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Try a “micalado”. Wierdest drink I’ve ever had.
A real taste experience, beer, lime juice, ice…okay so far….chilli sauce, something else, a sugar and cinamon stick that’s gooey, the glass rim covered in a salt and spices concoction, then a sprinkle of something else. Its a taste challenge . Chew on the sweeter sticky stuff as you drink and its okay, otherwise the salted spiced glass rim flavour can be overwhelming.

It appears that sometimes although there’s an internet connection, I can’t upload compressed video, and at other times I can. So here’s another clip.

You’ll notice that most of the footage isn’t of actual riding. That’s because I use another camera for that and it’s a little more fiddly to upload from, so I need longer than a night stop, plus all the www dot bells and whistles. But there’s lots of it…honest.

Leaving Patzcuarta and my new Texan “buddies” today as they head north and I set off for Oxacca
pronounced-wahacker. It’s the home of chocolate.
I’m also thinking of a weeks Spanish immersion class, as although I took some classes, I am woefully lacking in conversational skills and it does hamper the three teas idea…although, tea as a civilised medium of commonality hasn’t let me down yet.

So far on this journey, Patzcuarta is the only place I’d revisit and I should, because it has a depth of culture, history and civilisation, that as a passing rider, I’ve barely touched. It warrants more, as does Mexico as a whole, it’s multi cultural history makes it a fascinating place. The people are amicable, sociable and although it’s alien compared to North American lifestyles, it’s not too dissimilar to Mediterranean Europe.
Acceptance of the differences, rather than complaining that the taps are he wrong way round, or the roads are bumpy or whatever else you sensitivities are affronted by, and you’ll love the place.
Soak it up, jump in the deep end.

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Missed the ride with the Mexicans from Chiapa, my apologys if you waited for me.
My watch has stopped and this phone was 1 hour out of sync. So I set off alone.

On my second lap of Puerto Vallarta, the 200 being a hard road to follow through the cobbled old town, I picked up a group of BMW riders heading south, so followed them.
I was first introducex to them when the police pulled two of the five and me. No charges, just looking at the bikes.. They were from San Antonio Texas.
Hank knows the area and speaks spanish, so I may stick with them for a day or so, then hook up with a couple I met, headxing for Panama.theif agenda seems far more in keeping with my own ideas, Ride for a while then stop with plenty of time to go local.
Tom?
Didn’t hear from him, so don’t know what’s happened.

I managed to arrive at Puerto Vallarta and the BMW Convention two days late, but still in time for the breakfast buffet, which was nice.

Tried to up load some of the videos I have taken, but a message keeps telling me their server is down.

Anyway, here’s a potted history since I last posted.
Entered Mexico after being turned away from what used to be a road but is now a large fence, to keep the Americans in I think.
No trouble at the border or at any other check points…no bribes, no theft, no intimidation, just smoothly through.
Baja is dry and we’d chosen the drier side to avoid any hurricanes. It was constantly windy, hot and did I mention dry, if not then I should have, because it was, dry, very very very dry.
The road we selected was the 5 and was well paved in the main, until a point after Saint Felipe (Chapalita I think) then no road. Dirt track, which gave way to dirt and no track, which in turn became rocks, lava, and sand…and it was dry.
We were down to less than 12 miles per hour and there was 120 miles, so even with my rudimentary maths, that’s 10 hours, non-stop and we’d need to stop for gas, if the man and his truck happened to be their. If he wasn’t, we were stuffed, 60 miles from gas in either direction.
Seemed worth a go though.
We were setting off later than hoped for which didn’t help and our 12 mph soon became less as we were drained by the heat and dry air.
Some vehicles did go passed, mega sprung desert racing machines and heavy duty 4x4s. No bikes. No bikes loaded with 6 months worth of underwear and socks and toothpaste and a spare loo roll.

Still on and on we went. The road had been created by some sort of vehicle with heavy tracks, this resulted in a constant rata tat tat vibration and teeth chattering annoyance. Standing up was the only way to make any progress, unless you are Tom, who only stands up when it’s smooth tarmac!!!!

We found the place where the truck was parked but were told no gas. I expressed surprise and for 10 pesos per litre we were filled up, you just have to ask, then ask again, and sometimes again, not give up…it was to become a theme.
Back in the desert and the sand started to take its toll me front wheel in a sand filled dip that looked flat, Tom on the ground when he lost the front.
It was getting into late afternoon and the day prior had shown how quickly the light goes, so at 5:30 I’m thinking camp. Tom is thinking ride on. At 6pm I’m convinced camping, Tom says 20 miles is well within our range, though at 10 mph that’s a 2 hour range and frankly I can’t see sand or rocks ruts or road infront, still Tom is adamant. At 6:30 I cant see the front of the bike. I’m stopping.
Tom wants to go on..cant figure out why or how until I find out that !. he’s posted his camping things back home to cut down weight and 2. he’s frightened of snakes and scorpions and is worried he’d be left to sleep outside.

If I’d known how badly he snored, he’d have been snake and scorpion bait, rather than sharing my tent.

Next day, we ride the remaining 17 off road miles. We’d have been killed if we’d attempted it in the dark. Plus, it only got us to tarmac, not to a place, not to anywhere less snake and scorpiony.

That day we rode on to Bill’s place. One of Tom’s couch surfed places. “Interesting character”.
Bill lives alone except for his cats. I don’t like cats. I wasn’t too keen on Bill either. If you took out the curse words he’d have been a trappist monk undergoing a vow of silence. But first impressions can be misleading. His was pain induced an arthritic spine appearing to be his nemesis.
That doesn’t explain the politics and other things, but he deserves some leeway.

Another long days riding starting and ending in dark. I’m sure we were passing some great places.

L

Tomorrow, Sunday, Tom heads for guadalajara and a bike repair…hope they are open!
I head for Chiapa, Acapulco and somewhere else, with a few riders who want to sightsee. Finally photo ops that aren’t cafe stops.
Google videos server willing I have some compressed video waiting to be uploaded, so drop in again, it’s a new stage in the tour.

Okay Im in a brothel style place, giant red bed and massive shower, plus viagra, gels and potions on the menu along with burgers and fries.
Tom got the bed and I got the couch.

Ferry didn’t depart until 1am so we’d spent 12 hours at the terminal all told. Only a delicious taco van brought any relief with fresh marlin tacos and giant lemonades, plus a three tea and bikes chat with the owner.
Also the ferry destination changed and added 600 miles to the trip to Guadallajara, meaning I’ve missed two days at the BMW Rally and have lost hotel and rally monies.
And that extra distance is how we end up in love hotel. Its very nicely equipped though.j

Lots of things to post about baja and the desert and other stuff, including me going all night vision. Ready probably tomorrow although we may need to rush to guadalajara having lost a day in san diego a day in the desert and a day with the baja customs and a piece of paper that caused us to miss yesterday’s ferry.