Toronto to Guatemala
 

Hi everyone. My name is Rick. Presently living on my sailboat in Guatemala. Flying home May of 2018 (Toronto). Will hit the ground and buy a dual sport. I must go to NS to see my dad, he's getting up there. Would like to leave southern Ontario around the beginning of Sept. and ride back to Guatemala. No hurry and no route plans as of yet. I do NOT want to take any interstates. I turn 65 years YOUNG next year. I have riden off and on for 50 yrs. Presently ride my weestrom here in Guatemala and guite love it. Been here for almost two years now. I'm the "handy man" type. It would be great to share the memory with someone that can put up with me and vice versa.
Safe riding everyone.
Rick

Welcome to HU Rick!

Love the sailboat in Guate, a nice lifestyle.

Try to get to the HU Ontario Travellers Meeting May 24-27 - a GREAT place to meet other travellers and check out what they've done with their bikes etc, and get a ton of info on everything you might want to know.

Hope to see you there!

That's great info Grant. I fly into Toronto on the 19th. I will most definitely try to make it. Thanks

Sorry 1write. Apparently because I'm new the "system" won't let me reply. Actually not sure what to do? Merry Christmas to you too

Welcome Rick!
You can avoid interstates with some careful route planning, a GPS and lots of Zig Zagging back and forth. Once into Mexico you'll have to get creative ... and things can get a bit "remote" ... like Meth Lab remote. Use caution.

I'll watch for your ride report, I'm interested to see how you do with the new
Husky. A great bike I'm sure ... but for that long a ride, I'd look into a better seat if you plan on long riding days. :thumbup1:
Should be options for a seat and good soft luggage too. :D

Are you on the Pacific side or Caribe side of Guate? What port? I lived on a sailboat for a couple weeks years ago on Caye Caulker (Belize) Actually got sick of eating Lobster! :innocent:

Have a great trip. Hope you can explore the good bits of USA on your way South and of course Baja and more in Cent. America too. I lived in Guate. back in the 70's. Had a Honda 50 step through and a Jawa 350!

Safe Travels!
bier

Hi mollydog
First, I want to apologize for being slow to get back. Simply brain dead on my part. Also thanks for the welcome. Not 100% sure on the 701 right now. I think a 501 with a new cush sprocket would also do the trick. Actually better once I get it back. A Seat Concepts seat and Mosko R40 bags I'm thinkimg. I am very happy here but there are many gravel and rocky roads with the inevitable stream or shallow river crossing that simply NEED to be explored. There are things I like about both bikes. In fact, so many bikes, so little time!!
Had one of the cheap 250cc Chinese bikes when I first got here but lusted for more ooomff around the trucks and buses. The 650 Vstrom I bought in Guatemala City has been great. Ticks all the boxes except ground clearance. With luggage and a pillion I would hit bottom on many of those damn tumalos. Sent for a heavier spring and after the swap the wee has been great. Still doesn't mean I want to be picking it up in one of the crossing though. So a lighter, modern bike is the plan for one up and the strom for two.
I live on the Rio Dulce at Tortugal Marina. The Pacific side is a comfortable 2 day ride away. Just getting back from Monterrico actually. Antigua was cold but it was incredible to be watching an active volcano from the hotel or while riding. One hour ride toward the beach and we were peeling off layers. First time in 3 days I felt warm.
A cruiser that just left here told a few Mexico stories. He was driving his 4x4 and got lost in the wrong neighborhood. He did his best, "oh silly Canadian" big goofy smile and backed out the door and drove away. The story that made me want to go was Copperhead Canyon. Perhaps even that train ride. However, just finished watching Breaking Bad and really don't need the meth lab experience. Life is really cheap in these countries. Been using my smart phone with Google Maps or Waze. Has gotten me to where I need to go but sometimes required "creative " riding. Occasionally wants me going through a divided highway or down one way streets. I'm thinking a small tablet, bike mounted with ram mounts for the ride back. Dakar style with perhaps three or four apps so I have choices. Smart phone is always plan B.
Belize was a blast while on my sailboat. Best memory was the dolphin at Lighthouse Reef that came to "play". She wore me out! She mirrored every manouver I could think of for about 20 minutes. I was snorkling a reef when she found me. When I couldn't play any longer she just slowly swam away. Never made it to Caye Caulker. The charts were showing some pretty shallow water so we bypassed. Glad to hear your memory was a good one. A lobster OD. Did that in the Bahamas.
So there you have it from me. If you find yourself this way on a bike give me a shout. Any excuse for a ride you know.
Cheers

