Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Wakko]

The road from Mazatlan to Durango across the Sierra Madres is primo.
Even making extremely good time we were still on that road several
hours. The road condition was good to excellent  Weather cool but
mild. Traffic hair raising at times. It's easily made my top ten North
America roads despite that.

Myself and the Mouse on the Ultra Chicken, Morgan Kane on his hopped
up Harley, and Bill Walker on the Green One made this part of the trip
having separated from Buddy Helscel outside of Mazatlan that morning
as he made his way up the coast.

The road winds itself around tree festooned peaks, giving particularly
good views of the canyons below, on both sides of the road no less.
Extremely curvy. Clear air revealed mountains to the horizon. Slowing
down in remote mountainside pueblitas, all eyes turn to follow the
bikes as they rumble through. Kids waving. One teen we passed revealed
his knowledge of English, exclaiming "Oh, my god!". No chit.

Buying gas at a store with the word "Gasolina" scrawled across a piece
of wood tacked to one outside wall, we tank up out of jugs an old man
drug out onto the dusty porch, his dog taking a siesta in the shade.

We tackle those sinuous curve with conviction and concentration.
Scraping floorboards on both sides, hammering the throttle as we made
noisy but graceful work of each corner. Passing slow moving trucks we
leave the local logging, commercial, and personal traffic behind.

Our reward afterwards consisted of some carne, beans and
tortillas....and a table full of grins.

[BLM777]

Enjoyed your ride report.  I really enjoy Mazatlan, but haven't been there in several years.  Anything new on secure lodging for the scoots?  Would really like to plan that trip for later in the year.  

[Wakko]

Secure lodging for the bike on this trip consisted of a couple of different kinds of chains and sleeping with one eye open.

[SPIDERMAN]

Secure lodging for the bike on this trip consisted of a couple of different kinds of chains and sleeping with one eye open.

 I'd love to do the ride Dude, but I have visions of waking up with the Federales sitting on Elvis and me two steppin it back to the States. Ensenada's cool though. Bout 50 clicks from the border below Dago.  

[BLM777]

Secure lodging for the bike on this trip consisted of a couple of different kinds of chains and sleeping with one eye open.

Thanks, I suspected things hadn't changed a whole lot.  If we get it put together, we'll probably be making your route backwards as I need to pick a bike up in San Diego, then Mexacali to meet a friend and then cross country to Durango.  Maybe we'll just skip the Mazatlan metro area and stay up the coast with friends.  Last time down, we had a couple of problems finding gas and some of the PeMex fuel stops had some pretty dirty fuel.  I usually filter the gas through a chamois for use in bikes or planes when down there and didn't have any real problems.  If you have any other particular tips on the trip, they would be greatly appreciated.  

[Wakko]

If you have any other particular tips on the trip, they would be greatly appreciated.

[Wakko]

There's a section of Mexico highway 40 between Sinaloa and Durango in
Mexico that's called "El Espinazo del Diablo" (The Spine of the
Devil). It's a well known road to Mexican bikers. I didn't learn it's
name until later, us having made a snap decision to ride a different
return route and not having time to research.

It's a very technical road and not for beginners. The "curvas
peligroso" were sharp and coupled with the traffic makes it all the
more dangerous. Rounding a corner and coming face to face with a semi,
with no barriers between the road and a steep cliff, makes for an
exciting challenge of preventing yourself from launching you and your
ride into the void.

I understand that there is a sign somewhere that names the section of
road called "El Espinazo del Diablo" but I am sure I was concentrating
much too hard to find it. That, or that I was jamming to some kicking
Mexican dance club music that one of Magda Walker's nephews burned
onto CD for me. That's some good motorcycling music. Turn it up loud
and crank on the throttle.

[Wakko]

From the right...me, Bill Walker, and Morgan Kane...from usenet newsgroup tx.motorcycles.

[Wakko]

View from "El Espinazo del Diablo"

[Wakko]

Another view from "El Espinazo del Diablo"

[Wakko]

Taking a break in the shade.

[Wakko]

Another spectacular view.