Is Mexico Safe?

[Craneguy]

Originally Posted by airdale74451

When I die (probably on one of MikeMike's easy rides ) I want to be reincarnated as her bicycle saddle.

Then again, knowing my luck she'll probably sell it to La Gorda!

[SR]

Way to get out and ride JIMMEX Craneguy, Mike, and Arte! This time of year is the best for riding.

Here are a few from this weekend. We did about 310 Km of off road from El Salto, Durango to Acaponeta, Nayarit into some extremely rugged, isolated and beautiful areas (Google Earth Lajas Durango). It took 13 hours with one flat tire to get across. Then we rode up the coast about 70 km on the highway to Rosario, Sinaloa and then went back across the Sierra off road to El Salto (150 km off road). I'd be lying if I said my arms aren't a little sore this morning. It was a great adventure!


The crew, myself, Hector and Miguel.


Pueblo Nuevo, Durango


From here it's about 200 km across these hills to get to the coast.


These guys are always up there. I think they are ferral. They seem to be happy, plenty of tall grass.






Fixing a flat in the shade with a little helper watching.














San Andres, Nayarit


Day 2 on the way back up, by Calaveras Durango.


Dinner in the Sierra. She is getting the pan nice and hot to fry up the pork lard and the beans. Good old fashion Mexican country cooking!



To stay on subject, it was safe, just very isolated. There were stretches where we didn't see another vehicle for 3 of 4 hours. But we went in prepared. You can see the size of the backpacks. We were carrying a lot of gear. The KTMs have small gas tanks so Miguel and Hector had to carry gas too.

[Turkeycreek]

Fantastic photos of a beautiful area. Well done on all counts.

[SR]

Originally Posted by Turkeycreek

Fantastic photos of a beautiful area. Well done on all counts.

Thanks, I'm glad you like. I just added couple more photos.

Saludos
SR

[airdale7]

Originally Posted by BobLoblaw

aw man that's ........ just bad really bad. Fortunately I'm dreaming of next years La Esperanza IRON BUTT rally

How about a wrestling match between this gal and Sierra Gorda. Can you picture that? maybe with one eye covered...

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Originally Posted by airdale74451

What is the name of the mountain range in the area of Ciudad Victoria and Soto la Marina and south toward Tampico?

differing opinion here.
Consulting my notes and my trusty 1987 PEMEX ROAD ATLAS there are a number of mountain ranges you might be referring to. It all depend on what direction you mean when you say "in the area of Cd Victoria ...."
Cd Victoria of course sit s at the front of the Sierra Madre and component mountai rages have their own names ( Gorda may well be one of the range names ,just means BIG mts. ,, but I thought that Sra Gorda was really a range farther south and west, more in Queretaro) .
I do know that farther north of Cd Victoria it becomes Sierra El Tesoro range and Cumbres de Monterrey,to south are different ranges.
But straight north of Cd Victoria and east on the plain is the smaller Sierra Chiquita ( east of Linares , neat roads to San Carlos,El Gavillan,Burgos)
From Victoria directly east you will find Mex 70 and alternate highway to Soto La Marina passing through the north hills of the Sierra de Tamaulipas which stretches far south and covers most of the area bracketed by Mex 70 Mex 180 Mex 81 and Mex 85

[acejones]

Actually I would agree with SB on this. I believe the Sierra Gorda is in the vicinity of Jalpan and Tequisquiapan. I guess it depends on whether you are in a micro or macro mood.

[airdale7]

Originally Posted by Sjoerd Bakker

differing opinion here.
From Victoria directly east you will find Mex 70 and alternate highway to Soto La Marina passing through the north hills of the Sierra de Tamaulipas which stretches far south and covers most of the area bracketed by Mex 70 Mex 180 Mex 81 and Mex 85

This is the range, Siera de Tamaulipas...........thanks Sjoerd.

[BobLoblaw]

Originally Posted by acejones

Actually I would agree with SB on this. I believe the Sierra Gorda is in the vicinity of Jalpan and Tequisquiapan. I guess it depends on whether you are in a micro or macro mood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Gorda not that wp is necessarily a complete authourity on everything

[BobLoblaw]

Originally Posted by Turkeycreek

Fantastic photos of a beautiful area. Well done on all counts.

+1 is that area big bike friendly

[booger1]

Awsome photos SR, looking forward to seeing some of that country.

[Turkeycreek]

Originally Posted by Craneguy

When I die (probably on one of MikeMike's easy rides ) I want to be reincarnated as her bicycle saddle.

Then again, knowing my luck she'll probably sell it to La Gorda!

Craneguy - Your worst nightmare

[Craneguy]

Originally Posted by Turkeycreek

Craneguy - Your worst nightmare

Only if my brakes fail!

[SR]

Originally Posted by BobLoblaw

+1 is that area big bike friendly

It's hard to compete with photo shopped naked asses!

But to answer your question, it's not big bike friendly. The road was very washed out with lots and lots of deep ruts and rock gardens. There were several stretches that hadn't been improved in years. Together, we had to lift the bikes over one zone where a landslide had brought down a bunch of rocks and trees across the road. A 4x4 vehicle couldn't have gone through several places. Now that the rainy season is coming to an end someone will likely come in with a dozer and clean up the landslides. On the second day coming up from Sinaloa there was about 4 km where the road was very steep and the big moss covered rocks were as slick as ice. That would have been the worst part on a big bike. I wont say it cant be done. Given enough time, full knobbies, and no luggage, I might have been able to do it on the old KLR, but it wouldn't have been much fun. The 80 km we did up the autopista from acaponeta to Rosario would have been nice on a big bike.

[SR]

Originally Posted by booger1

Awsome photos SR, looking forward to seeing some of that country.

Thanks, Boog. There are lots and lots of areas to explore in the Sierra so you better get started.