Paddy goes to Central America

Blind Warrior · 12-22-2011, 06:42 AM

Being the adventures of an Irish emigrant during his trip through Central America during December 2011 and January 2012.

We started yesterday, bright and early , from San Clemente in Southern California. Making good time on the freeway we headed for the Arizona/Mexico crossing at San Luis Rio Colorado. En route we stopped at El Centro for breakfast, and to get online at a Starbucks (I ride a GS) to buy some insurance. My brother in law went to the local Rite Aid to pick up a couple of pens, and in the parking lot, at zero miles per hour, dropped his VStrom breaking the front break handle at the pivot. We urgently use our mobiles to track down a replacement part, but are dismayed to discover that the nearest is in Escondido CA. So back we track to pick up the part and then return to my home from where we will restart in the morning.

We also picked up spare levers at the Temecula Suzuki dealer and fitted a pair of brush guards I had lying around in the garage. Luckily there was some beer in my fridge, the drinking of which I previously disgracefully neglected.

Was this an inauspicious start, or have we timely lanced a pimple of bad luck that if left to fester could have become a boil on the arse of out trip? Only the road knows, and she only tells her story as you ride her.

Jacl-Kampuchea · 12-22-2011, 09:34 AM

Good luck from a fellow Irish emigrant on the other side of this rock.

petefromberkeley · 12-22-2011, 09:37 AM

Coulda gone worse for a blind rider. You might cut some of the way through the levers with a hacksaw to create a weak spot where it will break next time (so that it will still be useable after it is broken). Good luck in the morning.

Blind Warrior · 12-25-2011, 08:33 PM

Start 2.0 went well. The crossing at San Luis Rio Colorado was breeze. But speaking of breezes, the wind on the way was fierce, with gale force winds causing us to drive with quite a list. When the wind blew from behind the feeling of almost no wind at 80mph was very strange. At one point I thought I had mechanical issues because of the strangeness of the. Engine noise being reflected off the windshield.

Your seanachai is on the left. Note the new bark butters on the Suzuki

We made it to Puerto Penasco after dark, following a car in after dusk. Stayed in a deserted hotel, which was sadly quite run

Blind Warrior · 12-26-2011, 07:39 AM

We left Puerto Penasco for Hermosillo early the next morning and made good time. From Hermosillo we headed for Creel along route 16, probably the windiest road I have every ridden.

About 10 miles outside Yecora I came around a slow blind right hand turn, which was followed by a small left hand. As I twisted the throttle coming out of the left hander I instantly found myself on the ground sliding along behind the bike on a sheet of black ice. The bike slid until the front wheel found traction, then flipped from it's left onto it's right, crushing the right side Vario.

Kevin, who was following, came around to find me arse tobogganing down the pavement, hit the same ice and dumped in a similar fashion. His bike suffered a little more damage: a right front indicator, a broken windshield, and a broken shift lever. Luckily all he suffered was a couple of bruises.

We limped into Yecora and with my broken Spanish managed to find a welder who welded a short piece of brake handle onto the shifter. We then continued on to Creel, arriving after dark. This after dark thing is getting too commonplace!

We need to find an indicator and a windshield for a Suzuki SV650. Does anyonei know where the best place to find one is? We are leaving Parral for Durango today, then for Mazatlan tomorrow and following route 200 down the coast. It is too damn cold in the mountains!

Word, YFF!

wheatwhacker · 12-26-2011, 08:45 AM

Hey, another fellow paddy, already in Panama.
We hit some cold weather as well in the mountains. The Durango to the coast road road will be hell this time of the year, we froze our arses off doing it 3 weeks ago.
We are headed up the Pan Am in a week or less., My spot tracker link is somewhere in my previous threads. Head for Granada Nicaragua, there's a good Irish pub there and cheap accommodation. We will be there around Jan 5th-10th

Blind Warrior · 12-27-2011, 09:16 AM

From Creel we head to Parral with our jaws hung low. This is easily the most spectacular ride I have ever taken. No photo could do justice to the canyons and bluffs along this route.

In Parral we stay at the Howard Johnson's. Don't go there, ever. For Christmas dinner we have Chinese food, open restaurants being scarce on Christmas Day.

Then back on the road to Durango. This is a fast ride along straight two lane blacktop and we make very good time. We stay at the Posado San Jorge and are not disappointed. Aside from it being a grat hotel, the desk clerk says he can fix us up with a custom windshield and a jury rigged indicator. This is good, because from countless phone calls by us and friends we have learned that the parts are not to be found in Mexico.

Word, YFF!

vintagespeed · 12-27-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blind Warrior

...and she only tells her story as you ride her.

then ride her we shall! IN!

Blind Warrior · 12-28-2011, 06:42 PM

Today we left Durango and headed west toward Mazatlan. We took the quota to El Salto, then rode the Espinaso down to the main highway. Took the main highway towards Tepic and passed a lot of military in convoy on the road. Lots of waves from the squaddies in the trucks. We turned off for San Blas where I currently sit in the Social Club attempting to diminish their stock. May have to get some food later, but as a Scouse friend of mine says, "I don't much like food, it makes my shite lumpy"!

