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andyc740
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I'd been eyeing maps of the mountains between Cd. Victoria and Tamazunchale since my first couple of trips to Mexico, an area containing the northern part of the Sierra Gorda mountains. Dale and I decided on a ride towards the end of September, hoping the weather would be a bit cooler and the rains wouldn't be too much of a distraction.
To dampen the wive's worries a bit, we invested in a Spot Tracker so they could keep track of where we were and know things were OK. We named the Spot "Rover" in what I consider to be a stroke of genius. The cost came to a bit more than I figured, mostly due to the tracking feature costing an extra $50/year, but that was our big reason for buying the tracker, so we paid it.
We left Corpus about 2:00 on a Thursday afternoon for the familiar trip south to the Pharr/Rio Bravo International Bridge. Temps were in the mid-90's so we took a rest break at Rachal for a drink and to wet down our gear.
After gassing up at the bridge and exchanging our dollars for pesos, we headed for the bridge, just to get held up by the local police searching the cars ahead of us in line. When I went to Nuevo Laredo the end of July, we were stopped and questioned by an immigration officer before crossing the bridge and Hombre got his bags searched by the lady. I guess they've decided to pay attention to the outward bound traffic as well as what's coming across the bridge from Mexico.
Getting papers was straightforward. Both Dale and I got 6-month permits, hoping to use them at least once again before the 180-days is up. We were on the road south by about 6:00 in the evening. The toll bypass is now officially open from the bridge to highway 97 heading south from Reynosa. Toll is $7P, well worth avoiding the Reynosa traffic.
We reached our goal, the Hotel Rancho Viejo, about 7:30 just before sunset. There weren't many private vehicles on the road at that hour. The hotel was mostly empty, but was still hosting some of the Federales that have been there for the past year or so. It was nice to have them watching the front door.
We had dinner at the restaurant next door, then found the Oxxo closed already so no ice cream for dessert.
In the morning, we were up about 5:30 and on the road soon after. The Oxxo and restaurant were still closed, so we stopped an hour or so down the highway for some breakfast, huevos con machacado. That area sells a lot of the dried beef to passing motorists.
We stopped to buy gas about 20 miles before Cd. Victoria. In Victoria, we took the loop heading south on Hwy 85 along the eastern side of the mountains, the same route I followed on my January trip to Mixquiahuala and beyond. This time our destination for the night was Xilitla.
South of Victoria, the road climbs over several ridges offering some nice views and a few corners to keep things interesting. We stopped at a pullout to take a few pictures.
Then it was on the road again. We stopped for lunch about 1:00 in Cd. Valles at a place that sold pizzas and tortas. I find tortas, a type of Mexican sub sandwich, usually pretty good and at a good price. Afterwards, two of their delivery boys were looking over our bikes and offering to race us on their motorcycles. They probably would've beaten us. I don't try to keep up with those guys going through traffic.
I like the way the scenery changes in the mountains and the valleys. Some farmland, some cane fields, some dry, some very tropical areas. Along the highway, overhead signs announce each municipio (county) as you arrive, extolling the virtues of the area. Mexico is really pushing ecotourism for the area, but don't seem to be getting a lot of takers.
After another stop for gas and visiting awhile with a random lady at the gas station, we arrived in Xilitla about 3:00. Welcome to Las Pozas de Edward James.
To dampen the wive's worries a bit, we invested in a Spot Tracker so they could keep track of where we were and know things were OK. We named the Spot "Rover" in what I consider to be a stroke of genius. The cost came to a bit more than I figured, mostly due to the tracking feature costing an extra $50/year, but that was our big reason for buying the tracker, so we paid it.
We left Corpus about 2:00 on a Thursday afternoon for the familiar trip south to the Pharr/Rio Bravo International Bridge. Temps were in the mid-90's so we took a rest break at Rachal for a drink and to wet down our gear.
After gassing up at the bridge and exchanging our dollars for pesos, we headed for the bridge, just to get held up by the local police searching the cars ahead of us in line. When I went to Nuevo Laredo the end of July, we were stopped and questioned by an immigration officer before crossing the bridge and Hombre got his bags searched by the lady. I guess they've decided to pay attention to the outward bound traffic as well as what's coming across the bridge from Mexico.
Getting papers was straightforward. Both Dale and I got 6-month permits, hoping to use them at least once again before the 180-days is up. We were on the road south by about 6:00 in the evening. The toll bypass is now officially open from the bridge to highway 97 heading south from Reynosa. Toll is $7P, well worth avoiding the Reynosa traffic.
We reached our goal, the Hotel Rancho Viejo, about 7:30 just before sunset. There weren't many private vehicles on the road at that hour. The hotel was mostly empty, but was still hosting some of the Federales that have been there for the past year or so. It was nice to have them watching the front door.
We had dinner at the restaurant next door, then found the Oxxo closed already so no ice cream for dessert.
In the morning, we were up about 5:30 and on the road soon after. The Oxxo and restaurant were still closed, so we stopped an hour or so down the highway for some breakfast, huevos con machacado. That area sells a lot of the dried beef to passing motorists.
We stopped to buy gas about 20 miles before Cd. Victoria. In Victoria, we took the loop heading south on Hwy 85 along the eastern side of the mountains, the same route I followed on my January trip to Mixquiahuala and beyond. This time our destination for the night was Xilitla.
South of Victoria, the road climbs over several ridges offering some nice views and a few corners to keep things interesting. We stopped at a pullout to take a few pictures.
Then it was on the road again. We stopped for lunch about 1:00 in Cd. Valles at a place that sold pizzas and tortas. I find tortas, a type of Mexican sub sandwich, usually pretty good and at a good price. Afterwards, two of their delivery boys were looking over our bikes and offering to race us on their motorcycles. They probably would've beaten us. I don't try to keep up with those guys going through traffic.
I like the way the scenery changes in the mountains and the valleys. Some farmland, some cane fields, some dry, some very tropical areas. Along the highway, overhead signs announce each municipio (county) as you arrive, extolling the virtues of the area. Mexico is really pushing ecotourism for the area, but don't seem to be getting a lot of takers.
After another stop for gas and visiting awhile with a random lady at the gas station, we arrived in Xilitla about 3:00. Welcome to Las Pozas de Edward James.
