Finally on my way...Central America bound
 

Well, after about a year of planing and organizing, i will be leaving Florida this weekend for a border crossing at Pharr, TX Monday July 8th. I have downsized my business, sold most material stuff i don't need and stored some personal items. If i stumble across some place i like maybe i'll just stay for a bit or maybe forever. Most of my friends and family think i have totally lost my mind. I have been told over and over how dangerous it is in Mexico and Central America. I keep pointing out the crime statistics in most US cities which are just as ugly but most Americans don't seem to be bothered by that. doh Anyway, i thank all of the contributors on this site who have given me real knowledge and confidence to make this motorcycle adventure. Hope to meet some of you along the way. bier

Have a great ride, you up to see great places and to meet wonderful people on the road.
See you down here bier

Heads up for mosquitoes along the coast. Very bad this year, plague after plague. Skip the hammock camping, don't tempt a case of dengue.:funmeterno:

Very low on the fun meter scale!

Your trip sounds terrific!

Keep us posted regularly! Have you thought about a blog site?

Congratulations!
 

Good luck mate. Don't listen to these boring people trying to stop! Go for it!

Keep us posted.

I can't believe it, that is so dangerous and irresponsible to leave your own country to go and enjoy others :Beach:

Don't listen to the news, listen to the locals and make sure you take your time.

There is actually a huge wealth of information to be had here, we can give you anything from our experience as a traveller but local knowledge will make your trip!!!

Yes, i may do a separate blog. I'll post the site here when i get it up and running.

You will have an amazing time! My husband and I rode to the middle part of Mexico last summer with our 50 pound dog. We were told 1. Don't take the dog, big mistake. 2. It is very dangerous, you could get killed.
Despite all of the negative, we proceeded forward and went. Had the most amazing, incredible time ever. Taking the dog was an added bonus. We are going again this fall and will head to South America. (with our dog) Our blog is bentleysbigadventure.com.

Boring people? You live in London, I live here in Mexico. A simple heads up regarding the local dengue fever epidemic is merely an advisory and not trying to stop someone.

Also, mayoral elections are happening on Sunday in many municipalities throughout Mexico. It is tense in a few states and you might find a few road blocks or protests depending on outcomes. Just another heads up.

It's called local rider knowledge and info, never boring, often useful.

I'm sure hebbo meant "these boring people" back home...

Thanks Mike. Your're right. There is useful information and useless info. I consider your comments useful not negative. On the other hand, i consider useless, advise from someone having never done a trip like this telling me Mexico is dangerous because they saw something on US news reports. I know you have to be street smart and alert.

Stop by on your way through, dont forget the rain gear!

Hey Mike,

Yes, i anticipate some rain. I live on the panhandle of Florida and we have had four straight days of monsoon type rain. I've never seen anything like it. Setting records. No let up. Almost 24/7. So the last two days i have thrown on the rain gear and have gone for a ride to check it out.

Hola Astockjoc,

How is your adventure going?

I am in Oaxaca and will stay here for the next week or so. This is really an interesting town. I stayed on the Pacific coast for two weeks and really enjoyed some down time. I do not have a set plan and will probably be in Mexico for at least another month.

Ride Safe,

Johnny

Hey John,

The adventure is finally started. In Mexico almost a week now. I'll keep you posted as i head south.

Crossed the border about 7:30am at Reynosa on July 9. No big deal. Thought there would crowds and long lines. Very few people there and i got through the paperwork in about half an hour. Once through the border town of Reynosa, which took about twenty minutes, it was clear sailing on good roads due south and i ended up in Ciudad Victoria. It's about 200 miles south of the border. Got a hotel with secure parking by about 2:00pm. Had a meal at a great little Mexican place within a block of the hotel and it set me back about $4.00. I was beat from three days of riding 1200 miles. Had heavy rain from Florida to Texas. But the bike and gear held up well. Now i can slow down a bit and enjoy a few Mexican towns and scenery along the countryside. I'll be riding in some higher elevation through the Sierra Madre Oriental.

July 11. Now deep enough to start enjoying the beautiful countryside of Mexico. Made it to the beautiful mountain village of Xilitla. This is a very cool place. I know you went through Xilitla John. I decided to stay a couple of days. Xilitla is well known for the Surreal artist Edward James. In about 1940 he developed over a couple of decades an 80 acre mountain side surreal extravaganza. Truly spectacular.

Hola Astockjoc,

Glad you are on you way. And let us keep in touch and meet up when we get close. I will not leave Oaxaca until next week. I am awaiting a tire and a package from home.

