Arches National Park

Today I spent in Arches National Park, a photographer's dream.  The weathering process has shaped the red sandstone in the area into magnificent sculptures and arches.  The park is relatively small and I was able to ride all of it in about three hours.  To photograph this park would take years!

The above arch is the Delicate Arch, the symbol for Utah that can be seen on many of their license plates.

More riding tomorrow and on Friday I will be heading for Mexican Hat, UT.  If you read Neil Peart's book Ghost Rider or have seen Alton Brown's Feasting on Asphalt on the Food Network you know about the Mexican Hat Lodge.

Moab, UT

Not really much to report today.  I rode from Moriarty, NM to Moab, UT crossing the extreme southwestern tip of Colorado.

I am staying at a hostel called The Lazy Lizard.  It is only $26 a night for a private room and the people are really neat to listen to, a bunch of old hippies and social misfits (my kind of people!).  

Tomorrow I am off to explore Arches National Park or ride Highway 28 along the river.

Do You Believe?

I spent the day in Roswell visiting the UFO Museum.  Purportedly a UFO crashed in Roswell in July 1947.  Now the event is the major cause of tourism in this small New Mexican town.

That afternoon there was a sandstorm in Roswell.

Today I started heading for Moab, UT.  The story today was WIND!  There was a crosswind and it felt like I was riding the motorcycle sideways.  It was also cold.  At times I was over 7,000 feet.  Tomorrow I will continue towards Moab where I will try to make a few plans for the rest of this trip.

Another Day on the Road

I really needed to change the oil in my bike.  That bike was so good to me in Mexico!  Mexico threw heat, dust, topes, and stop and go traffic at it.  The last time I changed oil on the road was at Alaska Leather in Anchorage, AK.  I had never changed it on the road since and was not really sure if anyone would let me change it in their parking lot.  I went to a Walmart in Carlsbad, NM and they were very nice about it and let me change my oil in their parking lot and recycled it for me.

After changing oil I rode to Roswell, NM where I am avoiding being abducted by aliens.  Tomorrow I will visit the UFO museum here.

Seems like I am not the only one that likes Walmart here!

Headed Back North

I am writing this about 4 or 5 days after the events happened.  I now know that the Mexican gave me wrong information.  He did not do it intentionally, I honestly think he was trying to help me.  Oh, well!  This is still going to be a heck of a trip!

I left Piste and starting riding back north.  On the way back I stopped in Champoton, MX for a couple of photos.

I spent the first night in Villahermosa and then rode for Mexico City.  I spent the next night in San Martin Texmelucan.

I woke up early the next morning hoping to avoid Mexico City morning rush hour traffic.  On the way I saw this and I had to take some photos.

I hit Mexico City at about 8:30AM.  Traffic was interesting to say the least!  I made it to Matehuala and the next day on to Eagle Pass, TX.  I checked at the Aduana and they told me that I did NOT have to turn my TVIP in there.  They were not sure if I could have done it in the Baja, though.  I have since learned that you can.  Oh, well!  As I said it is still going to be a great trip.  I'm just going to go with the flow.

The Yucatan

After getting my top box repaired I rode to Coatzacolcos, MX.  Coatzacolcos is a resort town and I decided to stay for two days.

Leaving Coatzacolcos I rode for Piste which is the village just outside Chichen Itza.  That night I made it to Campeche and ate tacos from a street vendor.  Anyone who tells you not to eat the street food is crazy.  It's about all I've eaten since I have been here.  It is better than restaurant food!

The next day I made to Piste in the Yucatan.  It was Good Friday and the town had a Passion Play complete with Judas hanging from a tree.  Judas was portrayed by a real man!

Can you spot Judas?

There he is!

My posada (inn) in Piste, MX.

My preferred mode of transportation  is the family car in Mexico!  Notice Dad is the only one wearing a helmet.

Laundry day in Piste.

These are signs I have come to hate.  The warn you of the topes.

The next day I went to Chichen Itza.  I'm glad I did since it won't be here in 2013!  I went very early in the morning to avoid the heat and the crowds.  About 11:00AM the tour buses full of Germans, French and Americans start arriving and it quickly becomes like Disney World.

While I was in Piste I was talking to Mexican who told me that I could not turn  in my TVIP in Baja as I had planned.  I had no internet access and my Spanish is not good enough to confirm this with any of the officials.  I thought he was wrong, but being a Mexican newbie I really didn't know.  He told me I had to turn in my TVIP at the same Banjercito where I received it!  Even though I was pretty sure he was wrong, who was I to argue with a Mexican about his own country.  I started making plans to return to the states via Eagle Passs, ride across NM and AZ and re-enter Mexico in Baja.  It would change the trip drastically, but it would still be a good trip.

