_RG_
Forum Supporter
In the beginning:
“Ride dirt across the Sierra Madres in MEXICO!!!???
Are you *********?!!!”
And as it ended:
“So, what happens if Milton really can’t find his passport?”
“Eee as to stay heeer…HA! They tell heem…go baaaack…go be a Mexican.” (Raynaldo the border guard)
But, let’s back up a bit and add some details in between…
The Adventures of Cuatro hombres viejos (four gentlemen of maturity)
To address your first question: Is it really safe to ride in Mexico?
Answer: NO…it’s tragically dangerous and takes a great measure of caution even to survive. Oh, it’s safe as can be - far as the people go. They’re great. It’s all the danged livestock that’s so hazardous. They’re everywhere! Donkeys and burros- with attitudes- running in packs. Suicidal chickens, pigs, horses, goats, sheep, armadillos…you name it. They’re all over the roads. I kid you not…in downtown Dr Arroyo (a large city), right in front of their super Walmart- mid day, we have a herd of horses walking across the divided four lane without any adult supervision in sight. Out in the hills…well, just don’t get too happy with the throttle, eh mate?
Ride format: The plan was - travel to McAllen, enjoy a nice meal and then spend a leisurely night at the Motel 6. Next day, cross over early to Reynosa, take care of our paperwork and ride to beautiful Galeana, check in to the hotel, drop the bags and then make day rides from there. Yeah, well…that pretty much got tossed out the truck window somewhere along I35 between Austin and San Antonio.
We burned tires for McAllen, hijaked a parking spot at the airport, dropped the bikes and gear, dash over to Reynosa, get delayed with paperwork because a certain clown didn’t know the difference between his registration renewal and the receipt part that he always throws away soon as the license sticker comes off. And then, ride like bandits though the frontiera towards Cadereyeta…freezing (no, not just unbearably cold) the entire way. Getting through Reynosa traffic at night was interesting.
End of a really long day finds us in a reasonably decent hotel in Cadereyeta (just east of Monterrey). Late at night but the "desk" clerk was still up and fascinated that four crazy old gringos were riding motorcycles through the mountains of Mexico.
By then I was so tired I'd have gladly slept in an auction barn. We choose up roommates based on each person’s claimed snoring coefficient. I drew Milton cause JT and Stingray are widely known commodities. I’ll make no salacious accusations here but I will say that the bathroom floor turned out to make a fairly good bed. And with the door closed and fan running was just quiet enough for folks to get some sleep.
Next morning was bright, clear and warming. Time to hit some trails.
“Ride dirt across the Sierra Madres in MEXICO!!!???
Are you *********?!!!”
And as it ended:
“So, what happens if Milton really can’t find his passport?”
“Eee as to stay heeer…HA! They tell heem…go baaaack…go be a Mexican.” (Raynaldo the border guard)
But, let’s back up a bit and add some details in between…
The Adventures of Cuatro hombres viejos (four gentlemen of maturity)
To address your first question: Is it really safe to ride in Mexico?
Answer: NO…it’s tragically dangerous and takes a great measure of caution even to survive. Oh, it’s safe as can be - far as the people go. They’re great. It’s all the danged livestock that’s so hazardous. They’re everywhere! Donkeys and burros- with attitudes- running in packs. Suicidal chickens, pigs, horses, goats, sheep, armadillos…you name it. They’re all over the roads. I kid you not…in downtown Dr Arroyo (a large city), right in front of their super Walmart- mid day, we have a herd of horses walking across the divided four lane without any adult supervision in sight. Out in the hills…well, just don’t get too happy with the throttle, eh mate?
Ride format: The plan was - travel to McAllen, enjoy a nice meal and then spend a leisurely night at the Motel 6. Next day, cross over early to Reynosa, take care of our paperwork and ride to beautiful Galeana, check in to the hotel, drop the bags and then make day rides from there. Yeah, well…that pretty much got tossed out the truck window somewhere along I35 between Austin and San Antonio.
We burned tires for McAllen, hijaked a parking spot at the airport, dropped the bikes and gear, dash over to Reynosa, get delayed with paperwork because a certain clown didn’t know the difference between his registration renewal and the receipt part that he always throws away soon as the license sticker comes off. And then, ride like bandits though the frontiera towards Cadereyeta…freezing (no, not just unbearably cold) the entire way. Getting through Reynosa traffic at night was interesting.
End of a really long day finds us in a reasonably decent hotel in Cadereyeta (just east of Monterrey). Late at night but the "desk" clerk was still up and fascinated that four crazy old gringos were riding motorcycles through the mountains of Mexico.
By then I was so tired I'd have gladly slept in an auction barn. We choose up roommates based on each person’s claimed snoring coefficient. I drew Milton cause JT and Stingray are widely known commodities. I’ll make no salacious accusations here but I will say that the bathroom floor turned out to make a fairly good bed. And with the door closed and fan running was just quiet enough for folks to get some sleep.
Next morning was bright, clear and warming. Time to hit some trails.
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