Vaquero

[tricepilot]

Steve has his own Ride Report underway, you can read all about it here in Ride Reports:

Steve decided to join our posse for a couple of days and ride with us south and inland to Patzcuaro.

You'll have to read his trip report for yourself, and then read what he has to say in that second thread.

For my part, what unfolded for him had a parallel in the Crosby Stills & Nash tune that I had playing as I rolled south.

Two things about Steve:

(1) He had the cojones to conjure up a solo motorcycle adventure from the U.S. to the tip of South America.

(2) When things started to go bad for him at home, he had the cojones to write about it and post up his most inner thoughts, weaknesses, fears, suggestions, and hopes.

It may be a big world out there, but to me, motorcycle adventure travel concentrates a lot of it into amazing compartments that you just have to go out and discover and explore.

[tricepilot]

Originally Posted by Gadget Boy

what a tease!

That's not a tease

I would think telling you I was working on a moto today outside in the driveway in 72 degree weather here in San Antonio while you are , now THAT would be a tease



A KLR to tow behind the R1200 a la an RV towing a Mini Cooper

[tricepilot]

The coastline of Mexico here along the Pacific is just stunning...



Here is the section we were running on this Sunday morning/afternoon:



We ran MX 200 all day, stopping for only Pemex and a snack



Davis was the best journal keeper I've ever seen. He would study the maps, sketch drawings, and keep detailed writings of his travels



Hap is in the restuarant business in San Antonio. I couldn't help but think we'd see some of the food he was enjoying on one of his menus soon...






Steve, his bike, his gear, preparation and especially his rolling stock of camera equipment provided story after story and a lot of information for me to use in my future trips south of the border



At one point, he had a camera on his helmet, a camera on his arm, and a camera on his bike (or two or three, I can't remember) all functioning off some doohickie on his OTHER arm...



We were trying to reach Playa Azul by nightfall, but as MX 200 was far twistier than thought and slowed us down, we made it as far as this oasis at Caleta de Campos...



Where we were the ONLY guests. That has happened before in Mexico.



Hank found this place while we were fueling at the Pemex a few miles back.

Down this dirt road and that, we winded in and around Caleta's dirt streets wondering where Hank was leading us.

The hotel popped out of nowhere like an oasis in Lawrence of Arabia

This was a wonderful day of riding for me. Back on the road after all that had happened, feeling relatively ecstatic that the GS was running like a swiss watch even though she didn't look like a swiss supermodel.

It took me longer to get on and off the bike, but I had ridden along the southwest coast of Mexico all day, plenty of sunshine, safe, and with the pleasure of cooling my heels in the Pacific at the end of the day...

[tricepilot]

We ran Monday along more of MX 200 to Playa Azul

Here Hank is served a virtual maragrita by Davis...



But nothing was had until we reached Playa Azul, and the near-empty beach side restaurant...



Perhaps Gustavo or Dan knows, but I don't know when the people show up to keep these businesses in business...



I mean, if you want a piece of the Mexican coast all to yourself, and TOTALLY opposite of, let's say, a Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, then Playa Azul is for YOU






I think my GS was enjoying a relaxing time at the beach after out-patient surgery the weekend before...



Hap thought about buying this place and opening another deli...



Like I said, Playa Azul hosted our little biker gang, and one small army patrol that drove by to check us out

Davis' F650 also enjoyed some salt water exposure:



Enterprising vendors, however, were not in short supply, even if tourists or locals seemed to be...









Since we would push inland from here, we walked around to get our last impressions of the beach. I said goodbye to the Pacific coast for a short while....



But not to worry, in February I knew I'd be running the Gulf coast - just two months away...

[dtop1]

"Perhaps Gustavo or Dan knows, but I don't know when the people show up to keep these businesses in business..."