I started heading back for the US.  Tomorrow I hope to update you on that leg of the trip.

Spoiler Alert:  The Mexican was wrong!

On the Road to ???

I have chucked my plan out the window and just riding where I wish! It seems I got some bogus information from a local and started heading back north. At least, I think it was bogus.  I really don't know if it was or not yet. It's difficult doing government paperwork in a language you don't speak!  Hopefully I can do a full update in a day or two. It will include a small town Passion Play complete with Judas hanging from a tree, Chichen Itza, from heat to snow covered mountains, an active volcano, and a Mexico City rush hour ride.  Pics too!

Transitos and Topes

I had my first (and only, I hope) run in with a Transito (Local Traffic Police).  As I pulled into the town of Panuco (just SW of Tampico)  I was motioned to pull over by a young man in uniform.  He asked for my license and I reluctantly gave it to him.  He kept pointing at my TVIP and I just kept saying "Lo siento, hablo un poco de espanol.  Soy turisto".  He gave up on that and stared at my licence.  I think he told me that my license was not valid for motorcycles.  I pointed to the M on the license and said "Moto".  He then started pointing to my speedometer and saying something.  I began giving him an English lesson.  "Si!  Speed-o-meter, tach-o-meter, o-do-meter".  He then became interested in my SPOT.  I told him it was for "satellito".  He then seem to get bored with me and let me go on my way.

As I was riding something did not feel right.  I looked back and my top case was dangling from the back of the bike!  A tope had busted my mounting bracket.  A tope (toh-pay) is best described as a speed bump on steroids.  Some of them are up to six inches high.

Luckily I had some of straps that BMW uses to strap down motorcycles for transatlantic shipping and I was able to use those to strap the top case back onto the bike.

 knew there was a BMW dealer in Veracruz so I made for there.  It was Sunday and I was not going to be able to Veracruz that night so I found a cheap hotel in Palma Sola.  Palma Sola is a wide spot in the road that is mainly small restaurants and vulkas (tire repair).  The hotel cost me $15.

The toilet did not have a seat.

But it did have a pool and an outdoor gym!

The next morning (thank goodness dealers are open here on Mondays)  I made it to the BMW dealer in Boca del Rio.

They did not have the part but the person I spoke with said he could have it welded and I could pick it up at 10:00AM the next day.  Sounded good to me!  I had to find a hotel for the night and found one about a mile from the dealer.  What a hotel.  I think it was formerly one of the infamous "Love Motels"  These are private motels with rooms for you and your mistress/girlfriend.  The parking spots have curtains you can draw so no one can see your car and figure out you are there.  These rooms usually rent in 3 to 5 hour increments.  When I saw my room I was amazed!  It had a mirror on the ceiling, bidet, and jacuzzi for two.

The next morning I woke up early and rode to the beach to check my maps and wait for the dealership to open.

I went to the dealer and the part had been welded and I was on my way buy 11:00AM.  The day's ride was more of the same.  Topes, check points, heat.  It was kind of cool riding through the pineapple fields.

I made it to Coatzacoalcos and found a hotel near the beach. 

I was feeling down (heat) and decided to cancel the trip to Central America.  After checking my maps I saw that I was so close to Belize and Guatemala that I would hate myself if I did not visit them.  I think I am just going to recoup today here and throw my plans out the window.  Flexibility is going to be the name of the game from here.

Hasta luego!

Still Here!

I am still here on the road, but some things have changed.  I had a problem with my bike and it has gotten really HOT!  I have decided not to go further south as where I am now the temps are pushing 100.  That is too hot for riding gear and Mexican traffic.  I simply cannot travel as fast here as I had planned.  I am going to spend all my time in Mexico.  I will make a compleet update the next time I have Wi-Fi access.  Adios!

Ciudad Valles

Not much to report today.  I just strolled around Cd. Valles and watched the people and took in the the Latin American culture and attitudes.  They are much more laid back and not as uptight as we are.  Today, I think I'll just post some photos of things that made me go hmmmmmm.

There is a thin layer of white dust that covers everything here, but I don't know how.  They are continually sweeping and mopping.

My hotel, the Hotel Pina.

I think I'll keep my beemer!

One stop shopping.  Lawyer, dentist and pet pharmacy.

Hey!  You never know when you might need one of these!

Is this where nachos were invented?

Why wash your car at home?  Just drive it to the river!

Kinda slow for a Saturday.

OK!  Got a customer!

I tried to spend a nice peaceful morning in the plaza. Birds wouldn't shut up!

For lunch I had a steak dinner.  The steak, potatoes, soup, bread and coke set me back six bucks!  I went out this evening and had helados for dinner again.  I then watched the Mexico/Canada soccer match.

I'll be leaving Cd. Valles tomorrow, but I am tempted just to stay here!