Escape the Tundra: 10th Winter in Mexico/Guatemala

Eduardo · 12-05-2009, 06:38 PM

Hola Amigos, After 3 days of driving my truck, hauling my DR650, 1500 miles from Minnesota to Mission, Texas, I have crossed and am one day into Mexico. It's been hard to escape the tundra so far. The bitter cold at home followed me south, had snow south of San Antonio, and I left Reynosa this morning with below freezing temps. I wore sweatpants, jeans, 3 shirts, rain and summer riding gear, all day. My warm weather gloves, weren't cutting it today either, my hands were like ice after 2 hours on the road. The only plan I have to keep driving south till it warms up. This is the coldest start I've had in 10 years.

Many thanks to Pirate John for truck storage arrangements, and the personal tour of the border crossing and Reynosa.

Somewhere in Kansas

Mountains around C.D. Victoria

Saludos, Eduardo

Klay · 12-05-2009, 06:42 PM

Happy travels, Ed.

GB · 12-05-2009, 08:17 PM

eddie98 · 12-06-2009, 05:52 AM

will be following you along.

Thorne · 12-06-2009, 06:01 AM

............

Eduardo · 12-07-2009, 10:41 AM

Hola Amigos, I´m along the Costa Esmerelda at La Guadelupe for a few days. I´ve already got 2000 miles under my belt coming from Minnesota, and usually layover at the beach and relax and try and get some sun exposure, slowly.

Getting through Tampico was okay, but it was a slightly changed route from last year, with more construction, and new turns. Once through, the road turns ugly for at least 50 miles. Lots of potholes, uneven asphalt, horses, goats, burros, and sheep along the ditch at times, and a bunch of route twists and turns. This day is probably one of the worst of my whole trip for road conditions and routing to Guatemala, and I´m always glad to have it out of the way.
Even though the road isn´t great, the scenery gets progressively better and better. I went from the dry, scrub brush, semi desert, north of Tampico, to humid, green, and small mountains of Veracruz. The weather is very, cold for this area. Normally, it´s in the 80´s, but yesterday it barely broke 60, which is still better than the 30 degree temps at the border.

I will start to post pics as I take them, and am able to upload quickly.

Saludos, Eduardo

Throttlemeister · 12-07-2009, 11:02 AM

Been looking forward to this. Hope to meet up with you down South and get some good information on Guatemala from an insider. Have a good trip.

Pedro Navaja · 12-07-2009, 11:36 AM

Eduardo,

Seems like you just got back. Congrats on making another ride. What a great tradition. Kudos to Pirate John for the truck storage. I really like that First Aid farkle. Where did you get it?

tricepilot · 12-07-2009, 04:07 PM

I'll be following along Ed

Monty Python · 12-07-2009, 04:12 PM

Hey Eduardo, excuse my ignorance, but is that a KLR650 you're doing your annual trip on?

PirateJohn · 12-07-2009, 09:57 PM

Some photos, as we parked Ed's truck at the RV park and got him on the road.

I happened to particularly like this for some reason. He carries tools here, and this is a sign of a gnarly south-of-the-border rider -

Eduardo · 12-09-2009, 10:27 AM

Hola Amigos, I am still in La Guadalupe, Veracruz, but will be moving on tomorrow morning, headed to Catemaco or Monte Pio in the San Martin Volcano Bio-preserve. I am sort of dragging my heels and exploring since I do not have to be in Palenque to meet an amiga, till the 16th.

I tried to download photos to share today, but something wasn't working and I couldn't get them to take. I'll have to catch up when I get to a non-dual up service.

The weather has finally returned to the normal warm, sunny and humid, which is a nice departure from the cold I experienced all the way south through Tampico.

To answer a few ?'s: My bike is a '02 DR650, and my tool farkle is a double walled stove pipe, with two wood end caps, that I made last year. I like it okay, since it keeps the weight low. It wouldn't however, be great for anyone doing rough dirt, or hopping rocks and logs...which I do as little of as possible.

I've got photos coming, when I can find the bandwidth to load and send them.

Saludos, Eduardo

mundobravo · 12-09-2009, 12:02 PM

Ride on Eduardo, I'll follow ..

Eduardo · 12-09-2009, 12:06 PM

I found a quicker download and here´s a few photos.

