It sure isn’t as cool as it was yesterday morning. While the other guys are packing, I walk across the street to the gated parking and retrieve the bikes. On the road the view is great as we are traveling along miles of empty beaches with a beautiful blue gulf off to the left. It may seem shallow with all this beauty, but the best part of the morning may be the lack of traffic.

We are flying and a cuota takes us around Campeche which saves a ton of time. In motorcycle terms, we look for a rabbit on the highway. A rabbit is a motorist who is greatly exceeding the speed limit. That person will attract the attention of the police while we are back farther going equally as fast. Today we find one and click our speed up past 90. The first time any of us saw the flashing lights was when the patrol car passed us. Once we regained consciousness we discovered that the policeman was flying after someone else. Whew! On past trips the police cars didn’t seem capable of keeping up with a donkey. That’s no longer the case as the police have some high powered vehicles.

Don and I have a somewhat strange breakfast while Mike eats a normal looking omelet that wreaks havoc with his digestion. There is nothing worse than having an upset stomach or digestion problems when on a bike trip. At least my freshly squeezed mango juice was to die for.

Reaching Campeche means we will no longer see the gulf until we are close to leaving the country. That’s a sad fact, but on the other hand we will travel through some mountainous areas with jungle. Today we try to run over a huge green lizard. Speed is survival and this guy is loaded. On the other hand, the dogs down here are having a tough time. We’ve seen some that probably won’t make it through the night. What can 3 gringos on motorcycles do?

Near the Yucatan border we travel through miles upon miles of butterflies. At the border we stop to see them. My theory is that the butterflies can’t pass the border inspection we are now going through. Gee, what a surprise. The guards are going to pull over the 3 gringo motorcyclists who must be smuggling nuclear weapons in their saddlebags. I do get a laugh when I open the saddlebag with the dirty laundry. The smell is enough to curl a rifle barrel.

Merida is a hot town, but there is a Pemex with a 7-11 and a somewhat English speaking attendant. We find a motel on the map, but can’t find it in the real world. Traffic is heavy, it’s hot, the street signs don’t follow any logical order and we’re lost. Finally we stumble upon the Colonial Motel, but it’s full. Across the street is the El Colon with rooms to spare at a good price, but no parking. Once again we will park in a parking lot nearby.

Once we are in the room it’s time to hit the pool. Mike does some gymnastics and the room key comes out of his swim suit pocket. When we are done swimming we stare at the pool like it is filled with sulfuric acid. Finally, I dive in a get the key.

Our next stop is a laundromat and internet café. Even though I attach the word cafe to the term, they are only rooms, usually hot, with up to 10 computers. While our clothes are being cleaned we check our emails. Mike stays to surf the internet on the world’s slowest connection. Don and I head back to the motel, but first stop at a Subway and consume 8 gallons of soda. We become very Spanish and take a siesta. Once the temps come down we will explore the town.

The town square is beautiful with cathedrals and a palace. Horse driven carriages abound and the people are out for a Friday night. I still don’t know why, but the guard at the palace lets us in to walk around the interior. We have the palace to ourselves and the murals on the walls are amazing. Outside in the square I decide to speak German to every vendor who approaches me and it works great. The look on their faces is priceless and eventually they leave in frustration. Time for bed.