Even at 4:30AM heading out from Carlsbad, CA, there is expected traffic passing through L.A. And I'm not disappointed - traffic isn't coming to a stop, but it's slow at many sections and the bike is too wide to split lanes. The other side of the Grapevine is very wet, almost zero visibility so I'm stopping to get warm, put on dry gloves and have a coffee. Bouts of rain at various points along I-5 make for a chilly 10 hour ride, but I'm home now and it's been a fantastic
JANUARY 3 THROUGH MARCH 14, 2018
+
Heading south from la Manzanilla to Manzanillo and inland through Colima to my first stop, Volcano Colima. The volcano is huge on the horizon, but clouds shroud the top. I'm hoping to fly the drone up close, but that's unlikely. The air cools quite a bit as pine trees start to line the small two lane mountain road and then dirt road to a spot as close as I can get to the base of the volcano. A quick flight with the drone and onward to the lovely mountain town of Tapalpa, Jalisco! Four days on the town square at La Casa de Maty to take it all
I believe you won't find this experience anywhere else in the world. Raised wooden paths provided us with "confidence" throughout the 6k mangrove crocodile sanctuary on the edge of town. At $1.50 each donation it's quite a bargain. Two hundred to 300 prowling crocodiles wait in the murky waters, some 50 or more years old and weighing more than 800 lbs. In the rainy months some wander onto the beach. They seem prehistoric, alien, fictional
Rolling into la Manzanilla Friday afternoon thinking I'll make a loop through town before heading to the campground north up the beach. There's a couple of inexpensive looking hotels off the center square, wonder if they might have a room? The first one doesn't but the second one, Hotel Posada Tonala, has a room and it's great for a quick stay before picking Ann up Saturday. Time for a fish taco on the
Tuesday this week I made a room upgrade. Surprising how much quieter it is with a building between me and the town. I've been fighting flu symptoms for the last 7 days with rest and huge amounts of water. Saturday I arrived in Chacala barely to think. A headache and exhaustion made arranging a room difficult. All I wanted to do was give in to overwhelming body ache and cold/hot spells. The original plan was to stay a day or two, but this extended stay is working out well and I’m feeling
Chacala, Nayarit has dirt roads, a powdery sandy beach, very swimmable water, palm trees, friendly locals, real small town Mexico charm or hints of it. It's very likely you'll bump into both Mexican and a few gringo vacationers - a nice mix. Weekends are definitely rowdier. There's not a whole lot here and that's
This trip only happens because of Mexico's prevalent wi-fi. Not always super functional, but often good enough. Work still happens, same as always! Not a bad view from the office and the coffee is good and cheap, the owners very friendly and the weather is wonderful. I just found out they have a beachfront room available next door. Upgrading Tuesday
Light rain at the end of today and an amazing Chacala, Nayarit
Secure, reasonably clean and friendly, family run Hotel Las Glorias. Works well for a few days and it's just a couple doors back from the beach. $18
Quick update. Arrived this morning in Mazatlán via Baja Ferries’ overnight service from La Paz. Trying to get my ferry ticket ahead of time, important if you want a room. At 18 hours over night, the trip requires a room. The website won't charge my credit card, so I'm going in the day before to get a ticket. Oh, only First Class is available, sure, $10 more so I can sleep in a room! It appears this used to be a Japanese ferry. It's actually very