We arrive in Zacatecas after dark and make our way through the bustling town to find Victor, our couch-surfing host, in his student digs.
Victor lives near the centre of town in a tiny semi-derelict house. Amazingly, the limited space Victor has at his disposal doesn’t prevent him from unquestioningly offering four cyclists accommodation. Victor is a [...]
After two days in Durango, we strike out again for Zacatecas. The guys have been busy developing their biking network in Durango and so we have an escort out of town; Miguelito offers to accompany us for the first 50 kilometres to guide us on the back roads. We meet Miguelito at the cathedral at [...]
Also tagged dirt roads, mexicoSince our fortuitous meeting with Abraham in Tepehuanes, we have found ourselves hooked up with the Mexican biking community. Cocono Salvajes (Wild Turkeys) are one of Santiago’s three mountain bike groups and they have taken us decidedly under their generous wings.
On Sunday morning we set off with about twenty-five Cocono riders on a on a [...]
The idea of following the abandoned railway track to Durango appeals to us and so armed with directions from Abraham we set off in the late afternoon sun. We are still negotiating our way out of town when Abraham unexpectedly joins us on his mountain bike accompanied by an Australian blue heeler, one of the [...]
Also tagged dirt roads, mexicoIn Tepehuanes, without warning, the boys suddenly develop a fascination for cowboys hats. I have been talking about buying a cowboy hat, for my sister, ever since I entered Mexico and none of my travelling companions showed the slightest interest. Now, with the bikes packed and ready to go the guys are irresistibly drawn by [...]
Also tagged food, mexico, peopleWe wake in a field, where we have all fallen asleep under a starry sky, encrusted in ice and set off again. Our aim now is to reach Zacatecas, as quickly as possible, while travelling on as few paved roads as we can manage. Our maps are all but useless for this endeavour and so [...]
Also tagged camping, dirt roads, fish, mexico, mountains, snow and ice, winterAs we ride towards the hot springs, in the morning, I start to feel unwell. I have been carrying some stomach bugs, probably giardia, with me from somewhere in the States. The only symptom so far has been a rather anti-social episode of farting when I was in Silver City but now I suddenly feel [...]
Also tagged dirt roads, hot springs, magic, mexico, windWe are not overjoyed to be back in Guachochi; it is a charmless town that most tourists probably don’t spend more that half an hour in, if that. However, we are waiting for Cass to return from the UK and the state of Jeff and Jason’s wheels means that there is no possibility of leaving [...]
Also tagged dirt roads, food, leaving, mexicoWe set out from Guachochi towards Sinforosa Canyon on foot and cover the 20 odd kilometres in a few hours with the help of a couple of lifts from locals in the back of pickup trucks.
We hike down to a suspension bridge that marks the end of vehicle roads and camp for the night in [...]
Eventually we hit paved road again at Samachique, where we are supposed to meet Jason, Jeff’s brother who has been holidaying on the coast. We have only made 150 kilometres of ‘forward’ progress over the last three weeks but nonetheless we are exhausted and a day late. Jason is nowhere to be seen and so [...]
Also tagged food, mexico