Trip Report - 22 Feb - Santiago Pinatempa Nacional to RoadKill Hotel just before Zanatepec
Distance since departure - 7,767 km
Distance travelled today - 504 km
Stayed - Hotel San Antoinio (right off highway - 250 pesos, bikes go in courtyard around back
Weather - 24-42 degrees C
Riding Conditions - riding solo south, I come across 4 American KLR pilots and a Finnish guy on a Suzuki 650. They are heading for Panama and I join their convoy. They have gear stacked high after a week of camping at Puerto Escondido. We move south into blast furnace heat. The wind picks up and starts slamming us with 80 kmh gusts. The caravan in front of me struggles with the wind and their top heavy gear. As darkness approaches an unscheduled stop has us staying in a real arsehole of a town just before Zanatepec. Not sure if anyone bothered to name it.
Trip Report - 21 Feb - Zihuatanejo to Santiago Pinatempa Nacional
Distance since departure - 7,263 km
Distance travelled today - 509 km
Stayed - Hotel San Antoinio (right on main street-but it has a surprisingly peaceful courtyard around back) - 3000 Pesos
Weather - 32-39 degrees C
Read all of Trip Report - 21 Feb - Zihuatanejo to Santiago Pinatempa Nacional
Trip Report - 20 Feb - La Playa Azul to Zihuatanejo
Distance since departure - 6,754 km
Distance travelled today - 141 km
Stayed - Suites La Ropa - 5000 Pesos
Weather - 32 degrees C
Riding Conditions - short ride day after rough accomodations yesterday. Some days are better off on the toll roads as this was just a slog over speed bumps and average looking towns. Ixtapa will appeal to people who like Las Vegas or Cabo but if you are looking for mexican nice carry on another 5km to Zihuatanejo. I love it here.
Read all of Trip Report - 20 Feb - La Playa Azul to Zihuatanejo
Trip Report - 19 Feb - Manzanillo to La Playa Azul
Distance since departure - 6,613 km
Distance travelled today - 345 km
Stayed - Road Kill 1300 Peso 2 minute from the beach, not for the faint of heart motel
Weather - 32 degrees C
Riding Conditions - best riding day yet! Twistys that never stopped with some radius decreasing corners to scare the shit out of you coccasionally. The KTM loves this stuff and is not scared off by the occasional rough stuff.
Read all of Trip Report - 19 Feb - Manzanillo to La Playa Azul
Trip Report - 18 Feb - Palladium Vallarta Resort to Manzanillo
Distance since departure - 6,268 kmDistance travelled today - 334 km
Stayed - Santa Cecilia 5500 Peso dumpy water front with pool and WiFi that works!
Weather - 25 -35 degrees C
Riding Conditions - slow going fun and twisty, bike may not be overheating but I am.
Read all of Trip Report - 18 Feb - Palladium Vallarta Resort to Manzanillo
Trip Report - 17 Feb - Palladium Vallarta Resort - Day off
Trip Report - 17 Feb - Palladium Vallarta Resort - Day off
Recommendations - You need to be in great shape to surf out here. Paddling a surf board is hard work.
Lessons learned - I think you would enjoy surfing more if you had a mechanical assist to get you back out to sea once you surf in. A ski lift for surfers or a sea doo tow board service. Just too old, too lazy and out of shape I guess.
Trip Report - 16 Feb - San Francisco to Palladium Vallarta Resort
Distance since departure - 5,934 km
Distance travelled today - 65 km
Stayed - Palladium Vallarta Resort and Spa ($100 USD all inclusive)
Weather - 25 -35 degrees C
Riding Conditions - short morning ride down the coast, hot and getting hotter
Read all of Trip Report - 16 Feb - San Francisco to Palladium Vallarta Resort
Trip Report - 15 Feb - Mazatlan to San Francisco
Distance since departure - 5,869 km
Distance travelled today - 421 km
Stayed - Hotel Cielo Rojo ($95 USD)
Weather - 25-35 degrees C
Riding Conditions - roads are getting fun. Off the mains and cruising coastals with good twistys but way too frequent speed bumps.
Read all of Trip Report - 15 Feb - Mazatlan to San Francisco
Trip Report - 14 Feb - Mazatlan day off
Distance since departure - 5,448 kmDistance travelled today - 0 km
Stayed - Siesta Hotel, Mazatlan (472 Pesos)
Weather - 20-30 degrees C
Riding Conditions - bike parked in another lobby/courtyard
Trip Report - 13 Feb - Huatabampa to Mazatlan
Distance since departure - 5,448 kmDistance travelled today - 603 km
Stayed - Siesta Hotel, Mazatlan (472 Pesos)
Weather - 2o-30 degrees C
Riding Conditions - hot with light cloud cover
Trip Report - 12 Feb - Rosario to Huatabampa
Distance since departure - 4,845 km
Distance travelled today - 242km
Stayed - Finca Real, Huatabampa - 3900 Pesos- and for that hot wateris included!
Weather - 22-27 degrees C
Riding Conditions - mild and light cloud cover
Route Description - We left Rosario with Bimmer repairs in mind but Jame's bike is running good if speed is up and offroading is restricted. Bike is air cooled and likes to run. Total load is about 400 pounds with two passengers so extra cooling might be a longer term solution.
Trip Report - 11 Feb - Hermosilla to Rosario (via Tonichi, Rio Chico, Movas, Nuri)
Distance since departure - 4,603 km
Distance travelled today - 324km
Stayed - Rosario Hilton - 3000 Pesos- no hot water but they let you park motos in the lobby
Weather - 17-27 degrees C
Riding Conditions - warm and dry, dusty when offroading
Route Description - We left Hermosilla and went inland as we were determined to get off the major highways that have plagued us to date and we were not disappointed.
Read all of Trip Report - 11 Feb - Hermosilla to Rosario (via Tonichi, Rio Chico, Movas, Nuri)
Trip Report - 10 Feb - Phoenix to Nogales to Hermosilla, Mexico
Distance since departure - 4,279 km
Distance travelled today - 577km
Stayed - Hermosillo - Hotel Siant Martin - 480 Pesos
Weather - 7-17 degrees C
Riding Conditions - sunny cold with some visible snow at higher altitudes
Route Description - I-10 and I-19 South to Nogales to cross border. Toll roads, mostly divided to Hermosillo. Boring and straight and cold with snow visible on hills with altitude.
Read all of Trip Report - 10 Feb - Phoenix to Nogales to Hermosilla, Mexico