Toronto to Guatemala
 

Sounds like it will be quite a trip! If you make it to the Ontario HU Travellers Meeting, I’d love to pick your brain about sailboat life

Hi Travis
A good selection of cheap boats here to LIVE on but getting them ready to sail away can be VERY expensive. Way way more than most people think. If you are the handyman type that does EVERYTHING yourself you might stand a chance. You most definitely need to be that kind of person while underway. Just keep in mind that it is very easy to spend more than you actually paid for the boat to get her seaworthy. All that said, I love falling asleep to the gentle rock and bring surrounded by water. Another pastime for me is wakeboarding behind my dinghy. Retirement is rough Travis but somebody has to do it.
Not sure if I will make it to the Ontario event. It will be tight for me. If you live in the area give me a shout next year. We can always meet for coffee somewhere. I don't need much of an excuse to go for a ride. I will be mostly in the Toronto or St. Catherine's area.
Cheers for now

Hi Rick,

Welcome to HU.
I've been riding my 701 since 2016 and love it for its versatility.
It really is a 'do it all' bike in my opinion.
It keeps up to my 450 off road and easily handles slab for hours at a time - which my 450 is less enthusiastic about.
Updates for me have included pannier racks, seat and fairing.

If things 'click' for me I plan to visit a friend in Guatemala near Lake Atitlan this Fall.
I'm coming from BC and am eyeing the Baja route. :mchappy:

Please feel free to PM me and stay in touch in case our paths sync up in the Fall.

Riel

Hi Riel.
Thanks for the onfo and your feelings on the 701. It means a lot from someone who also rides a 450. If I do get one I was hoping to get the Rade Garage fairing, seat, racks and bags. That would be great if we managed to ride together. The Baja route sounds like an adventure. Copper Canyon has me interested also. If we don't make the trip together keep in touch for sure. Lake Atitlan is beautiful as is all of the riding in Guatemala. One way or another we will ride together. Hope your plans come together.
Safe riding
Rick

Just like a big kid at Christmas. Just pulled the trigger on a 2017 Husqvarna 701 enduro. Good deal on a "new" 17 at a Canadian dealer. Let the farkle fun begin!

Congratulations Rick!!:scooter:

If you have not already found your way to the 1000page adv forum on 701's I can recommend
Husqvarna 701 Super Moto and Enduro! | Page 905 | Adventure Rider

:thumbup1:

Baja
 

When will you be entering Mex? I am also a sailor. I am driving my truck to Panama, my goal is to bring our pets because we have a place there and relocating from California. Plans not firm yet..

Hi Cebaco
A little early yet to guesstimate entering Mexico. Right now "thinking" of the Baha to La Paz? Ferrry across to the mainland and if possible put the bike on the train that does Copper Canyon. Tunnels and bridges galore that will take my breath away. Then work my way south with a pit stop to perhaps check out a marina or two. Thinking Mexico "might" be around mid October. Just a quess at this point.

Sounds like a good plan! If you leave Ontario in May or June on the new bike, you should have great weather for much of Canada and USA. By late October things should be cooling a bit in Mexico, Baja has less humidity so really tolerable if you drink plenty of water.

Some great off road routes ... if you know where to go. If solo, use caution. I'm not good at navigation so usually follow to find the excellent (secret) trails. Some are quite tough.

I mostly stick to easier two track, don't mind deep sand too much but it's murder for some. On your Husky ... you won't even know riding SAND! :D
SO NICE! And there is plenty of it in Baja! Do some research on routes and trails. It's just an amazing place! Still mostly unspoiled ... but not for long.

For Copper Canyon (I've been 4 times on bikes since 1997. Take the Ferry from La Paz to Topolobambo (not to Mazatlan), then ride into Copper Canyon from there. You can go paved road, dirt ... or take the Train.

The Train starts out in Los Mochis, less than an hour from the Port, and goes all the way to Chihuahua ... but you won't go that far.

You could do the train but the best exploring will happen on your bike. Lots of unknown trails and little roads in and around the Canyon. If you can get your bike on the Train (I'm not sure?) then start at Los Mochis and go up to Creel.
From there, bail off the Train, go exploring on your bike.

Check out Mex 24.
You can intersect this route once you're done with Copper Canyon and ride it WEST to the coast, near Culiacan. Pick up Mex.24 a bit WEST of Parral.

Pretty amazing. I think there may now be a paved road ALL THE WAY down?When I did it in '07, all dirt. All sorts of terrain changes, nothing too difficult if you have off road experience. Your Husky will breeze through, I did it on a Vstrom, with friends on Tiger 900 and R12GS. It's a super remote area, very few services once into Sierra Tarahumaru.

Good luck, looking forward to updates.
bier