Day 302 Monday 8th May Reynosa to Tula via Montemorellos 613km

Yesterday we discovered that instead of just 4 new friends we had 7 new friends who all arrived at the hotel. We all got to know each other and went to sit at the pool and in the Jaccuzzi for a beer. We discovered that Doc is actually a Dentist and one of the guys was an Anaesthetist, there was a Lawyer and an Architect, and there were more that were doctors, but I not sure what field they work in. We changed money before we went to the hotel at a drive-through (like I saw in Texas.) I wanted to go for a walk to look for a SIM card but Doc said it was not safe and we would not be leaving the hotel and eat in the hotel. Reynosa is the town that is on the border and it seems that the closer you are the the USA border the more dangerous it is.

We were treated to a dinner consisting of Rib-Eye, sausage, grilled vegetables and some Guacamole and Salsa, and a grilled cheese, with 2 types of Tortillas, one wheat and one corn.  Doc had two banners made with our names on as well as their names and even a common goal, to ride to Patagonia together (in Argentina,) and we each got a cap. Then I made a speech and handed out Wire Animals from Africa. Formalities over, new friends made, all in high spirit, LET THE RIDE BEGIN. We also discovered Mezcal, a drink that is more popular than Tequila, it burned and tasted very similar.

My morning was bad as I hardly slept last night, I am not a fan of hot and spicy food, and I was reminded of that again last night, so I felt very tired. Then we had breakfast and we discovered that all 7 of the new friends were going to escort us on part of todays ride, but they heard of a “problem” with our planned route and it was not going to be safe, so a further route was planned. Getting out of town was a mad-dash and it reminded me of driving around the edge of Maputo, lots of trading next to the road, poverty evident and lots of stray dogs. First a stop at the fuel station was chaos as filling 11 bikes sort of takes over the fore-court, so the local little Nissan taxi’s had to squeeze in and push and shove, like taxi guys do all over the world.

We encountered several Army vehicles along the road this morning but throughout the day we saw them, all dressed in Camo with Balaclavas on their heads to hide their Identity from the Drug cartels. At 1st we were on a highway and often had to slow down at Police Roadblocks but we were never stopped and waved through.

Then we arrived in Montemorellos, 235km away, and after some lefts and right turns in small little streets we drove right into the ground floor basement parking of a building that had been converted into a man-cave. The architect had his office on 1st floor and him and his wife and two kids stays on the other floors, but his toys are in the basement, some behind glass doors with mood lighting. Our architect friend already had his secretary go and buy us each a SIM card and lots of water appeared.

Note all the different Riding Jackets, Helmets and Gloves inside this Harley Davidson “Garage” within a garage.

Note the paper Milsy has under the bike.

I had asked that we stop at a bike shop so that I could buy Fork Oil, but when we arrived in the Man cave I heard the oil was on the way from the town 61km away, so we drank orange juice as we were now in the heart of the best orange juice producers in the world. It was really good.

We waited for the oil to arrive and drank more orange juice and then Doc worked on Rocky’s “Wheel Alignment” and then pie and Milsy also had them “checked out,” as Doc is also a ‘Ruk-En-Pluk Dr. ” (Chiropractor.)

Doc also parks two of his bikes here with his friend as he drives here in his car over weekends and then rides around in this more rural area with open roads.

Then pie and Milsy started preparing DadAss for her little operation so that she will be ready to work on as soon as the oil arrives, but, the one fork had stopped leaking and the other fork was now leaking very little, so we decided to simply clean the Duster seal and clean the forks and then keep and eye on it so it does not get worse, in which case we now have all the tools and oil to do the job.

So my morning got worse when I realised we were still going to go for lunch and then only tackle the remaining 400km for the day as we had only done 200km. We are not used to be in the hands of others and to fall under their route and their pace of traveling, plus we have a rhythm and we know each other so well, so when we leave on a 600km day we leave early, when we stop for fuel we do it quickly and when one puts on his helmet the others has already sensed that we are leaving and all helmets are on and ready to leave within one minute, especially in 38 degree weather.

But the Fish restaurant was really special, it had different dishes than last night, including raw prawns that had been “cooked” in lime-juice, the shrimps were served inside a Tomato cocktail, there was Frog Legs which I thought was chicken wings, lovely fish and once again avoid with crumbed tuna balls on top.

At 14h00 we left and said our good-byes, only Doc, Edwardo and Roger continued with us, so with a small group of only 7 we made good time (my day was getting better,) and we were now on Country Roads, riding through little settlements which reminded me of riding along the Trans Siberian Highway where everything happens on the main road and all the trucks and cars stop at little shelters or gazebos where food is being cooked, beer and cool drinks sold and one can buy local crafts or home baked biscuits. The rain clouds were gathering and we were now riding in much cooler weather. But we still had far to go. We had one very good mountain section with lots of twists.

Most people were cooking on open fires and we could smell the different meats being grilled and even the tortillas being grilled on the coals.

It was turning out to be a good day. but them we stopped in a town and the next minute two new friends arrived, probably local BMW riders who knows the area and knows the police and where to stay and eat, and then we followed the three (one guy had his wife on the back with him. I am a bit of a control freak and I am not in charge and things are out of my control, so I am struggling to just become a follower, but I presume that this is a lesson I will just have to learn.

We faffed around and soon we found ourselves riding in the dark, luckily the roads are not busy and they have a wide shoulder, so the cars and trucks ride all the way to the side, so passing is easy. We arrived at our little town, (not the one where we were supposed to stay,) and it is an eye opener, all the buildings are only 1 storey and the streets are narrow, with lots of cables over-head, not a lot of street lights, yet a vibe with music playing, people eating and drinking on the street from vendors, little restaurants and lots of pedestrians.

Riding with Doc and Crew is very interesting, they all ride BMW’s except Doc, on this trip he is not on his Beemer but on his new Triumph Tiger. They swerve around potholes and then point at the pothole with their one foot as they pass it, they also don’t ride lots of gravel like we, and where we will spend money on a protector cover over your brake fluid reservoir or a bash plate for your sump, they have lots of extra lights fitted, which they connect to the bike via a computer that you can set to control when each light should come on, so when they slow down and close the throttle the back of the bike lights up like a Christmas Tree and the hazards come on plus the extra lights, this then changes colour and flash-pattern changes when they apply brake, and things also flashes on the front lights.

Yes, count again, 4 different sets of lights on each side doing different “stuffs” all controlled by a little computer fastened under the seat.

I am skipping dinner and writing the blog, but I did ask Pie to take our map to dinner and get an idea of where we are going tomorrow, the distance and then to wrestle back some control so that we don’t have another long day like today, we need to get going early if its going to be long, and we need to start traveling together as a group, like we have become accustomed to. But its such a life lesson, the Mexican Friends are Super Relaxed and do not let themselves be chased by a schedule, and the plan can be changed several times, its ok, so maybe the only thing that will change is me. We are now in the middle of Mexico and close to all the “Tourist” spots that Doc wants to show us.

Here is a group photo with our 3 old friends and the three new friends that joined us this afternoon, sadly I was not in the photo as I saw the late night coming and was changing my dark visor for my helmet with a clear visor so that I could see where I was going.

Sleep well Y’all, I hope I do, I am finished !!!!!!

Fleisch