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Houston, Tenemos Problemas (Mextrek 13 ride report)

Good times in Mexico - Thank You Peter and crew!

Here's a few pics from this past weekend. Had a great time and met a bunch of really great guys. The routes (really the whole trip) exceeded my expectations.

Highlights for me personally:
- Asada at El Pueblito
- A cold Modelo at the top, at Laguna Sanchez
- An hour or more of THE finest twisty black-top on the second half of the Gold Standard
- The recovery of Kevin's strom (and slicing open a sidewall on the recovery truck, then watching Carlos navigate the canyon with the mini spare)
- Cobblestone Switchbacks between Los Cedritos and El Tunal
- Riding the twisties back from Los Lirios in the dark
- But my greatest experience was ripping 2-Up through Los Alamos Canyon with Kevin on the DRZ, probably the most fun I've had on a bike

Thanks to Ben for securing the recovery truck for Kevin's bike, and to Rodd and others for advancing his bike along the canyon as far as it would go, and to all the others that assisted.

Also, thanks to Thomas for posting on Wednesday the maps for navigating the Permitting and Inspections facility as you cross the border. That was timely as we had no clue and received that post right as we pulled up to the facility.


I only have a few pictures from days 1 & 2, as my phone (and the other 2000 pictures) are somewhere in Los Alamos Canyon. If you find it, your $100USD reward is tucked inside the phone case. :- )


Can't wait for more Mexico.

Willi
DRZ400S

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Ok guys. These are photos. Step it up!
 
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The OGs gave us a little scare, all of the sudden Jack said "I got to be honest with you, I am feeling a little loopy. Jim started stripping out his clothes. Fortunately after some rest 2 cocas and 2 yogurt they were ready to go. It was great riding with them all weekend they made me feel like we knew each other for a life time .

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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The OGs gave us a little scare, all of the sudden Jack said "I got to be honest with you, I am feeling a little loopy. Jim started stripping out his clothes. Fortunately after some rest 2 cocas and 2 yogurt they were ready to go. It was great riding with them all weekend they made me feel like we knew each other for a life time .

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Thanks for helping out an OG, a little dehydration will get you and the heat was a little too much.....I bounced back pretty quickly.
 
Where ??

And don't say "Mexico"
Secret ;)

Nah, just kidding. Above Cienega Del Toro, it's the gopherfield/the saddle. It's absolutely my favorite place in the Sierra Madres, free running horses, gophers, see for miles...amazing
 
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I thought I would give my two cents regarding the MexTrek 13... I have always wanted to go back to Mexico-I used to go when I was a kid and enjoyed areas like Monterrey and Saltillo. I finally decided to stop listening to the news and experience it myself. I reasoned that these guys have been doing this every year and have not had any real issues. We had a get together in Houston with some of the experienced travelers to Mexico and I met Illias and found out this was his 6h time to Mexico this year! At this point, I felt confident about the security aspect of the trip.

The ride was amazing and the people were amazing. Even doing the border paperwork, employees and other travelers helped me out with the steps and everyone was kind. I was delighted when some of the women working for the Banjercito (Temporary Importation and Exportation of our vehicles) outside wanted to take their pictures with us. Everyone was very friendly and patient with me. I loved the small villages in the middle of nowhere, especially the restaurant El Mirador in Laguna de Sanchez. The food was amazing everywhere.

A few experiences really shaped how I felt about Mexico: Firstly, on the second day we did a long ride around the area. I was with David and I dropped my Suzuki Vstrom on this gravel road and we got it up. The road was a little off camber and I was near the drainage ditch on the inside and this time the shiny side of the bike was lower than the wheels- oil everywhere. I thought I had cracked something. We got it back up and limped the bike down the road. It was about 97 degrees, we were out of water and I was exhausted. We came to this little house where a woman sold Tecate. I asked her if she had any water and she grabbed two big bottles of water for us. I asked in Spanish if she had anything cold; she grabbed two mismatched plastic cups and opened a deep freeze and got us some ice. She refused to take any payment. I experienced true hospitality there. The second one was this: every morning I would see people sweeping the sidewalk in front of their businesses- they care for what they have.

