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It's early. It's like way early. We run a
labyrinth getting out of town in the dark. Fortunately, none of the street
lights are working which adds to my confusion. As we climb out of town,
the city is lit up behind us. Is there anything better than a desert city
at night. We would find something this coming night.
Ok, it's darn cold. I didn't want to say it, but there, it's out. If I
had dressed properly, it probably wouldn't be so cold, but I didn't and it
is. This is becoming painful. It's time for another one of life's lessons.
Putting on long underwear alongside the road means that you have to take
the rest of your clothes off. Remember the cold part? I sure will and, no,
I didn't put on the bottoms. |
| It's still COLD! We start looking for breakfast
and are given a choice: A) to continue to be cold, but alive, or B) to be
warm with food in our bellies and dying of ptomaine poisoning. Being cold,
we decide, builds character.
As the sun comes up so does the country wake up. Along Mexico 40 in El
Sulte there is a progression of people up a long hill to who know where.
On the other side of town children were walking up the hill to school. In
a couple of more hours the progression will reverse. |
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We've been in the hills with nice
scenery and once again our socks were about to be knocked off. Didn't
Longfellow say, "Canyons to the left of us, canyons to the right…."
We are riding the ridge line between two large canyons. They have
different climates where one is green and the other is brown. Small
ecosystems develop based on how the sun hits the canyon walls. The only
downside are the trucks and there are a lot of them. If they feel they
need our lane, they are going to take it. Passing in blind corners is
their norm, but the buses are much worse at that. Corners require constant
vigilance. |
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Eighty kph is the speed limit. Buses have 95 kph
on the back. Seventy mph feels right, right up until we see two state
police cars tucked in the trees. Forrest and I put on our best "we're
dumb Gringos" smiles, wave and cross our fingers. They wave back.
Whew. |
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Our altitude is dropping as we approach
Concordia. There are amazing furniture shops here. This is hand-made,
hand-rubbed, high quality stuff that won't fit on our bikes. I wonder if I
can pull a trailer. |
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Shortly past Concordia is Mazatlan.
All I expect is that it is on the water. The main road into town doesn't
impress us. Pacifico is manufactured here, and that's good. We wander
toward the water and the $1,000,000.00 view opens up. A billion dollars
would be more like it. |
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By shear dumb luck we get a room at
the Best Western, on the water with a view out the back also. Here's the
kicker, it's on the 6th floor and costs $35.00 US a night. We may never
leave.
We get settled in, hit the water and dry off with a couple of beers
while sitting under a thatched roof hut. Times are tough, the sunset is
great and the city lights warm our souls. The only decision we have is
whether or not to spend more time here. |
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Here's the latest food report. Menus are very deceiving.
I've ordered filet mignon for $8.00 US and was served a piece of meat
covered in some bizarre white sauce. Tonight I ordered shrimp cocktail and
got a glass of warm liquid with bits of shrimp, tomatoes and onions
floating in it. Forrest, on the other hand, is downstairs digging up some
great guacamole and chips. |
