Quote: Originally Posted by McFoil Isn't somebody going to bitch that SMA to Laredo is 560 miles? That's just what I did SR. The real bitch was the wind. I've got a seriously stiff neck from my head being wrenched periodically to the side for the second day in a row.
You guys need to slow down and enjoy Mexico. Maybe take a day or two in Matehuala and do some sight seeing.
Could this be the beginning of a new era for Mexico? According to NPR this morning her arrest was the low-hanging fruit. Other corrupt officials will be harder to remove. I thought the new era was arriving with Fox but I was wrong. Mexican teachers union chief appears behind bars after arrest
"The council was meeting to discuss a tougher opposition to proposed education reforms aiming to break the union's stifling hold on public schooling in Mexico." Well, Mexico is farther ahead than Canada. At least they are having these discussions. Unions here have the same "stifling hold" but no discussions are forthcoming.
Well, you could ask this motorcyclist's opinion: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2004374/British-motorcyclist-freed-Mexican-drug-lord-kidnappers-reveals-thought-executed-jungle.html
http://insidebikes.carolenash.com/bike-news/bandits-attack-nick-sanders-expedition.htm http://www.nicksanders.com/2011/images_blog/9/MCN%20Bandit%20story%20pdf%20cropped.jpeg Not a rider. Truck with two bikes. Bad scene but quite a different risk profile. And I'm having a little trouble with the narco angle. Sounds like bandits scoped them out to me. Random doesn't seem likely. But still.... a very bad scene, nonetheless.
Northern Mexico / Nogales entrance: Sonora is on a big push to open up more areas to be explored. Future Alternative new coastal route to San Carlos (Guaymas). Some is done, some is not. Right now the new road is just opened to Puerto Libertad & there is still just the old inland paved road south from Puerto Libertad to Kino Bay. If the road does indeed happen south of Libertad to Kino along the coast, that will be an awesome stretch as it's mountainous too! Easy entrance (Lukeville/points west vrs Nogales) Avoids Hermosillo all together More interesting ride along the coast (15D is way boring) You can overnight in Puerto Penasco, Puerto Libertad & Kino too. http://www.lasdunas.com/costera_hwy.html http://www.castawaysrockypoint.com/coastal_highway.html http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=51567 http://www.grupoconstructor.com/gc_004.htm http://www.flickr.com/photos/18171509@N00/sets/72157603347464217/ <iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MCpkx4zKv_s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I hope the Mexican gvt sues her plastic surgeon for malpractice. Does she get to pose with the balaclava cops in front of a helicopter?
I suggest crossing at Naco or Douglas/Agua Prieta and avoiding MEX15 as much as possible. SON89 is is middling shape as far as the pavement goes but it is a great ride. MEX 17 south of AP is reprted in good shape to Moctezuma. Either route will get you The Copper Canyon, Alamos, San Carlos Bahia de Kino and points south. Son89 will bring you through Banamichi. Stop in for a cup of coffee and some bike talk at our little hotel.
I had to laugh when I saw this. There is (was?) a notorious tit club in Monterey called Matehuala. Two days there would drain your wallet and wreck your liver Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Now, after PJ's detour into the chi-chi bars (and it might not be a detour, but the point of the trip, actually) here's some learnin' and culturfication for you wanna be junior spanish speakers: http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/233217/arab-words-in-the-spanish-language#.US_T8zcgvOk There's some words in espanol that came from the arabic. Has something to do with the moors, reconquista and andalucia. I always wondered about some of the words on that list. Some of them even made it into English. Blame the Arabs for Algebra!
Yes! History is funny. Many folks today like to paint the Arabs as being ignert and militarily incapable, but the reality is that they got so pissed off with the Crusaders that they sent troops to Spain and conquered Spain. Likewise when the Conquistadors came to Mexico there were comments that the Mexican indigenous folks had built better cities than the Europeans were able to construct. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Jim is rtwpaul's friend from the Nick Sanders TDF-Deadhorse ride. Paul posted about it here. A few months ago Paul came through Austin and gave me a very full account of what happened. This criminal group owns a section of MX200 and has been preying on traffic for some years. Truly bad hombres known for killing US citizens. They chased Paul for some miles before giving up. Paul thought he was chased as a result of these men seeing Paul observe them and not due to being on a motorcycle. Jim's kidnapping is widely understood to be opportunistic, targeting the 4WD crew cab truck.
And for those intrepid Mexico riders who may be picking up a little Spanish Lingo down south, more than a few words being learned are not Spanish at all, but Nahuatl.
Jeez. I think I will do my best to find another route . But I do note that the UK press turned it into narco-landia and druglords. Instead of just a band of criminal thugs. Played better.