Life is GOOD!

Ride Safe,

Johnny

Lucky Sod!
 

If you get the chance spend time in San Cristobal De Las Casas in the Chiapas. Very underrated in my opinion, with a great nightlife.

Stay upright!

Well, i wanted to visit San Cristobal before entering Guatemala, however, i ran out of time. I had to start Epspanol classes in Quezaltenango on July 22. I had some great experiences in Mexico. Road mostly through the mountains and, as you know, it is beautiful. My favorite places were the mountain town of Xilitla and Oaxaca. The people treated me like family. And, both places amoung others are cool for different reasons. Most people from the states have no idea how beautiful Mexico is. Oh well, their loss. I'll be back for more. Now it's time to try to learn Spanish so i can absorb more of these cultures. And, Quezaltenango, Guatemala is very cool too. I'll be here for probably several weeks and onward south for more.

Thanks to all on Horizons who have given me valuable bits of information to give me confidence to do this by moto.

Great stuff, we feel the same way, Xela is a great place and we loved it.

Get hold of what car" (Juan) on adv as he hangs there, take a trip to Tajulmulco Volcan, awesome place.

Oh please keep us posted on your daily happenings!! Love reading your tales. My 16 year old son and I just got back from about a month in Ecuador. We were in Guate about 8 years ago - he was a little kid back then - we both love Guate. Have fun!!!
What school are you going to? How is it? My wife studied at ICA about 20 years ago while I volunteered as a nurse in Nebaj.

Hey BMWGlenn,

Thanks for your comments. I choose Xela for school because it seemed less Americanized. Less chance to sit around speaking English. My school is Casa Xelaju. It is located in Zona 1. Close to the central Parque. Julio Bartes started it 25 years ago and has a fairly large and wonderful complex with the school and apartments overlooking the city. Cool place. The school does lots of social work in the area and donates part of the tuition to projects in the area.

Las Posas (the pools) Xilita is very cool. Visit this website for details www.xilitla.org

I stayed at the Posada Casa James, up the hill from Las Posas. The rate is higher that you might pay in Xilita hostel, but I decided to splurge. The owners are the most gentle people ever. While I was a guest there were problems with the Internet service and the owners let me use their cell phone to send an email.

Speaking of rain...I have a Nolan helmet with a piece "pinlock" anti-fog plastic. The pinlock is a second layer of plastic that snaps in behind the helmet face plate. I left without the pinlock and regretted it every time it rained. When my wife visited me in Buenos Aires she brought on down and I was happy as a clam everything it rained. Not sure if pinlock is used by other helmet makers, but highly suggest getting this feature.

On the road again
 

After two months in Xela (Quetzaltenango), Guatemala leaning a little Spanish, i am finally on the road again. If you ever visit Guatemala, don't miss Xela. It is very cool and there is much to see in the area within an hour of the city. Now, i have made my way to El Salvador and plan to enter Honduras in the next few days. The total fees to enter El Salvador were five dollars. The lowest fees in all Central America. Guess they are trying to promote tourism. The ride along the coast CA2 is easy and very beautiful. Lots of great ocean views and cool little towns.

Well, having crossed several borders in the past week i can safely say that Honduras boarder was the worst, most expensive and the most confusing. However, El Salvador was a pleasant surprise. The total fees for bike and migration were $5.00 US and no problems. The Pacific coast of El Salvador along CA2 is really beautiful and a nice ride. I am now at my near term destination (a few months) Costa Rica. Also, for those of you going to Central America for the first time, i urge you to buy Sjoerd Bakker's books on hotels and much other valuable information. When you pull into any fair sized Central American city in the middle of the afternoon or later, it can be very confusing not to mention the heat, being tired after a long ride and security of your bike and luggage. Most of the suggestions in Sjoerd's book are very good, inexpensive and all have had very secure parking for the bike.

COOL!!! you´ll love Guatemala! just try to avoid to ride at nights in the little villages and in red zones and you will be just fine. And if you need anything in your time in Guatemala you can contact me. Be safe and have fun!!!

Hola Astockjoc,

If you come to Nicaragua I recommend you to visit León as well.

I can offer you as well a cheap and safe accommodation in the case you need one and a lot of information for your trip.

Here you can see where we are:

Where we are - Bike-Nicaragua, geführte Motorradtouren, guided Motorbike-tours

Good journey

saludos Jürgen

Hi majo. We are going to be soon in Guatemala. I might drop you a line for some questions ! Cheers, Ian. Myroadisyourroad.tumblr.com