Hildago de Parral and Durango – Riding the Sierra Madre I broke my cardinal rule number one this evening as I rode into Hidalgo de Parral, a small city halfway between Creel and Durango in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Riding in the dark. A late start compounded with mile after mile of tight and […]
The indigenous people that populate the hills, canyons and small towns that surround Creel are easily identified as I cruise through the town and the surrounding area by their colorful brightly patterned fabric. The women wear long pleated skirts and some of the men loin cloths and long-sleeved shirts. In the faces of the older […]
Arriving in Creel, the center of the Tarahumara region. Approximately 50,000 of the indigenous Tarahumara live in the Sierra’s around Creel and in the massive canyon system known as Barranca del Cobre. My last visit here In November 2003 I was lucky to witness some of the festivities that surround Die de la Muerte (day […]
With my new shock installed and meeting new friends in La Paz, I load the bike on the huge ferry bound for Los Mochi’s, a mid-sized town between Mazatlan and Ciudad Obregon on the coast of the Sea of Cortez. I noticed a line of bikes tied with frayed rope and leaning against a rail […]
With a new shock and a desire to get on the road, today I opt to not rush to make the ferry but instead get completely up to date on the blog, do laundry and secure my packing – including that damn tire that’s been my nemesis since leaving San Diego. I’m thinking of taking […]
With my bike parts filling a small greasy cardboard box, its sub-frame lying on the floor and a guy painting an old Honda 750 just 10 feet away from me, Luis raises his hammer and says “I’m a Mexican, I can fix anything with a hammer.” Thank god my package finally arrived late last night. […]
I’ve walked around this town and along the Malecon 20 times or more over the last few days. Recently ran into Johnny from Great Britain by way of Texas. He’s on a KLR and taking 7 weeks riding through Mexico before settling in to his new job in Kuala Lampur. I haven’t been as motivated […]
Stopped off the check in on Luis at Motos Baja, the only motorcycle dealer in town. As I was dismounting the bike I hear a familiar voice. “Allan. Allan? Is that you?” I pull off my helmet and peer into the car that was harking my attention. It’s Rick Timmins, a friend and old client […]
UPS doesn’t have an office in La Paz. And trying to contact UPS in Mexico City is fruitless. Like DHL did in Alaska, UPS hires a subcontractor in La Paz to handle its deliveries. But trying to find out what company is impossible. “It’s someone’s house,” Luis at the Honda dealer told me. Calling every […]
I’m starting to get bored of Baja. Even La Paz with its beautiful beaches, palm lined waterfront “Malecon” and laid back setting, I feel stuck. There are scant signs of La Paz’s colonial period, but it’s a prosperous town that seems ready to explode. I imagine that this is what Cabo San Lucas looked like […]
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