LA to TDF starting Dec 08 for 4-5 mths - Horizons Unlimited

**sunflowers** · #1 10 Oct 2008

Hi there,

I am riding from LA to TDF on a DR650 and as I am getting closer to my departure date am starting to get nervous and would like to meet up with people to ride with along the way.

I am pretty easy going and don’t mind if it is only for a few days to get through borders or a few more days to stop at gawk at amazing scenic views and say ohhh together. I also dive and heard there is some great diving in Honduras.

Please PM me if you are also planning your biking holiday around the same area at the same time.

All the best,
Annette

**Simon Taylor** · #2 10 Oct 2008

Hi Annette
This might be of interest.
We have just returned from Guatemala & Honduras (Trekking not Biking) . We spent a few days on an Island called Utila 1 hours boat ride off the coast of Honduras.

Utila is the smallest of the Bay Islands, which as you probably aware has the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world. Utila is more geared towards the budget traveller & appears to retain more of its heritage as opposed to chasing the higher spending traveller. We didn’t have enough time to undertake a diving coarse but most of the travellers we met were taking their PADI licence (about $200 usd – takes 5 days I believe) The island has an extremely friendly atmosphere (Even though we were there during the off peak rainy season & was it fairly quiet) & is great place to recharge the batteries, kick back & attracts divers from all over the world. You take the ferry from La Cieba to Utila (about £12) & there is secure (guarded) parking in the dock at La Cieba. (Try & book your return ferry ticket in advance, there is only one ferry company operating 2 ferries per day & it appears to be a “free for all”). Cash is difficult to get hold of on the Island however a few take plastic. There is an ATM at La Ciaba dock. If you do venture to Utila I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
Have a fantastic adventure…
Simon

**weaklinks** · #3 14 Oct 2008

Annette
Where are you planning on crossing the US border at?

**paddyT** · #4 14 Oct 2008

Hi Annette
Sorry, not enough posts to PM. I'm currently in San Fran having come across Canada and am about to do a loop out towards Colorado and back before heading south to TDF. I was wondering what date you had planned to leave because I too am a little unsure of border crossings till I get the hang of it. My Spanish is pretty poor, so I would really love some moral support or a loose arrangement to maybe meet up now and again?
Paddy

**sunflowers** · #5 19 Oct 2008

Hi Paddy,

I am arriving in LA 01 Dec where I had planned to spend about a week working on my bike and then head along route 66 for a bit of a laugh and then cross into Mexico somewhere in Southern Texas.

Cheers,
Annette

**Road Hog** · #6 19 Oct 2008

Hi Annette

I will be flying into Chile m/l the first of January then heading to south. I will be rideing around for about two months so let me know if you get that far south during that time frame.
Last winter Wife and I crossed into Mexico at McAllen TX. and traveled to about 100 miles north of Mexico City. We never had a problem (well we got lost a couple of times) just cross boader early in the morning and get atleast 100 miles south of the border befor stopping for the night.
Wish I had time to ride all the way, have fun, use common sence and all problems will be fixable.

Bob

**gpothoven** · #7 21 Oct 2008

Keep in mind that 5 months puts you in TDF by end of april. Pretty cold by then. Not impossible, but it will be cold. You would be right at the edge by that date. I was there mid april and was riding in 0c temps.

**MikeS** · #8 21 Oct 2008

There's some nice riding from Los Mochis to Creel on the dirt roads. Why not head down Baja and get the ferry over?

I was in Ushuaia in Mid November and it was -3c and that was it heading into its spring. If you're only taking 5 months to get there, I guess it will be a wee bit nippy down there by April! Bear in mind it took us a month to go through Mexico and another month for Central America (maybe longer if you're going diving) so thats only leaving you 3 months for South America...! Having said that, we initially thought we could go from Argentina to Alaska in 6 months and it actually took 10.