Word, YFF!

BMW Kurt · 12-28-2011, 06:46 PM

Subscribed!

I am making a trip to Central America beginning in March. Keep us posted on border crossings and good places to stay along the route!

BC Brian · 12-28-2011, 07:08 PM

Subscribed!

I am crossing from La Paz to Mazatlan, or Topobloambo in a few days, or next week, or something.

Maybe I'll see you on the mainland, or in Central America, or somewhere :)

1Man2Wheels · 12-28-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blind Warrior

Today we left Durango and headed west toward Mazatlan. We took the quota to El Salto, then rode the Espinaso down to the main highway. Took the main highway towards Tepic and passed a lot of military in convoy on the road. Lots of waves from the squaddies in the trucks. We turned off for San Blas where I currently sit in the Social Club attempting to diminish their stock. May have to get some food later, but as a Scouse friend of mine says, "I don't much like food, it makes my shite lumpy"!

Word, YFF!

From one Paddy to another, Enjoy the San Blas Social Club! Great place, I whiled away a few evenings there last month

Blind Warrior · 12-30-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Man2Wheels

From one Paddy to another, Enjoy the San Blas Social Club! Great place, I whiled away a few evenings there last month

Yes, we did discover that they served beer, and we took advantage of that!

Blind Warrior · 01-22-2012, 10:56 AM

A few pics, now that I am home.

Your story teller on the left.

The nice looking but completely empty hotel we stayed at in Puerto Penasco. Also, probably the worst shower of the whole trip!

Sonoran refined products retail operation.

On the road out of Hermosillo into Copper Canyon and with intact Vario cases.

The ice for which I should have been prepared.

Getting the Suzuki shift lever repaired.

The shift lever with the welded on brake lever tip.

My modded Vario cases.

motoged · 01-22-2012, 12:48 PM

Were you kidnapped by aliens for two weeks....holed up in a Mexican brothel, or do we get to see and read more of your RR now that you are home?

12-22-2011, 06:42 AM	#1
Blind Warrior ^OP Lost in the Ozone Joined: Oct 2009 Location: San Clemente, CA Oddometer: 178	Paddy goes to Central America Being the adventures of an Irish emigrant during his trip through Central America during December 2011 and January 2012. We started yesterday, bright and early , from San Clemente in Southern California. Making good time on the freeway we headed for the Arizona/Mexico crossing at San Luis Rio Colorado. En route we stopped at El Centro for breakfast, and to get online at a Starbucks (I ride a GS) to buy some insurance. My brother in law went to the local Rite Aid to pick up a couple of pens, and in the parking lot, at zero miles per hour, dropped his VStrom breaking the front break handle at the pivot. We urgently use our mobiles to track down a replacement part, but are dismayed to discover that the nearest is in Escondido CA. So back we track to pick up the part and then return to my home from where we will restart in the morning. We also picked up spare levers at the Temecula Suzuki dealer and fitted a pair of brush guards I had lying around in the garage. Luckily there was some beer in my fridge, the drinking of which I previously disgracefully neglected. Was this an inauspicious start, or have we timely lanced a pimple of bad luck that if left to fester could have become a boil on the arse of out trip? Only the road knows, and she only tells her story as you ride her. __________________ 2009 R1200GS 2007 DRZ400 1996 XL1200

12-22-2011, 09:34 AM	#2
Jacl-Kampuchea Booze Merchant Joined: Sep 2010 Location: I see Drunk People. Oddometer: 545	Good luck from a fellow Irish emigrant on the other side of this rock. __________________ CambodiaYeah!

12-22-2011, 09:37 AM	#3
petefromberkeley - Joined: May 2004 Location: Berkeley, CA Oddometer: 3,261	Coulda gone worse for a blind rider. You might cut some of the way through the levers with a hacksaw to create a weak spot where it will break next time (so that it will still be useable after it is broken). Good luck in the morning. __________________ Nine mile skid on a ten mile ride. Hot as a pistol but cool inside.

12-25-2011, 08:33 PM	#4
Blind Warrior ^OP Lost in the Ozone Joined: Oct 2009 Location: San Clemente, CA Oddometer: 178	Start 2.0 Start 2.0 went well. The crossing at San Luis Rio Colorado was breeze. But speaking of breezes, the wind on the way was fierce, with gale force winds causing us to drive with quite a list. When the wind blew from behind the feeling of almost no wind at 80mph was very strange. At one point I thought I had mechanical issues because of the strangeness of the. Engine noise being reflected off the windshield. Your seanachai is on the left. Note the new bark butters on the Suzuki We made it to Puerto Penasco after dark, following a car in after dusk. Stayed in a deserted hotel, which was sadly quite run __________________ 2009 R1200GS 2007 DRZ400 1996 XL1200

