Motorcycling Mexico

Despite clear skies and a bright sun, it’s a cold day in San Luis Potosi, a beautiful colonial town located a few hours north of Mexico City. However, I’m in shorts and a t-shirt for the next hour because it’s also laundry day. Clean clothes are worth the suffering.

I began my motorcycle trip through Latin America almost a week ago. The trip will run from Texas down to Panama and, if I feel like it, all the way to Argentina. I have to admit that after all my months in Europe and Africa I am beginning to feel, not burned out by travel, but a bit lonely doing everything on my own, so I don’t know exactly how long I will continue on like this. But I’ll make the best of what time I am here.

From Houston I traveled to San Antonio, then on to Laredo. I spent a day running around like mad trying to get everything set up for my border crossing. Along with the last few things I needed to buy, I noticed the luggage racks on my bike had come loose. Apparently I hadn’t tightened the screws enough and they’d fallen off at some point along the route. I checked with half the motorcycle and auto shops in town but no one had the specialty part, so I patched them temporarily with zip ties and duct tape until I can reach a BMW dealer.

I crossed the border to Nuevo Laredo in the early afternoon. There were two checkpoints and I was waved by both with barely a glance. I knew from my research I had to get a temporary importation sticker on my bike for the trip and spotted the signs as I rode through the neighborhood right along the border. At some point you have to make a u-turn, which I did and suddenly found myself right back at the border heading into the United States! I explained with broken Spanish what had happened and, with a good laugh at my expense, they helped me turn around and directed me to the correct road.

At the registration building (which is unnecessarily huge, by the way!) I got in line to get myself and my bike processed. In front of me was an older couple. The woman looked me up and down in all my gear and, with a distinctly Australian accent, asked me in horror if I was riding a motorcycle. I said yes and she made it clear she thought that was a terrible idea. I didn’t really know what to say, so I just nodded along. I escaped her berating me when they were called to the window. A few minutes later, as I was processing my paperwork, her husband came over to me and said very quietly, “She’s just mad because I have a little 250cc motorcycle of my own. I ride it all over Mexico; it’s a beautiful country and you’ll love it.”

After a night in Nuevo Laredo, I took off early in the morning for the city of Monterrey. From there, I left very early heading through the oh-so-cold mountains to San Luis Potosi. I fell in love with the town’s cobblestone streets and colonial architecture the moment I arrived and decided to stay for two nights. The dinner I had last night in this peaceful town was one of the best I’ve ever eaten and today I walked the whole historic district taking photos. Although I doubt one could spend a full week here, it’s definitely worth a few days visit.