Mexico Bound ...(Gratuitous Solicitation)

[AZBarnacle]

Hey fellow HUBBers and friends,

It has been quite a process, but I am finally realizing a long awaited dream.
I am heading south for Mexico and (hopefully) parts beyond.
This is my first adventure into Mexico and my first trip on a motorcycle (riding a BMW g650gs). The bike has 6000 miles of experience on her, I have far fewer! Lol!

Originally was hoping to find a companion or two to travel with this first time, but as often happens schedules and itineraries and ...life don't always cooperate.

Heading out hopefully by January 9, 2017 from Nogales, Arizona and probably taking a coastal route down.
Taking things very slow and just enjoying the adventure and where the road leads. No specific itinerary, no specific route..

Here is the Gratuitous Solicitation...I am straddling that fine line between anticipation, excitement, and exhilaration....and...absolute terror!!!!
Please, if any of you fellow adventurers find yourselves in my path....would love to meet up to share stories, advice, laughter....and mostl likely a magarita or two! Inspire me with your journey, reassure me with your stories...and maybe an 'atta Girl!' To keep me going.

Keep me in your thoughts, as I do all of you! And message me if you might be around!

Thanks
Cynthia

By the way...thinking of calling my journey...

... Two wheels
... One girl
...Zero clue!!!!

Saw a funny quote, might be appropriate ...."If I don't die, this is going to be one HELL of a story!!!!"

[GorditoCanadian]

Its gunna be great!!! We left Tucson mid November. Entered at Nogales as well. The people of Mexico have been absolutely awesome to us! Kind, helpful, honest! i have a dozen stories of people going out of their way to give us/me a hand. Are you cutting over and riding down the baja? Or keeping on the mainland down?

[jarinland]

Sounds exciting..... arriving back in Texas next Tuesday. Is the import deposit still $400
Blake

[AZBarnacle]

Gordito,
Your message was so wonderfully positive! Thank you!
I have no specific route or timeframe, but will probably stick to the mainland, travel south along the coast and cut over eventually to see the beautiful central highlands and across to the east coast and yucatan. Might be biting off more than I can handle, but I want to see it all, experience it all...I have had a secret love affair with Mexico for a long time...lol!
If you ever need a gracious audience for your tales...would love to hear how your trip is going.
Ride safe!

[AZBarnacle]

Blake,
I am not certain on the TIP for a motorcycle entering Mexico, but I am assuming it is still $400. Maybe some others who have just entered have more information. I will put it on a credit card as opposed to cash to make it easier.

[octopusenvy]

Gday AZbarnacle from NZ! Well I'll be riding mexico in a month actually on a similar bike (slightly smaller g650x challenge). My plan is Baja, then ferry over to the mainland and then keep going south. I think you are brave and wish you the best of luck for your trip! We may bump into one another, but who knows?

I have been reading lots of forums and planning (not my first international bike rodeo) so if i can be of help do let me know. Important to sort out your spares and not take too much crap like clothes which u can always get more of easily. I've been to the Mayan Riviera (Tulum, Yucatan, etc) and it's fairly touristy but some beautiful parts.

Feel free to msg me for some chats about planning, or possibly meeting up if you are around the west coast of mexico in late Feb.

buen viaje!

[AZBarnacle]

Thanks so much Jeff,
I am trying hard to make the best decisions on what to bring and what to leave...(this challenges every chromosome in my body...ughhh...lol!)
I would love to stay in touch, hear how your journey is going and maybe even meet up at some point.
Only a fool wouldn't appreciate your offer of help and advice. I know there is much I don't know. I will private message you to find out contact info if that is ok?

But, the bike is ready, the helmet fits and the 'big girl pants' are on!
The rest, hopefully, will fall into place as well. I heard a saying ...if you waited til you were 'ready' you would never leave...I know i am far from experienced...I have a long way to go, but I also know I will get better, and stronger, and smarter...as I go.

Safe travels

Cynthia

[AZBarnacle]

Alright HUBBers...apparently 'gratuitous solicitation' was not strong enough!
Now, I understand that an inexperienced, unsupervised, unmedicated (atleast for now) woman on a bike may not be your idea of a good ride...but ....(and no offense intended, and with the exception of, the lovely gentlemen who responded to me)
Are there really not any fellow travelers on the road in Mexico who wouldn't mind meeting up?

[bubba zanetti]

I won't be riding at the same time as you, but I would happily meet up. Are you going to be doing a ride report as you go? Doing that is a great way to connect with others. There are many riders in Mexico at any give time and quite a few start a trip report over at ADV Rider. No offence to this great site, but ADV has thousands of very active members.

Look forward to reading about and learning from your travels.

[AZBarnacle]

Yeah Bubba!
Hadn't thought of posting one, so Thank you! for the suggestion.
I will check out the other site. Thank you again!

[Kojote]

I’ll be heading out about a month after you...late february, from San Antonio. It looks like mexico (mountains, gulf/yucatan), belize, guatemala, return via puerto escondido/part of pacific coast to texas. I know enough spanish, mechanicals, and my bike to get through most...time will tell. GOOD LUCK on your journey!

I too have had a difficult time finding people who are as excited about going, or have the time, finances, etc.

I’m really impressed!!! You’re absolutely right about waiting for the “right time”... It seems I’m about a month off from everyone else here...but would definitely like to meet up with fellow travelers and share stories, and grab a drink or two. Hopefully our paths cross!

If I didn’t already have a trip out west planned for mid Feb, I’d leave earlier...I have nearly everything ready at this point...well...at least I think I do.

[octopusenvy]

Originally Posted by Kojote

I’ll be heading out about a month after you...late february, from San Antonio. It looks like mexico (mountains, gulf/yucatan), belize, guatemala, return via puerto escondido/part of pacific coast to texas.

Greetings Kojote,

Talvez podemos encontrar? I'm riding on that southern route as well, and either forced to continue through CA to jump Darian or I will ship from CDMX if possible (been to CA, keen to get to SA). That said, we are riding the same time in the same place I believe. I will cross the Cali border into Baja around 12Feb, and after 8 or so days I'll be on the ferry to Mainland from LaPaz. Got a relative in PV but keen to ride so won't stick around. Send me a PM and perhaps we can talk about routing etc? If I can't find inexpensive Avianca airfreight to Bogota, then I'm riding thru CA.

[Kojote]

yeah, my initial plan was to ride to panama, ship back to texas, fly back. but due to dicey responses from shipping, and prices being 3000+ USD, i figured i’d double back via pacific route (puerto escondido) explore a bit more of mexico after belize, guatemala. Originally I thought more of a South America route, but intended to limit my trip to a month or two, so I thought SA was quite a stretch. I’m really not limited on time, for practical purposes. I’d rather limit to MX/Belize/Guat. to maximize my time--at least with the current thinking. would love to share even part of the trip, I can definitely handle my own, mechanically/riding/ improvising, and assist another for sure. If I could find cheaper shipping options would definitely accompany to Darien

I’ll PM you in the AM...or at some point tomorrow....thanks for responding!!!

[mattsproule]

Hi folks

I just did that route from Tuscon to Nogales to Hermosillo. Very nice.

Im currently in Vancouver I left my bike in Mazatlan but was thinking of heading back down to ride southern mexico, belize and Guatemala then possibly loop back north via the baha.

AZbarbacle are you doing the coast en route to Mazatlan? thats about 3-4 days with lots to see. Im riding a KLR 650

[GorditoCanadian]

Hello again. Myself and possibly another rider will be in Mazatlan Jan.14th ish... if you are near by, we should grab a wobbly.... or 2.