp again. I think this was at your place

[Lone Rider]

Originally Posted by Throttlemeister

...... this thing needs to get down to CC finally.

If and when it does, I will try to make serious plans.
I'd probably stay around there for a couple of weeks for adrenalin spikes and cheap relaxation.