They make their money from people going to the coast on w/e's and especially holidays. Playa Azul draws people from Morelia, Lazaro Cardenas, Uruapan, etc. They are family businesses with low overhead so they can survive and even thrive with that kind of business. Dan

[Hank]

Great report, I was wondering when I would see it come up... fantastic photos....

saludos de Medellin, Colombia

Hank

[Trailblazer]

Nice.
Now this looks like the Mexico I love.
Nice photos.
Now let me get this straight. You just blew by Zihuatenajo, Acapulco, and Pto Escondido?
How do you get to Patzcuaro from here?
_____________________
The guy on the DRZ 400

[dtop1]

Originally Posted by Trailblazer

Nice.
Now this looks like the Mexico I love.
Nice photos.
Now let me get this straight. You just blew by Zihuatenajo, Acapulco, and Pto Escondido?
How do you get to Patzcuaro from here?
_____________________
The guy on the DRZ 400

Playa Azul is right next to Lazaro Cardenas; Patzcuaro is just up the hill. Dan

[Trailblazer]

Well of course. I got Playa Azul mixed up with Puerto Angel, further south.

[bigdon]

Bob we got the electronic search last May. It was kind of funny. The device looked almost like an old transistor radio. The guy running it looked very serious. I think that was the biggest check point I have ever seen. Military guys everywhere. Their camp looked like they had bought every cheap pup tent that Walmart had! I was glad to see it in the rear view mirror!

[Nanuq]

Originally Posted by Flying Turtle

GRRRRRRRREAT REPORT AND PICS

+1111111111111111

[keyskruiser]

Great report as always. You make your crash a non event and keep going. Thanks for taking the time so we can enjoy your trip with you.

[Pedro Navaja]

Originally Posted by keyskruiser

Great report as always. You make your crash a non event and keep going. Thanks for taking the time so we can enjoy your trip with you.

This is something indeed worthy to note. What if boxers gave up the first time they got knocked out in the ring? Lately, IRL, I have been noticing riders give up riding for crashes that are minor in comparison to Bob's. As Bob said in another post (I think the one about Mexican bandits)..."it's not an adventure if there is no risk involved."

[DirtJack]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

That's not a tease

I would think telling you I was working on a moto today outside in the driveway in 72 degree weather here in San Antonio while you are , now THAT would be a tease



A KLR to tow behind the R1200 a la an RV towing a Mini Cooper

Tricepilot, I enjoyed the report. It's a bit cooler in SA today. Your KLR will need its skin to keep warm.

[tricepilot]

Originally Posted by dtop1

Playa Azul draws people from Morelia, Lazaro Cardenas, Uruapan, etc.

They are family businesses with low overhead so they can survive and even thrive with that kind of business. Dan

Originally Posted by dtop1

Playa Azul is right next to Lazaro Cardenas; Patzcuaro is just up the hill. Dan

Dan is like, co-president of Mexico knowledge with Gustavo

Originally Posted by Hank

Great report, I was wondering when I would see it come up... fantastic photos....
saludos de Medellin, Colombia

Hank

Hank, we know you are having a fantastic time on your lifetime journey.

Thanks for one hell of a good time in October in Mexico.

Everybody check out Hank's trip blog:

Welcome to Moto Hank

Click on Blog

And, check out Hank's book - which taught me how to catch the light in Mexico:




Hank, say hi to the cartels in Medellin for me

Originally Posted by Trailblazer

Nice.
Now this looks like the Mexico I love.
Nice photos.

Milton, I say that each time I pull into another Mexico locale!

Originally Posted by bigdon

Bob we got the electronic search last May. It was kind of funny. The device looked almost like an old transistor radio.

Do you really think the "gizmo" is for real, or is it all for show?

I spent some time with "special projects" with the U.S. military and NEVER came across anything that would do, well, what does it do

Originally Posted by Nanuq

+1111111111111111

Hey, for the record, that's the Turtle with those babes, not me!

Originally Posted by keyskruiser

Great report as always. You make your crash a non event and keep going. Thanks for taking the time so we can enjoy your trip with you.

Originally Posted by Pedro Navaja

This is something indeed worthy to note. What if boxers gave up the first time they got knocked out in the ring? Lately, IRL, I have been noticing riders give up riding for crashes that are minor in comparison to Bob's. As Bob said in another post (I think the one about Mexican bandits)..."it's not an adventure if there is no risk involved."

With a ride report title like Vaquero and a crash in Mexico to report, how about I change the title to this:

Originally Posted by DirtJack

Tricepilot, I enjoyed the report. It's a bit cooler in SA today. Your KLR will need its skin to keep warm.

PLEASE don't tell Rick (Gadget Boy) that we are here today!

If he finds out I'm hiding the truth about how cold it is here today, I might get