Thanks to all for the rapid response to my Laredo Bridge question. Hux, I found those bridge cams by googling too. Pretty cool. Mundo, after hanging here for 3 nights for the Suzuki dealer to open, and diagnose the problem, I found out today that the shop's diagnostic equipment wasn't working. Kinda par for the course on this trip, eh? Rode the bike over to another dealer who had a very experienced mechanic run through the possible causes. The upshot is that he thought the bike was fine to ride, and I could diagnose the signal at a later date. Onward to SMA tomorrow!
Trice: I consider that an enormous compliment. I have read/scanned all of the pages. It is dark cold and snowy here in the winter and I enjoy reading this stuff. dwj Donnie: You clearly walk the walk and have thousands of miles under your wheels, a lot of helmet time, and some amazing experiences that you have shared with us...you don't need to read this stuff... You live it with a lot of grace. Joe McK: with your 164 or whatever posts what is your point about my 80 posts...I post when I have learned something and have something to say. I am a professional writer and award winning filmmaker. I have ridden in Mexico, Chile, Argentina and on the shores of Lake Turkana in Kenya hundreds of miles from the nearest paved road or anything approximating civilization so kindly STFU. Pardon the digression... I have been royally pissed since the comment about the six year old with the loaded AK, especially since we have seen the photos of boys no much older in Darfur and other places similarly armed. I have learned that dumb asses make bad choices...make mistakes... And if they survive they learn from them...morons on the other hand never learn anything because they already know it all... Just sayin' ya' know.
I think that was Hank's assessment as well. IIRC, something about the sensor magnet at RPMs through the first 5 gears, and then the speeds associated with 6th enough to [fuzzy recollection here] to this or that with the magnet. Anyhoo, good seeing you and good luck with the health/fitness vector.
Yes, I'll have the filet please Looking forward to Saturday night with SR & family, Schizzman, WhiskeySmith et al. Riding the Rocket III downtown. I think I'll do a burnout in front of the Alamo
I've been romancing the same notion just not right on the border. The area immediately south of Monterrey intrigues me with its mountain roads and climate and reasonable proximity to the border towns of Laredo and McAllen. Would make for a 10 hr. ride from Dallas, however. I'd investigate Acuña and Piedras Negras for being directly on the border and not too far from San Antonio hospitals. Bato might be a good contact for this and I'd be interested in burning a weekend to go look around down there.
That's quite a resume you have there and I gotta say you've hooked my curiosity in a major way. Got any links I can go look at for vid or books you've worked on? Sounds like you've lived one heck of a life.
Monclova. Possibly Saltillo. Piedras Negras if you have to be on the border. Fast into Texas/and, depending upon your riding style/when you rise & leave, all three would fit the bill. Would open up a world of possibilities and connections vis a vis a one day ride in the other direction as well. Think about the possibilities.
I've only read the last 4 pages so I will not make any comment or observation other than to say I'm glad this thread was started and I plan to read most if not all pages in the future as I plan to ride to Mexico this winter so I hope to get some education on said trip south of the border that is all thank you.
This is very important stuff. I spoke with Antonio. He said, "Oh, yeah, that guero from San Angelo" and I told him no, that was Jimmex. Then he said, "Ahh, that guero who doesn't belive in Harleys", and I told him no, no, that was Donnie. He thought for a moment and said, "Ok, I've got it, that guero with the beard that likes Harleys", and I said no, that was the Mystery Rider. Then he got real tense, began to shake, an angry sort of trembling, and he began to slowly scowl and begin a tirade of curses and oaths in Spanish and English the likes of which my virgin ears have never heard before! He said, "That no good, dirty, dog of the street, hijo de quien sabes quien, etc...etc...etc and at that moment, I spoke up and stopped him and asked him when he had met Trice. Heh, heh, heh couldn't resist that one!
First, THANKS BOYZ for the support post that rant on apparently not reading the whole ADV forum before my ignorant arse posted ......that post hurted my feeelings. Donnie, this is what my folks did...kind of. They bought their pad well before retirement and used it as a vacation retreat 2x's a year. Now that they are retired, they spend about 1/3rd of the year down there...some years more/some less. They are there right now as a matter of fact. Certain things are cool, like getting meds/dr visits cheap and easy, but other things are not. My parents just plain dig it and have a place with a few other US folks in a little enclave (my aunt has a place 3 doors down), so it makes going out in a group do-able and safer. One of their friends down there had to eventually move back with his son as he got up in age due the need to get specialized medical support, etc, which is what you nailed in your post. They have a cocktail or three every pm and watch the sunset on the ocean...nice deal. And they really got it on the cheap, so it is possible. My folks still have a place stateside FWIW. The price points of what you can get and do with your hard earned money is pretty nice for sure. All that said and in the spirit of this thread, their immersion in Mex helped them learn the ways of safe and steady travel/lifestyle, which to me is a key.
I am thinking something really cheap for the time being! The barest necessities for house furnishings and a rent house. I would not consider purchasing a house or furnishing a house like I have in the states for at least a few years. I will keep the initial expenditure at a level that I can easily walk away from if I desire. In other words, I see it as another step in my new life, not a life long commitment.
Yeah, I know! Ideally I would like to live in the mountains at about 4,500 to 5,500 feet of elevation. Avoid the excessive heat without having too much cold, plus have those nice mountain roads.
Check out Galeana and Rayones with me. And the region around Cola de Caballo. I'd rather live a few hours from the border and have better climate. Also looking to rent and move from region to region over time.