I am planning on not coming back to the states. Heading out on the "great adventure". Jeff

this is a great community of fellow travels. I really appreciate everyone's insight and taking the time to provide great info!

After researching (when do you stop?) I am looking at Xcalak as a possible home base. Anyone been there? Also, does the vehicle permit sync with the 6 month visa and can you just cross a border and then return?

Jeff

1. It's true that there is no banjercito in Tecate, despite contrary claims on the internet.

2. It's true that the banjercito in Mexicali is simple and convenient---leaving Mexico it's in a little hut on the edge of a parking lot on the Mexican side, well-signed as you approach the border crossing.

3. It's also true that the Mexicali banjercito is at the eastern crossing, not the downtown crossing. But I don't think it's as far as 20km--my memory is maybe 10 or 12km--and it's not difficult to enter downtown and ride through town to the banjercito. No big city hassles, just traffic lights on a wide main thoroughfare. I like this crossing a lot more than Tijuana, and the road south from Tecate (or north to Tecate) is better riding than the coast road.

Hope that helps.

Mark

I get the impression that Jeff is using the bike more as a mode of escape than actually looking for a tour. Which is fine and totally his prerogative of course, but I would suggest he not burn any bridges behind him.
Have you actually any experience with the area you have selected , as in previous visit by air or car?Do you plan to learn Spanish? Do not fall into the trap of getting settled in firmly and then discovering it is not at all like the dream you had .In many spots in Mexico and Central America one can run into expatriate Americans and Europeans who gave into similar urges,bought a retirement property, set up a little bistro or shop, expecting to make a sort of living at it, and finding their meagre finances evaporating. Or with the recent economic downturn they found that their expected payouts from investments at home have waned .Now they are stuck , not able to live as well as they had expected , and not able to afford going back home.
There are many sorrowful cases of expats living in a single small hotel room spending most days drinking , but those are worst cases, would probably be doing the same at home. They tell me Granada ,Nicaragua is attracting a disproportionate number of this type of"tourist".

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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93

I thought that your perceptions are very accurate. I didn't think of it in that way, but it's true. I hope you don't mind if I share my heart. This observation has never presented to me for consideration and I can tell that it is important to search my heart and spirit in order to check my motivations.

At the starting gate it was to acquire enough info to make an intelligent decisions to see if I could ride down to Playa Del Carmen on my bike to see my Son. He plays the Cancun area clubs (singer) for 6 months of the year, then travelsso I thought that I would hang with him for a while to get a "sense" of the country by going in different directions to see the country. I can rent an inexpensive place for 6 months to search out the country. Also, at some point an adventure (after research and experience there are always changes to perception and goals), that it becomes somewhat intuitive as to the logistics of the hearts desire for something more than what I am doing now. I have a place to return if needed.

I don't want to make a "plan" or develop a circuit to travel on and miss the opportunities of the unexpected. Just talk to others who have traveled (for whatever their reasoning) to gain insight, to feel that it is something that is ok to try.

I have been to allot of places in the states and am bored with the people and the expense. Been to the middle east by myself and while it was scary (I was 19, I am 51 now) it was also a very profound experience.

I raised three kids. I owned a paint contracting business at Lake Tahoe for many years. In 2001, out of the blue my wife went on a trip, met a guy she knew for 3 weeks and all of a sudden it was love at first sight. It was a crushing blow. family, business, home, all gone within a three month period. I am not saying this as a "poor me" excuse. What I did find is that I had lost sight of who I am as a person (every part of "me" walked through the fire).

It's been several years of disintegration and rebuilding to get to the point where I believe that this is not just a trip. It goes to the very core of who I am and I expect to find answers that I would not be able to find any other way.

I really appreciate that you brought this out as it helps for insight and I welcome anyone who would like to share any insights that they might have (I know that this is NOT a "therapy" forum) but the history of people's lives are fascinating to me. And don't worry about not sharing my perspective. I don't get my feelings hurt when someone disagrees with me as there is always something to glean in every conversation.

Thanks