Copper Canyon, Devil's Backbone, then Baja ...
 

Greetings!

I am departing the SF Bay Area 5/11 and heading south for Copper Canyon, then Devil's Backbone and taking the ferry from Mazatlan to La Paz and returning north from Cabo thru Baja. Anyone interested in joining me for all or part are welcome to get in touch, or say Hi along the way. Probably entering Mexico from Douglas AZ on 5/15. Traveling on a KLR650.

I am planning a similar trip, leaving Calgary, AB about the middle of May or so. On a V-Strom I took delivery of just yesterday. Still have to get it broken in and set up for touring.

This will be my first whack at *adventure-touring*, and my first time in Mexico.

But, the real reason for my post: please tell me more about the Devil's Backbone. A Google search shows it as the road from Durango to Mazatlan. Is it hwy 40, or a more interesting road perhaps paralleling hwy 40?

Thanks

Lee Myrah

Hwy 40 is the road you are looking for. Known locally as "El Espinoza del Diablo", literally I believe that is The Spine of the Devil. Great motorcycle road, but it is the main road between 2 fairly big cities, so it carries a lot of truck traffic. Some of the switchbacks are so tight the semis (artics to you Brits) have to use both lanes, so don't submit to the temptation to grind the pegs on blind corners. Lumber appears to be the big industry so lots of overloaded log trucks on steep mountain grades, a bad combination. I'm not trying to make it seem overly dangeous, and the pavement is excellent most of the way, just watch yourself. There are some really spectacular views along this road.

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Andy Tiegs
www.tiegs.com

Hi there,
I rode the Devils Backbone in 2001 on an old 1974 Honda CB750 - some photos in the Photo Album of the road are here...

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/SOHCEasyRiderTrip/

Its a fantastic road and wasnt too much traffic when i was on it (Oct 2001). I recommend stopping at the end of the road and getting some roadside bbq from the vendors - great stuff! Durango is very nice and the hotel owner let me park the bike in the lobby! Couldnt have found a nicer place. Good luck and you`ll enjoy Baja - great riding though the Desert and I can recommend the diner at El Rosario - full of Rally photos. The ferry to La Paz is 18 hours and cost 700 pesos when I was there in 2001. Good luck and enjoy. Andy