Coastal Road south of Poza Rica

Typical village along coast route

Beach at La Guadalupe

I met this man, Felix Santos...something. As I sat eating pollo asada from wood fired charcoal, I saw him slowly limping along on the opposite side of the road asking at businesses for food or money, and he wasn't having any success. When he got to the end of town he crossed the highway and I intercepted him in front of the restuarant. He was crippled, blind from cataracts in one eye, and no teeth. I introduced myself, and he produced an envelope with a paper from the government identifying him. Believe it or not he is only 72. I gave him money for food and told him to come to my hotel tomorrow for some more. He thanked me, and told me God would bless me, and when asked, proudly posed for a photo. Vida es vida.

I'll post more as I can find connections. Saludos, Eduardo

DUC54 · 12-09-2009, 05:28 PM

VERY NICE PICS!!!!!

12-05-2009, 06:38 PM	#1
Eduardo ^OP Eduardo Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Minnesota Oddometer: 671	Escape the Tundra: 10th Winter in Mexico/Guatemala Hola Amigos, After 3 days of driving my truck, hauling my DR650, 1500 miles from Minnesota to Mission, Texas, I have crossed and am one day into Mexico. It's been hard to escape the tundra so far. The bitter cold at home followed me south, had snow south of San Antonio, and I left Reynosa this morning with below freezing temps. I wore sweatpants, jeans, 3 shirts, rain and summer riding gear, all day. My warm weather gloves, weren't cutting it today either, my hands were like ice after 2 hours on the road. The only plan I have to keep driving south till it warms up. This is the coldest start I've had in 10 years. Many thanks to Pirate John for truck storage arrangements, and the personal tour of the border crossing and Reynosa. Somewhere in Kansas Mountains around C.D. Victoria Saludos, Eduardo __________________ Four Wheels move the body, but two wheels move the soul Escape the Tundra: Tenth winter in Mexico and Guatemala 2009/2010 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531184 Minnesota to Guatemala 2008/2009 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=423949

12-05-2009, 06:42 PM	#2
Klay plainsman Joined: Nov 2005 Location: out in the great wide open Oddometer: 89,030	Happy travels, Ed. __________________ _______

12-05-2009, 08:17 PM	#3
GB Mod Squad Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Oddometer: 53,451	__________________ ADV decals, patches & flag? Here

12-06-2009, 05:52 AM	#4
eddie98 Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: WOODSTOCK, GA Oddometer: 618	will be following you along. __________________ 09 DL 650,08 WR250R 09 KLX250S(gone), 03 R6 (gone) 04 WR 450(gone), 01 EX 250(gone), 06 DL 650(gone) , 89 KLR 650(gone)

12-06-2009, 06:01 AM	#5
Thorne Sherpa-ing around Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Lone Pine, ON, Canada Oddometer: 1,196	............ __________________ I'd rather die living than live dying.

12-07-2009, 10:41 AM	#6
Eduardo ^OP Eduardo Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Minnesota Oddometer: 671	Hola Amigos, I´m along the Costa Esmerelda at La Guadelupe for a few days. I´ve already got 2000 miles under my belt coming from Minnesota, and usually layover at the beach and relax and try and get some sun exposure, slowly. Getting through Tampico was okay, but it was a slightly changed route from last year, with more construction, and new turns. Once through, the road turns ugly for at least 50 miles. Lots of potholes, uneven asphalt, horses, goats, burros, and sheep along the ditch at times, and a bunch of route twists and turns. This day is probably one of the worst of my whole trip for road conditions and routing to Guatemala, and I´m always glad to have it out of the way. Even though the road isn´t great, the scenery gets progressively better and better. I went from the dry, scrub brush, semi desert, north of Tampico, to humid, green, and small mountains of Veracruz. The weather is very, cold for this area. Normally, it´s in the 80´s, but yesterday it barely broke 60, which is still better than the 30 degree temps at the border. I will start to post pics as I take them, and am able to upload quickly. Saludos, Eduardo __________________ Four Wheels move the body, but two wheels move the soul Escape the Tundra: Tenth winter in Mexico and Guatemala 2009/2010 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531184 Minnesota to Guatemala 2008/2009 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=423949

12-07-2009, 11:02 AM	#7
Throttlemeister Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Okie near Muskogee Oddometer: 3,203	Been looking forward to this. Hope to meet up with you down South and get some good information on Guatemala from an insider. Have a good trip. __________________ www.throttlemeister.net

