Hey Motomon I am in Nicaragua in Playa Gigante, relaxing and taking some spanish lessons for a few weeks. Cool little town with surfing etc. I will be here for a few weeks, if you are in the area and want to put some miles down let me know. Or anyone else out there

Cheers Rob

Departure
 

Look to leave either this Sunday or at the latest, on Monday. Plan to cross at Nogales and spend probably a week getting through Mexico and another week to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. That puts me around you toward the end of November, probably after Thanksgiving (in Nicaragua, with gringos?).
I would very much like to ride together, especially if anyone else wants to go south via Belize, Tikal, Copan, and skip El Salvador. This is my current pipe dream/fantasy route. Am very flexible and open to alternatives.
I'm an seasoned veteran (old fart) of 65, riding a new-to-me '04 Suzuki Wee Strom (DL650). I rode to Ushuaia and back in '09/'10, a month in New Zealand last spring, and went from Los Angeles to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Michigan to North Carolina and back to LA this summer. On this trip, I hope to return to Ushuaia, visiting friends in Rio Gallegos, Argentina, then back north to some port to ship bike and me to South Africa. When asked how long I'll be gone, I often say that it will be between six months and six years.
Let's stay in tough. Feel free to email direct to motomon at pobox dot com
Chris

Good to hear you are on your way Brad. I'm in Zacatecas right now. Been for a few days, will be for another few before heading to the coast again.

Been a wicked ride so far!

Heading South
 

Have finally left and I am now in Guatemala and happy to be out of Mexico. The first part of traveling in Mexico was fine and I didn't get killed nor robbed. I had to pay $448 just to bring my motorcycle in. This is to prevent the entry and sale of vehicles. But, I ended up only getting back $400, so I was paying $6/day just to be there. I fell and sprained my ankle in Mazatlan on very deep gravel. I had a horrible time getting through Mexico City, including having a very difficult time changing money there. The last straw was having to spend three hours leaving Mexico. I hope I never have to return there. There are many beautiful places there and some very nice people, but the bureaucracy is awful.

My entry into Guatemala was fantastic. The officials were very efficient and went out of their way to be helpful. The hotel I'm in is decent, but the staff are as helpful and friendly as one could wish. I even got the cook, Doña Flor, to make Gallo Pinto, essentially rice and beans mixed with spices like cilantro.

I expect to be into El Salvador within a day or two. Then Honduras for a day or less. Then Nicaragua, where a friend is waiting for me. Then I plan to visit family and friends in Costa Rica. Then Panama, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, maybe Bolivia, Brazil, and ???

I also lost my smart phone in Mexico and don't have phone numbers, and misplaced my camera before I left. Duh