I'd like to minimize the trauma and focus on the good stuff Fri. Sat. Mainly interested in avoiding extended 4 lane slab/toll rds., Laredo hassles and bypassing Monterrey if possible.
Hey Guys, for what it's worth: The best way to bypass Monterrey (Mty) is South on 85 from Laredo (or Columbia) then just shy of Mty take Saltillo Cuota (toll rd) West. Toll roads (Cuotas) are essentially Mexican versions on US Interstates. Now I know this sounds boring to you guys but its the best way to bypass Mty and get on down to Galeana. Don't you want to get as far away from the border in the least amount of time? Get to the real Mexico, south of Monterrey. Besides, toll roads are safe, in addition to fast. Consider this: Its 283 miles between Nuevo Laredo and Galeana via 85/57 Cuotas all the way, took me 5 hrs June 2007 highballing it single-mindedly in my Chevy Blazer, stopping only for gas and tolls. And that's from the Mexican side of Laredo. This, simply, is the quickest way to Galeana.
You can count on 1 hour at the border even if you already have your papers from the Mexican consulate in Austin!
The Columbia Border. Interesting to say the least, but remember they
close (yes close the border) at midnight. Don't know when they open in the am, maybe 8? Also, the Texas toll road that connects Columbia to I-35
closes at 10pm. So Columbia, although there is usually nobody there and is a dream to negociate, is say 40 + 40 = 80 miles out of your way.
I know if you've already made up your mind I ain't gonna convince you, but Laredo is not bad.
Going around the east side of Mty? I don't really know that way but I'm always looking for suggestions of how to get thru the big city of Monterrey. I kinda skirt the old centro of Mty to the west and then south which keeps me out of the warehouse districts. Follow signs to 85 (Victoria) Go past Montemorelos on 85, to Linares, then west at Linares towards San Roberto and Galeana. More interesting but longer and remember, this way you gotta go thru Mty, which hey, won't kill'ya.
Alternately you can cross at Reynosa, that way you get further south while still in the US. From Reynosa to Galeana is approx 213 miles, which sounds great but took me about 6 hrs, not including stops, but that was thru China.
leave .... Wednesday morning.... take the cutoff to Columbia, Tx and cross the border there (smaller crossing, probably faster and easier). Take NL1 to the north side of Monterrey and overnight.
On Thursday morning, enter the mountains south of Santa Catarina .... and run the mountain roads south all the way to Galeana.
2 days to Galeana, the back way. Hummmm, I'm interested. Never done NL1. The backroads from Mty thru Huasteca Canyon, Cienega and on to Rayones and Galeana could take 8 hrs but maybe..... I'll have to ck my notes on that one but I like it.