12-07-2009, 11:36 AM	#8
Pedro Navaja You can call me "Mike" Joined: Aug 2008 Location: Houston Oddometer: 2,079	Eduardo, Seems like you just got back. Congrats on making another ride. What a great tradition. Kudos to Pirate John for the truck storage. I really like that First Aid farkle. Where did you get it? __________________

12-07-2009, 04:07 PM	#9
tricepilot El Gran Payaso Joined: Apr 2006 Location: San Antonio Oddometer: 5,909	I'll be following along Ed __________________ Oaxaca The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Into the Blue at Quintana Roo Vaquero On Mexican Time Copper Canyon and Batopilas

12-07-2009, 04:12 PM	#10
Monty Python Dead Parrot Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Nirvana Oddometer: 79	Hey Eduardo, excuse my ignorance, but is that a KLR650 you're doing your annual trip on? __________________ "Always look on the bright side of life!"

12-07-2009, 09:57 PM	#11
PirateJohn Radical centrist Joined: Jul 2001 Location: full-time RV'er, north of Laredo, TX today Oddometer: 21,234	Some photos, as we parked Ed's truck at the RV park and got him on the road. I happened to particularly like this for some reason. He carries tools here, and this is a sign of a gnarly south-of-the-border rider - __________________ PirateJohn -- http://www.PirateJohn.com IBA #7552 - SS1K in 2000 and 50CC in 2002 In the Laredo, TX area and always willing to help travelers escaping into Mexico.

12-09-2009, 10:27 AM	#12
Eduardo ^OP Eduardo Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Minnesota Oddometer: 671	Hola Amigos, I am still in La Guadalupe, Veracruz, but will be moving on tomorrow morning, headed to Catemaco or Monte Pio in the San Martin Volcano Bio-preserve. I am sort of dragging my heels and exploring since I do not have to be in Palenque to meet an amiga, till the 16th. I tried to download photos to share today, but something wasn't working and I couldn't get them to take. I'll have to catch up when I get to a non-dual up service. The weather has finally returned to the normal warm, sunny and humid, which is a nice departure from the cold I experienced all the way south through Tampico. To answer a few ?'s: My bike is a '02 DR650, and my tool farkle is a double walled stove pipe, with two wood end caps, that I made last year. I like it okay, since it keeps the weight low. It wouldn't however, be great for anyone doing rough dirt, or hopping rocks and logs...which I do as little of as possible. I've got photos coming, when I can find the bandwidth to load and send them. Saludos, Eduardo __________________ Four Wheels move the body, but two wheels move the soul Escape the Tundra: Tenth winter in Mexico and Guatemala 2009/2010 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531184 Minnesota to Guatemala 2008/2009 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=423949

12-09-2009, 12:02 PM	#13
mundobravo Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2004 Location: new mexico Oddometer: 3,040	Ride on Eduardo, I'll follow .. __________________ Driven Down - Yaviza - Darien Gap https://vimeo.com/42443080 DRIVEN , solo moto to the Arctic Circle http://www.vimeo.com/7780879

12-09-2009, 12:06 PM	#14
Eduardo ^OP Eduardo Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Minnesota Oddometer: 671	I found a quicker download and here´s a few photos. Coastal Road south of Poza Rica Typical village along coast route Beach at La Guadalupe I met this man, Felix Santos...something. As I sat eating pollo asada from wood fired charcoal, I saw him slowly limping along on the opposite side of the road asking at businesses for food or money, and he wasn't having any success. When he got to the end of town he crossed the highway and I intercepted him in front of the restuarant. He was crippled, blind from cataracts in one eye, and no teeth. I introduced myself, and he produced an envelope with a paper from the government identifying him. Believe it or not he is only 72. I gave him money for food and told him to come to my hotel tomorrow for some more. He thanked me, and told me God would bless me, and when asked, proudly posed for a photo. Vida es vida. I'll post more as I can find connections. Saludos, Eduardo __________________ Four Wheels move the body, but two wheels move the soul Escape the Tundra: Tenth winter in Mexico and Guatemala 2009/2010 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531184 Minnesota to Guatemala 2008/2009 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=423949

12-09-2009, 05:28 PM	#15
DUC54 Giddy Up!!! Joined: Nov 2009 Location: Omak Washington Oddometer: 95	VERY NICE PICS!!!!! __________________ I'M NOT A DOCTOR...BUT I WILL HAVE A LOOK AT IT!!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode