Houston, Tenemos Problemas (Mextrek 13 ride report)

[Trailtime]

Man, that is really nice. How far into Mexico is that?

It’s not far at all from the border. Just south of Monterrey. Takes a couple of hours from the border to Santiago at a leisurely pace. It’s probably closer to Houston then going to Big Bend.

 

[enrique60033]

Closer , cheaper and better


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[Trailtime]

Closer , cheaper and better


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Yeah can’t argue with any of those 3 points. Big Bend is still great and I’ll be going back there at some point also

 

[enrique60033]

Oh yea , I love Bigbend. But is good to have options!


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[Ocho]

Man, that is really nice. How far into Mexico is that?

Just south of the city I'm from (Monterrey). I'm hoping to make one of these someday, maybe this fall.

I would say it is as far as going to Big Bend. 7-8 hours from my home.

 

[Mextrekadv]

Day 1:. Mambos welcome dinner. Man, big crew, 50+! Here are some faces, and a few trip nicknames. I'm leaving blanks for anyone I didn't nickname, so send me some funny stories!

Pedro del Norte on my way from Phoenix in the indispensable chase van.

Mike "DudeHombrebro" George

Thomas "Clooney" Mangold

Warren "Wildman Wegger" Wegger

Andre "The Great" Nieuwenhuis

Oscar "TibFib" Giovingo

Bruce "Firestarter" Gourd

Alex "Instagramme" McManus

Justin "Late Night" Shipley

Dao "Mudderfugg... Awesome" Dao!

Chad "Magicman Finchini" Finch

David "Super Dave Osborne" Miertschin

Mark "Bebe Macaroni" DaShark Hileman

Mike "Comms" Lawrence

Some dude

Caspar "Fearless Leader" Hassall

Enrique "Kike" Rodriguez

Kevin "Clutch" Pettit

Bradley "I'm a real biker" Bryan

Lee "TDubDos" Coultharp

Jack "Remember the Alamo" Sands

Jim "Generator" Roy

Jimmy "GS Hero" Doyle

 

[Mextrekadv]

Day 2 we departed McAllen for Santiago. Then riders meeting and lunch on the square.

After lunch we headed up Potrero Redondo route (from the guidebook) clockwise...Allende, La Trinidad, Potrero Redondo, Santiago down hwy 20. The goal, see how far up to gauge skills, turn around and come back down. 90% conquered La Trinidad, about 15 completed the full and difficult loop. Great day, overcast, perfect trail conditions. Lots of smiles. Mexico delivers.

My fantastic 450 on the way up to La Trinidad

Chad Finch discovering his first taste of Mexico

Alex on the KLR

Markdashark

Andre

Chad on the mighty ktm500

Two best friends in Mexico, Chad and Justin

Duct tape makes for quick boot repairs

Meeting spot up at La Trinidad.

Nav expert right here

What, no smile?

Andres and Piero, the Italian duo!

Mr. Groenewald!

Headed back down the easy way.

Some dude

Stories of those who continued abound. It was gnarly, rough, and riders needed help, often. But everyone made it back for a nice dinner at Compostela!

 

[Mextrekadv]

After a late night meeting new people at the hostel we were up for a 8am breakfast at Hacienda 208. I played waiter for an hour to keep things moving. Mexico is not ready for 40 plus gringos!

Today's adventure, Milton Otto's Gold Standard, counterclockwise. Santiago, Laguna de Sanchez, Pablo Sidar, Rayones, Montemorelos, Santiago. Heavenly concrete, dirt, more concrete. What a great route!

David on hwy 20

 

[Mextrekadv]

Friday night was a nice dinner at Mi Italia. Followed by late night beer garden hunting!

 

[Mextrekadv]

Saturday was a blur. Highway 20 to Canyon El Alamo route, counter clockwise, and lunch in Lis Lirios with full windy concrete return.

We had one solid instance of "Still gonna send it", a handful of mechanical issues, another "full send". Hospital runs, crash truck rolling thru Monterrey at 1am, and a tad bit of sleep deprivation. Only a few pics from Saturday, haha!

Tough day.

 

[Mextrekadv]

Sunday, Dave was still intubated, out cold.

The rest of the Amigos headed towards the border. A few soldiered on to Galeana with Warren, Dao, Tim Bearden, David Cottshot taking the fast road. Palmer, Alex, Jack, and Jim Roy took the more direct route on concrete. Alex and Palmer saw Cienega Del Toro and the dual sport double dragon on the way into Galeana.


I loaded up a klr with a bad stator and Everett and Zara to make a border run. Just as we were about to pull away we heard the news that a bike had caught on fire and another bike had crashed rushing to the scene to help

And of course back at the hotel we had David's triumph waiting for insurance closure, so no way to bring it along.

We followed whatsapp live location and found Oscar and Bruce's location to be actually on our route, about an hour and 15 minutes away so we hitched on the trailer and took off post haste.

We met up with Bruce on the side of the toll road the scene of the fire where the Mexican authorities had put up cones and two vehicles with flashers to warn passer byers. Oscar was in the ambulance on the way to China. A quick phone call and loading the bike and we were headed to Oscar's location. 20 minutes later Oscar was in the van and we were headed back to the border. After the world's longest border crossing, three to four hours we estimate, we just lane split in the van all the way to the front and made a bunch of people mad. But, a clean break to be a fibia is reason to bypass the crowd. Oscar was dropped in McAllen about 5 hours after his accident.

Not too long after it was back to Mambo's for another plate of fried rice. Trailer parking everywhere!

At 9:00 p.m. departure meant Santiago after midnight. And finding a stranded motorist on the side of the road and towing him home took another half hour. The Chase truck was surely doing its duties! Couple of beers in the courtyard at the Posada de Colores and I hit the sack. Three nights in a row it was Chase truck duty over Piña Coladas in the square. No worries, looks like I'll have time for that this weekend, not to get ahead of myself.

 

[Mextrekadv]

Monday was a visit to Dave while some of the crew went in search of clutch parts for a v-strom. This was unfruitful in a non-V Strom country. Dave was doing well, in good spirits, moving all the fingers on his broken hand, and not hurting too much from his ribs. He had lots of papers to grade for his students at the University and he said we should continue our journey. Justine and Chad headed south to Galeana. Kevin and I headed south on the highway. A quick detour found us in Fonda Miguel with our good friend Mike, one of the Mextrek Amigos. The conversation went downhill, to VW bugs and combi buses. The next thing you know I was putting an offer on a blue combi bus. You see, I absolutely have to have one of these in Guanajuato. HAVE TO HAVE.

There were some other cool stuff there too, if you like VWs.

After a lot of BSing with Mike and having a great time we headed south to Montemorelos end up the canyon towards Iturbide. A small forest fire was blanketing the canyon with smoke. So we drove cautiously in the smoke and light rain and found all of our amigos in a charming new food truck eatery cattycorner from the Magdalena, just down the street from the oxxo.

Chad and Kevin

Dao and Warren and MyNuBesFrens

Quite the scene in Galeana!

And finally, a proper mexocan blanket to snuggle under after a long weekend.

(To be honest, I severely missed my Selena and New Kids on the Block blankets from the 3rd floor balcony room)

 

[Mextrekadv]

Tuesday morning we woke up with a mission. Breakfast and drive. The problem is, the tequila, and beer, and other libations consumed in the Magdalena sofa lobby the night before. Thank god we were the only guests in the hotel, it was probably a roar of political incorrectness. Even I had trouble falling asleep in a 3-ft long sofa. I'm sure there are pictures and maybe video. But I needed a nappy nap.

So bright and early maybe 10:00 we headed down for breakfast. Turned into ice cream and Dorito Frito pies right next door. We loaded up the crash truck after a quick maintenance session from Chad. He probably saved my butt. He said a gallon low on oil and a gallon or two low on coolant and a quart low on transmission fluid we're pretty much the norm for LS engines. But much more than that and we be flirting with disaster.

Since we're used to riding in motorcycles and because there were four of us in the van, why not perform some minor surgery on an injured rider. Justine, firefighter EMT extraordinaire, took over.

Our next stop was the fabulous tunnel entrance to Real de Catorce. We had fun with pictures, getting chased and run into by drones, and making our way into this fabulous little city.

Once there we settle into Salu's cozy little guesthouse, and I proceeded to take a bit of a nappy nap with a happy tabby cat. Anyone paying attention, please ignore the fact that I WhatsApp in my sleep.

While I nap the rest of the crew went horseback riding. I've been doing enough on my butt to feel fine taking a couple hours off. When I woke up it was time for the time honored tradition of trekking to the sunset point for sunset. Even just a blocks walk in Real can be enchanting.

Arriving near sunset point I was informed that there was a great new restaurant, with glass deck, overlooking the valley. And as with all places Mexican, a zip line. Wondering what it was all about and making a beeline I was slightly distracted by another cool truck.