**designbuildla** · #9 22 Oct 2008

Hi there,
we are three mellow enduro riders heading to cabo on nov.21 from LA. were probably goiong to do some trail riding off the beaten path, eat some lobster, relax and make to cabo healthy and happy. give me a shout if that works for you. eric

I am riding from LA to TDF on a DR650 and as I am getting closer to my departure date am starting to get nervous and would like to meet up with people to ride with along the way.

I am pretty easy going and don’t mind if it is only for a few days to get through borders or a few more days to stop at gawk at amazing scenic views and say ohhh together. I also dive and heard there is some great diving in Honduras.

Please PM me if you are also planning your biking holiday around the same area at the same time.

All the best,
Annette[/quote]

**sunflowers** · #10 22 Oct 2008

Thanks for the weather updates guys. I just spent my lunch break looking at all the various temperatures along my route. It looks like Ushuaia is going to be coldish anytime of the year so not too worried. Definitely getting heated grips put on my bike!

But how you ‘Have Been There Done and have the Mud on my Wheels Still’ guys could really help an overwhelmed girl is list a few of your ‘Not Famous but Made my Trip Places’ please.

So far for me just after the Californian border someone told me to follow the old 101 now called the ‘Avenue of Giants’ which I thought was magical ride (but then I grew up in the land of the lord of the rings).

Still right now I would do anything to get away from the bloke who sits behind me moaning his lot all day only to break it up by yelling at me occasionally.

Going stir crazy sitting behind a desk staring at a computer screen in London, UK,
Annette

**MikeS** · #11 22 Oct 2008

Hmm, well think of it this way. Just imagine coming back to that very same desk and computer screen after nearly 2 years away on the bike...and if you want to know how that feels, just ask me!

Will have a think re places I which though were pretty great...there's quite a few!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunflowers

Going stir crazy sitting behind a desk staring at a computer screen in London, UK,
Annette

**paddyT** · #12 23 Oct 2008

Hi Annette
It's true, the avenue of the giants and the whole surrounding northern California area is magical. Putting the trees into scale is impossible until you can walk between them.
I'm currently in Wyoming and having timed everything really badly have ended up constantly altering my route because of the snow.
With one of my heated grips giving up today I realise how much I rely on them! It's also the first time I was trying to do various maths tables to keep my brain going- it's a bitter prairie wind at 7000ft!
I'll be in LA around the end of November and also want to head in to Mexico from New Mexico or Texas and head towards Copper Canyon.
Keep in touch and keep the preparations fun- don't fret!

**sunflowers** · #13 29 Oct 2008

Hi All,

Regarding weather. I got an email from a well wisher warning me that riding around Alaska and Canada would be insane in December so I am glad I have got that bit out of the way!

Just finished reading Dave Gorman Unchained America about a British bloke who wanted to drive from coast to coast without paying ‘the man’ and instead using independent gas stations, hotels and food. Maybe it was doing it because I don’t think I have ever seen an independent petrol station over here.

But it has inspired me to ride a little bit of route 66 trying to do the same thing before heading south (also weather dependant). Then it looks like Copper Canyon is the place to be!

Simon - Thanks for the information about Utila Island! It sounds wonderful. I am looking forward to checking it out myself.

Paddy – preparations are going well. I had another women’s self defence course last night and we have graduated from hitting pillows to harder pushing. One of the other members of the class subversively told me about a defence course for women who live in squats over here – so that might be more along the line of what I am looking for.

Mike - where is the magic list (c;

Staring out the window and wishing I was in the sun on my bike,
Annette

**hankhueller** · #14 7 Nov 2008

Sounds like you will be about a week or so behind me. Leaving San Diego end of Nov. heading to La Paz. Take ferry to Mazatlan. Then head to Panama to catch a Dec 29th flight to Buenos Aires for the Dakar.

Fly back to Panama in Feb. and take 4 months to get back.

**sunflowers** · #15 15 Nov 2008

Hi Hank,

Might see you in panama then!. Enjoy the ride.

Annette

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