CYCLE SOUTH ♾ (BLAZING A TRAIL THROUGH 17+ COUNTRIES. ALL TRUE ADVENTURE AND ACTION!)

So the last two afternoons I have spent with my host Geoff looking at routing options and timelines associated with my expected arrival in Carti Panma on July 20 to board the Stahlratte.
Geoff will ride with me for a day out of SMA as well (yay!)
So my route/timeline looks like this (subject to change and/or modification of course)

• Leave San Miguel de Allende 6/5, ride to Xilitla
• Xilitla to Pachuca
• Pachuca to Orizaba
• Orizaba to Oaxaca City (stay here 5 days)
• Oaxaca City to San Jose del Pacifico (the mushroom mountain paradise I visited last year)
• San Jose del Pacifico to Salina Cruz (stay in Salina Cruz two days, visiting friends)
• Salina Cruz to San Cristobal de las Casas
• San Cristobal de las Casa to Palenque
• Palenque to Campeche
• Campeche to Chichen-Itza
• Chichen-Itza to Tulum (via coastal ride down from Cancun)
• From Tulum south to the Belize border, where I'll be crossing at Chetumal, is undecided as of yet

This is getting me really worked up!

Looks like you will be in this area. Check out the these Mayan Ruins. I'm sure there are many others but we enjoyed these several years ago.

https://goo.gl/maps/67eHcYAMb5LsVPf9A

Right on my way Tim!
Gracias mi hermano

Geoff took me for a nice ride today. Around a large lake South of San Miguel de Allende, and then followed the outflow river from the lake along a converted rail bed (all stone, sand) that ran through all manner of cobblestones. At one point there was a 300m unlit dirt tunnel that was cool. You could see the hand chisel marks throughout the passage reflecting in our headlights. At one point I hit the high beam and also turned on my 60W LED auxiliary light bar. It was STILL dim!.....then I realized that I still had my tinted sun shield down.
A quick lever flick and it was like daylight in there lol!
Then we rode into SMA and met Birdie and friend for Pizza at “the Pizza Guy”’s place, owned by their ex-pat buddy from NY and his wife.
I had the lasagna and it was incredible.
Sorry, no pics of ANY of this!!
So now excuse me while I slip into a food coma.

"food coma" LOL don't remind me!

I see the Edwards James Garden marked on the map.....be prepared to be blown away!

I was there last year on the first go-around, but couldn't get in, the line was 4+ hours
Maybe this time

Wow I have visited twice and both times there was no one there! In fact I went skinny dipping in the upper pool with waterfall.
Was your visit during Semana Santa?

IIRC, the visit was during a period where locals got in free. It was madness! I still got to soak in a nice pool in the river there, which was nice!

Heads up, there is a lot of rain in Acapulco at the moment, however it is only at night. We left Acapulco this morning ( in the cage) and arrived in Queretaro this evening, slight rain here as well.

Thanks for the advanced warning. My friends here in San Miguel are hoping for rain. It’s pretty dry right now.

What's with "Honey Moon" on the map??? Something we should know??

Wasn't always a part of his original plan Quin?

It’s where I spent my honeymoon many moons ago (Cancun) . Not sure whether I want to even stop there. Bad ju-ju

I had a smooth night. Sipping mezcal while watching “Valerian and the city of a Thousand Worlds” in bed, then drifted off to a deep sleep.
Then today was mainly spent cleaning Sunny, prepping and repacking my load (found out left to right pannier weights were off by about 7 lbs. now pretty even!) and getting ready for early departure tomorrow AM.

Due to a craptastic weather forecast, Geoff decided to stay home rather than ride to Xilitla with me.

I have a beautiful place rented in Xilitla through Airbnb for $14/night! I may stay there an extra day to tour the Edward James gardens and sculptures. Last year I tried to see it, but the line was too long. Should be better on a weekday.

If you’re not familiar with Los Pozas (“The Pools”, Edward James’ sculptural gardens) then there is great info on the Wiki page

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_James

Wait till you see the pictures from the place. Stunning!

Birdie signed Sunny’s tank today too!!

So after a short break here, am excited to get moving again.

Many many thanks to Geoff Braun and Birdie for putting up with me!

There was no blank space on your tank there, I know what you did.

And oh the sweet sweet irony in the doing!
Good eye John!

Ugghhhh.
San Miguel is sitting in the middle of a large front. Heavy rains since dusk yesterday, and likely to continue 24+hours.
And I’ve already got the room booked in Xilitla.
So...all good things must come to an end (good things being defined as every day I’ve ridden Mexico this time it’s been sunny)
I’ll zip up the vents on the Klim Badlands, put the gotetex liner into my pants.
And just go!

Hope you stay reasonably dry! Good luck!

My weekend riding at the gap is looking to be the same.