12-26-2011, 07:39 AM	#5
Blind Warrior ^OP Lost in the Ozone Joined: Oct 2009 Location: San Clemente, CA Oddometer: 178	We left Puerto Penasco for Hermosillo early the next morning and made good time. From Hermosillo we headed for Creel along route 16, probably the windiest road I have every ridden. About 10 miles outside Yecora I came around a slow blind right hand turn, which was followed by a small left hand. As I twisted the throttle coming out of the left hander I instantly found myself on the ground sliding along behind the bike on a sheet of black ice. The bike slid until the front wheel found traction, then flipped from it's left onto it's right, crushing the right side Vario. Kevin, who was following, came around to find me arse tobogganing down the pavement, hit the same ice and dumped in a similar fashion. His bike suffered a little more damage: a right front indicator, a broken windshield, and a broken shift lever. Luckily all he suffered was a couple of bruises. We limped into Yecora and with my broken Spanish managed to find a welder who welded a short piece of brake handle onto the shifter. We then continued on to Creel, arriving after dark. This after dark thing is getting too commonplace! We need to find an indicator and a windshield for a Suzuki SV650. Does anyonei know where the best place to find one is? We are leaving Parral for Durango today, then for Mazatlan tomorrow and following route 200 down the coast. It is too damn cold in the mountains! Word, YFF! __________________ 2009 R1200GS 2007 DRZ400 1996 XL1200

12-26-2011, 08:45 AM	#6
wheatwhacker It's raining here Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Cork, Ireland Oddometer: 2,705	Hey, another fellow paddy, already in Panama. We hit some cold weather as well in the mountains. The Durango to the coast road road will be hell this time of the year, we froze our arses off doing it 3 weeks ago. We are headed up the Pan Am in a week or less., My spot tracker link is somewhere in my previous threads. Head for Granada Nicaragua, there's a good Irish pub there and cheap accommodation. We will be there around Jan 5th-10th __________________ European bike sales and storage. https://www.facebook.com/motofeirme

12-27-2011, 09:16 AM	#7
Blind Warrior ^OP Lost in the Ozone Joined: Oct 2009 Location: San Clemente, CA Oddometer: 178	From Creel we head to Parral with our jaws hung low. This is easily the most spectacular ride I have ever taken. No photo could do justice to the canyons and bluffs along this route. In Parral we stay at the Howard Johnson's. Don't go there, ever. For Christmas dinner we have Chinese food, open restaurants being scarce on Christmas Day. Then back on the road to Durango. This is a fast ride along straight two lane blacktop and we make very good time. We stay at the Posado San Jorge and are not disappointed. Aside from it being a grat hotel, the desk clerk says he can fix us up with a custom windshield and a jury rigged indicator. This is good, because from countless phone calls by us and friends we have learned that the parts are not to be found in Mexico. Word, YFF! __________________ 2009 R1200GS 2007 DRZ400 1996 XL1200

12-28-2011, 06:42 PM	#9
Blind Warrior ^OP Lost in the Ozone Joined: Oct 2009 Location: San Clemente, CA Oddometer: 178	Today we left Durango and headed west toward Mazatlan. We took the quota to El Salto, then rode the Espinaso down to the main highway. Took the main highway towards Tepic and passed a lot of military in convoy on the road. Lots of waves from the squaddies in the trucks. We turned off for San Blas where I currently sit in the Social Club attempting to diminish their stock. May have to get some food later, but as a Scouse friend of mine says, "I don't much like food, it makes my shite lumpy"! Word, YFF! __________________ 2009 R1200GS 2007 DRZ400 1996 XL1200

12-28-2011, 06:46 PM	#10
BMW Kurt Exorbitant Tax Payer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: People's Republic of the United States of America Oddometer: 7,194	Subscribed! I am making a trip to Central America beginning in March. Keep us posted on border crossings and good places to stay along the route! __________________ "We blew it." -- Wyatt in Easy Rider My Riding Blog My Travel Blog Kurt Nugent Photography My Adventure Page

12-28-2011, 07:08 PM	#11
BC Brian Studly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Fort Fraser BC Oddometer: 544	Subscribed! I am crossing from La Paz to Mazatlan, or Topobloambo in a few days, or next week, or something. Maybe I'll see you on the mainland, or in Central America, or somewhere :) __________________ The Wanderings of a 36 year old Electraglide A BC Buell Goes South Trial Run- BC,Yukon,NWT and Alberta - a Ride Report

01-22-2012, 10:56 AM	#14
Blind Warrior ^OP Lost in the Ozone Joined: Oct 2009 Location: San Clemente, CA Oddometer: 178	A few pics, now that I am home. Your story teller on the left. The nice looking but completely empty hotel we stayed at in Puerto Penasco. Also, probably the worst shower of the whole trip! Sonoran refined products retail operation. On the road out of Hermosillo into Copper Canyon and with intact Vario cases. The ice for which I should have been prepared. Getting the Suzuki shift lever repaired. The shift lever with the welded on brake lever tip. My modded Vario cases. __________________ 2009 R1200GS 2007 DRZ400 1996 XL1200

01-22-2012, 12:48 PM	#15
motoged Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Kamloops, BC Oddometer: 527	Were you kidnapped by aliens for two weeks....holed up in a Mexican brothel, or do we get to see and read more of your RR now that you are home? __________________ Ged Schwartz Kamloops , BC '96 GS 1100 '04 450 EXC '09 690 EXC Baja '05 Baja 06/07 Baja 08/09 BC Alpine Single Track

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