I developed some great friendships with people on MexTrek13. We had to overcome obstacles, pick up dropped bikes, do trailside repairs and work together. It was a great experience and I look forward to doing it again. Coming back home was a challenge; I am longing to be back in Mexico.
Always funny hearing stories of mexican charity. Locals always refuse taking compensation for their good deeds, unless they're hauling our buns to the border, almost treat it as an insult sometimes
 
Great trip, despite some minor (and not so minor) mishaps. 3rd time to Mexico on my bike but first with a Mextrek. I learned a lot. I learned how to make a shim to fix stripped handle bars (thanks Rodd), how to ride up dry stream beds with soft-ball sized loose rock everywhere, (don't slow down, don't fight where the bike is going... unless it's going over a cliff). And I learned that there is a Mexican guy named Jugo who will throw a broken-down bike into the back of his truck, next to the sacks of flour, and give a stuck rider a ride to the nearest town and even try to refuse payment. Everyone on the trip was extremely nice and everyone helped everyone else out. I'm very grateful to Peter for all the effort and care he put into the trip, and to Everett, Zara, and Jae, who helped with downed bikes and downed riders. My number didn't come up this time but I'm sure it will some day, and these guys were life-savers. Kudos. See you on the road -- hopefully a dirt road.
 

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Awesome rports guys. I did not take any pictures. I did enjoy the company of old aquaintances and meeting the new participAnts. Thanks to Pedro for a very well organised trip and hopefully ther will be amother one this year
 
This is the gopher field in Cienega del Toro, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Best scenery you'll find.

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Many thanks. Rode this on a Motodiscovery trip in 2009, but lost my GPS tracks. Want to re-trace that Motodiscovery trip. Santiago - Galeana - Real de Catorce - Rayones - Santiago.
 
A huge thanks to Pedro del Norte for putting all of this together and for all of the great folks who made it awesome! This was my first international trip to Mexico and first border crossing on a motorcycle. When I first read about Mextrek, I was very intrigued but wasn't planning on going. The more I discussed it with my amazing wife, the more she urged me to go and "get out there." I didn't know anyone that was going, so I was a little nervous. We had a Houston meetup the week before and my mind was set at ease. This was the dual sport/adventure community! Everyone was just awesome and super friendly! Jimmy, I haven't forgotten that I still owe you a burger!

When the day finally arrived and we all met down in Mission, I was welcomed at the huge table at Mambos and everyone made me feel very welcome. After that, we made a midnight run to the border to get the TVIP and FMM and got back late after a traffic jam at the border. The next day saw some rain as we rode down to Santiago in a few groups, dropped off our stuff and then hit the trail up to La Trinidad. The views were spectacular!

I met up with my roomie Enrique later that night at the Cola de Caballo hotel and we both passed out. Friday brought on the Gold Standard and it was an amazing route. Plenty tough spots to keep you on your toes and enough twisty road to keep it very interesting. I also found out my DRZ400 gets about 105 miles to the tank when it hits reserve. Thanks for having extra gas, Jack! Saturday was an easy day and my group just decided to keep it on the road. Ian joined us and then left us. Then joined us again. Then left us. He was quick! Even after laying his bike down on a slick corner. :D Our last night there, Enrique and I found a great little place for ribs and asado.

On our way back to the border we stopped at the Pemex to fill up 70 miles from the border. I learned 60 miles later that my DRZ really only gets 60 miles to the tank when I am pushing it at 75-80 mph. Unfortunately, we had to break protocol and stop outside Reynosa to get gas. Enrique and I were then treated to a tour of Reynosa border neighborhoods and canals due to some wonky Google map directions. :-D

All in all, it was an amazing trip full of great rides, amazing food, and new friends. I hope to join in on future Mextrek trips and I will definitely introduce my family and friends to the amazing land of Mexico!

Jae - "El Hermano de eveRide"
 

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Man this looks like an epic trip! Glad to see so many getting seat time and enjoying life. Love it. The gopher field in Cienega del Toro, Nuevo Leon, Mexico looks insane!

Awesome to see some of the friends I made at Around the Bend!

-Marshal
 
That looked amazing. I would like to do that if I get a different bike.

Great photos and videos.
ramon
 
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