Nov. 10th

After the usual wonderful breakfast at Lalo's and Gina's we finally say our good byes and headed down the road. What great host. Gina and Lola acted as guides, interpreters, travel planners, and spanish teachers.



A number of bill boards refer to the recent Pan American games held here in Guadalajara include one proclaiming "the Pole Dancing Club of the Pan American Games", a future event perhaps.
We got out of town with no problems, all the bikes are running great.
Once again we ride through areas rolling hills with trees and alpine vegetation. Temps today were in the high 60's to mid 70's, lot's of cumulus clouds, it appeared to be raining off to the east. Since leaving Skagway I've had dry roads everyday.
Just realized I rolled out of Skagway one month ago today, time really has flown. IMUF
Sounds like the skiing up north is going full tilt, not missing it yet, yet.



Road side taco lunch was good today as they all have been so far. The motorcycles tend to draw in the people. Quite a few know of Alaska and that it's a long way away and cold.
I've been impressed by the number of people who will come up to us and ask if they can help us with anything.
My spanish is slowly coming along. Max quiz's Jim and I at breakfast on words he taught us the day before, our retention could only be rated, fair.
My new phrase, bagabungo pur el mundo = traveler or vagabond of the world. One of the mechanics used the word bagabungo and would point at me then my motorcycle. This morning Gina and Lalo helped me figure out what he was saying. Best guess he was calling me a motorcycle vagabond. I've been called worst.
No Internet tonight, bummer. Girl working the desk keeps saying later, which I take to mean she'll be off work later and won't have to deal with us or the Internet.



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Location:Merelia

Nov. 9th

With all our best attempts we tried to leave town today, again. Max's bike has issues, carburation issues. By late on the afternoon all was well. The guys at Euro Bike did an awesome job tracing down the problems and fixing them.


Me, Jim and Max with the Euro Bike staff

Back to our home away from home. Gina greets us at the door with "if you were meant to leave today you would have. You were meant to be here tonight. Now come in".
Many thanks to Shasheen for this awesome connection.
Thank you Lola and Gina for your wonderful hospitality.
Tomorrow on the road early. Tonight thinking of the full moon.
ILUB

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Location:Guadalajara

Nov. 8th

I can't speak for other bike shops in Mexico, but the guys at Euro Bike are into clean as Armondo the manager says the bike should look like new when it leaves this shop.


My KLR stripped down and clean

Went to the central market this afternoon, great food, people selling everything from poly tarps to leather jackets.
Back to Euro Bike. My bike is done and being given a final wash and wax. When I mention to Victor, my mechanic, that Jim will be jealous of my clean bike he just smiles. I start taking to Jim when we turn around Victor has started washing Jim's bike. Max's bike is taking longer than they thought so we're heading back to Lalo's and Gina's, hoping to hit the road tomorrow.
Back at Lalo's and Gina's for another wonderful home cooked meal. We are getting spoiled here.



Final wash and wax before Victor attacked Jim's bike

Location:Guadalajara

Nov 7th

Nov. 7th
Off early to Euro Bike, a KTM and Kawasaki dealer, with the help of our host Lalo and Gina we discuss with the mechanics our needs, each bike gets an assigned mechanic.


Max and Gina talk KTM needs

Next off for a trip to an outlaying part of Guadalajara. Walking to their favorite lunch restaurant we stop at a very high end home decorating shop. Beautiful hand carved tables and chairs, wrought iron sculptures, and amazing chandeliers.
Lunch was a delight. Open patio seating, excellent food, and tasty Margaritas. After we paid the bill our waiter announced since we were such nice people the management would like to buy us another round of Margaritas, yeah! Then they brought a special Marg. made with Tamrindo, for us to sample, very dangerous, delicious.
Bike work still underway. One thing here these guys are into clean, after stripping my bike to work on it, they give it a complete wash down. I can almost see my bike smile.
Back at Lalo's and Gina's we are treated to a great dinner. Our host is taking such great care of us we may move in.
IFMUL

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Location:Guadalajara

Nov 7-9th

Nov. 7th
Off early to Euro Bike, a KTM and Kawasaki dealer, with the help of our host Lalo and Gina we discuss with the mechanics our needs, each bike gets an assigned mechanic.


Max and Gina talk KTM needs

Next off for a trip to an outlaying part of Guadalajara. Walking to their favorite lunch restaurant we stop at a very high end home decorating shop. Beautiful hand carved tables and chairs, wrought iron sculptures, and amazing chandeliers.
Lunch was a delight. Open patio seating, excellent food, and tasty Margaritas. After we paid the bill our waiter announced since we were such nice people the management would like to buy us another round of Margaritas, yeah! Then they brought a special Marg. made with Tamrindo, for us to sample, very dangerous, delicious.
Bike work still underway. One thing here these guys are into clean, after stripping my bike to work on it, they give it a complete wash down. I can almost see my bike smile.
Back at Lalo's and Gina's we are treated to a great dinner. Our host is taking such great care of us we may move in.
IFMUL

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Location:Guadalajara

Nov 2 through the 6th

Nov 2nd
Off the ferry, temp near 100F, fuel up and we are off to Durango Mex.
Now it gets a little spooky. Today is the "Day of the Dead" in Mexico and the road we are riding is called the Devils Backbone, hmmm


All goes well. Great road lots of twist and turns, beautiful views and cool as in 56F degrees cool. Ahhhhhhhh. Knikki commented we rode like the devil had our tails hmmmmmmm. I never looked behind me.....hmmmmmm

Nov 3rd
Lay over day in Durango. Beautiful old cathedrals, neat old narrow streets, friendly people. Laundry, cab tour of town, grocery shopping.
Stayed at a cool old hotel, the Roma. Becoming somewhat dependent


on wifi which everyone seems to have.

Nov 4th
Rode from Durango to Jerez today. Beautiful vistas, very SW Colorado like. Cowboy and horse country. Still going to twisty road school.
Nice dinner tonight complete with a mariachi band composed of a father and his two sons.

Nov 5th
Beautiful ride again today, Jerez to Guadalajara. Ranch land, healthy horses and cattle, deep canyons and high mesa's
My riding skills are improving, feeling more comfortable on the twisty roads. Biggest challenges now come when we are riding in town's with traffic and narrow streets. Learning the throttle is my friend.





Nov 6th
Shopping at the Grande Plaza, a huge mall, everything from Sears to an IStore, Costco, Sam's Club and Walmart across the street. Picked up some basic's. Going to stay at some friends of Shaseen's house tonight outside of town. Tomorrow all the bikes are going to the dealers. Max's KLR has carburetor issues, we think, Jim's in for tire change knobbies to road and my KLR gets an oil change, air filter service and a general check up.


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Location:Guadala