The combination of not working, perfect weather, and hanging out with friends were making it difficult to embark on this trip. Placing life on hold was more taxing than I expected and second thoughts began to creep into my consciousness. I needed to get on the road. Phoenix is less than 200 miles from the border so I point the bike toward Nogales and begin the hot blast through the desert.
The border crossing is a cinch, in part because I forget to do something that will come back to haunt me when I attempt to leave Mexico at the Guatemala border. More on that later. The change in scenery is immediate and I am excited to be in the bustling border city. I find a money changer and exchange my dollars for pesos. The words of the woman at the exchange hit me like a head on collision. I knew when I was planning the trip that learning another language would be a challenge for me and here am I now getting my first lessons under fire. I stumble through our conversation using lots of hand gestures. It’s an uncomfortable exchange and I’m anxious to get back on the road.
I arrive in Hermosillo by mid afternoon and look for a hotel. I don’t see anything immediately but after some effort I find a place that doesn’t look too expensive. It’s hot and the bike’s fan is running non stop as it struggles to cool the bike. A room is $60 a night and way out of my budget. I throw a word collage of bad Spanglish at the manager asking where I can find a cheaper hotel. Somehow he understands and points me down the road a half mile or so. The next place is around $45 and will have to do. The place is clean, has a nice restaurant, and they let me put the bike in the room, a common practice in Mexico. It’s my first night in Mexico and I’m eating an amazing dinner and drinking a tasty Mexican dark beer as I study the map in preparation for tomorrow’s ride to Los Mochis. Life is good.
I emerge from the frigid cocoon of my room later than planned. It feels good to sleep in. I have a hearty breakfast of coffee, fresh juice, eggs, tortillas, chorizo, and assorted hot sauces, it’s all excellent. Packing the bike down takes longer than I prefer. I will make adjustments to stream line this process over the coming days. The smells of the morning desert air remind me of AZ as I cut through the Sonoran landscape making my way to Los Mochis. Again I reach my destination in the late afternoon and relegated to search for accommodations in oppressive heat. I should’ve got up earlier. Unable to find a room in the centro I pan out and find a place near the casinos, an area characterized by strip malls and chain restaurants.
I learn my lesson the previous day and get on the road early to get a jump on the afternoon heat. My next stop takes me to Mazatlan where I will hang with the Striking Viking of RTW riding fame.
Tags: ADV, Adventure, Hermosillo, KTM 950, Mexico, SE, Sonora, Super Enduro, Superenduro