And there it was in the distance, a new fancy under construction multi-story glass and metal building tower. A sign of progress in Mexico. I wanted to hate it, I really did, I love the RD14 I discovered in the late '90s. I love the Real where I peed in a cowboy bar in a toilet at the end of the bar and later watched the Astros defeat the dodgers for the world series with Curtis, with a crowd of rough and tumble cowboys and dodgers jerseys. But no one can stand in the way of progress. And as I've said before, your kids will never see the Mexico that we see. Better get on board quick!

A half hour more of watching the most beautiful sunset you can possibly imagine, and a couple of nice mixology drinks, and we were happy, and warm, and ready for dinner.

I tried, I just couldn't bring myself to hate this new place. Some places need a glass patio with glass floor to enjoy the best sunsets this earth has to offer.

L to R: Kevin, Alex, Jae, Pedro, Palmer, Chad!

Funny story abou Alex posing as a prop to a maddly giggling Mexi girl. Too cute, no photo tho.

Hands up for Curtis!

I swear the sunset went on for an hour or more. Even after we were done with our drinks and half hour after clapping for the sunset it was still a golden red sky. Amazing. Alex and I spread our wings and took flight!

The walk back to town was only a few blocks.

But in those short blocks we saw something absolutely frightening, terrifying, and we had no where to run. Yes, MarkdaShark...

We were overtaken by a pack...

Of...

Horses!

(Inside joke here)

Trinket shopping and some of the coolest stores in Mexico, and Alex made a new friend. Apparently, according to Palmer, someone with his particular looks is very prone to make new friends all over Mexico. Both four and two-legged varieties.

I think I can say this with certainty now after my 5th or 6th time meeting there, but the Mason Del Abundencia restaurant has the best food I've ever eaten anywhere in my entire life. Something about it speaks to me. Speak so loudly that usually when I'm done eating I can't move. Tonight was no exception.

Eventually after much huffing and puffing we made it to the rooftop of the guest house for a few glamor shots.

After a great day, I too felt glamorous.

Pedro Del Norte no judgement zone!

 

[Mextrekadv]

Yesterday we woke up to this:

And some cheap hat and serape shopping.

And sadly now it was time to head back to the border. It saw us leaving real and making the trip to galliano for Jae and Chad to retrieve their bikes from the Magdalena. Palmer and Alex were in Hot pursuit and we all headed down the Galeana to Linares canyon. Tim's clutches failed the day before and found a mic was nice enough to get him to Montemorelos. We found him sweating it out in 105° parking lot talking trash about that little town. But apparently he had a great time. A quick detour to Santiago to grab Kevin's bike with no clutch and the world's worst oil leak. 3 hours later we are all crossing the border about the same time, dividing up the goods in the van, and dropping folks off at hotels and houses. 3:23 AM I pulled back up at Posada de Colores in Santiago for a great night's sleep.

It is amazing what can happen in 7 short days in Mexico!

 

[enrique60033]

How not to cross the border

 

[Vinny]

Jeez !!

 

[Mextrekadv]

When I said post up on twtex I didn't mean of my 1st mistake, lololol. Hater!

How not to cross the border

 

[enrique60033]

sometimes KTMs take naps like them GSes

 

[JT]

Dangit, I haven't been home home a week and I miss it already.

 

[Mextrekadv]

For anybody considering whether to go on one of these trips I would simply say; commit and do it. It will exceed your expectations for sure. Exceptionally well organized, any skill level will enjoy it, even if I had just rode the asphalt the whole time it would still have been awesome. But the off-road riding was beyond amazing. I can’t explain, you just have to come for yourself.

Thanks for the high marks. It makes me so happy when folks discover Mexico!

 

[MarkyMark]

I don't have anything to add past what others will talk about. Just happy to be along for the ride. So here's some nice pictures

 

[MarkyMark]

 

[SilverBullet]

When I said post up on twtex I didn't mean of my 1st mistake, lololol. Hater!

Killer topes! LOL

 

[Tigerkf]

Videos like those posted above gave me a false sense of the terrain before I went. It doesn't look very steep on video. Just to give you a sense of how steep it is, my windscreen hit me in the chin bar on many occasions I was leaning so far forward on the steep sections. Now that's steep!

 

[enrique60033]

Videos never do justice to steepness, I showed Caspar’s videos to people at work and they were like” why are they having so much trouble to get the GS going? “


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