Mexico daie de Indepencia

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Good day/morning

Brad and I are hanging out in the hotel lobby getting a late start to the day. We had a very long 700 plus km ride yesterday. That isn't anything to long, but with 6 toll booths, winding high mountains, rock avalanches, fuel stations and a intense ride through Mexico city we are a little tardy getting on the road this morning.

We really had a cross section of Mexico today. From the sprawling city of Mexico city that took us over an hour to get through doing 80 km/hr, to cactus laden mountains to jungle tropics. What a country!

Moral is good and we're travelling to the edge of the Mexico/Guatemala border to finalize our crossing plan.

We also rode through a Mexico Independence day celebration in the streets of Oaxaca. A real colourful event. I joined the patriotism and zap strapped a Mexico flag on the bike that flutters down the highway which the locals appreciate.

Brad is now typing. Today we will take it a little easy and head a little closer to the Guatemalan border so can have ample time the next day to cross. The borders of Central America are notorious for long crossing times. Laundry is a big deal now and we have to get our clothes washed up at our next stop. Everyone here is very well turned out so I figure the very least we can do is have clean clothes.

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Photos

Busy Truck Stops
Great place to get food

Down time
We actually took a little stroll around the city of Oaxaca last night.

Big Bridges
Some great bridges through the mountains 1 mile up

Great Food
Lots of colour down here, except us, most of our clothing is grey or black

Highway Stop
We tell the cooks to give us a little of everything and get some great food, usually.

Early start
Leaving Quaretazo

Dogs like us
We get chased by them regularly just like the paper boy on the bike. We do a dog count every day.

Old timer
This old donkey was on a side trail we took up into the mountains. We thought we'd better perserve him on the internet as he's probably not alive today

Comments

[Gloria]

tracking you
Hi Ray and boys. Doug shared this with me. I'm Elizabeth's sister from good ole "middle of nowhere" Saskatchewan. Hope you're having a great adventure with lots of good memories.Ride and keep safe. Gloria Marchildon

[Phil]

Thanks
Enjoying the blog. I'm in Colorado but lived in Mexico City years ago and know the state of Oaxaca well. The food gets better south of Mexico City. On your way back I can recommend the San Ignacio/Cayo District of Belize if you want English-speakers for a while.

[Barb]

great trip
Your trip sounds lovely boys. I hope on your way home you will consider taking Mx200 north up the pasific coast. I have driven it many times in a VW bug and always have thought to myself, "gosh I wish I had a motorcycle to do this trip." The road is a run of the mill 2 lane highway through mountainous coast...but has some of the most amazing scenery, wildlife and vegatation, frendly small villages, beaches, and small inepensive hotels(a few large snazzy resort destinations). Hope you can see some of it. Good trip, keep safe. BTW cipro 500 mg (bought over the counter anywhere down there) twice a day for 3 days with plenty of clear fluids--no not beer or booze--will cure you if you run into gastrointestinal trouble. (Yes I have a license to prescribe) Grandma

[Wes & Joan]

GO BOYS GO....
Hi Ray - we've just been checking out the blog - what a great way to join your adventure. Auction has been slow - great low prices - but nothing too great on the block so you haven't missed much yet (except I guess you'll miss the Tool Auction on the 25th. Continue with a great safe ride - we'll join the Reynolds' Stalkers and keep track.....

[Reynolds Road Trip]

Thanks for the info, I think we will hit that way on the way home. Thanks for the interest.

[Reynolds Road Trip]

We may head to Belize on the way up and cut across to the Pacific side to hit the nice beaches. Speaking English would be good for us right about now.

[anonymous]

hi wuts up