Hey Ratman,
Im in Antigua heading for Honduras and just traveled through Central Mexico and all the way down the coast to Guatamala alone; chicasolomente! The Mexican people are very nice..just make sure to safely park your bike for the night. The Topes (speed bumps) and animals on the road will be difficult to avoid if you decide to travel at night, I didnt. Stay safe and have a ball! I didnt study spanish until I got to Antigua and sometimes suffered, study ahead if you can with basic phrases.

Torria

You should be ok. Just don't travel at night unless you know the route. I have done all my trips alone and as I have read here people come and talk to you. Never crossed Mexico but I am leaving this january from California to Argentina in a bmw... not too sure if a 650 Dakar or an Adventure. Looks like plenty of people will be traveling.... plus, you are never alone!

I have gotten stuck in the middle of really nowhere in a tough road in Brazil with water upto my knees and the exhause bearly over the water too, because I was driving in a sandy roady and I decided to take a wild jump and little I knew that I would land in the middle of a stream!!! waited for two hours and a truck with 8 men drove buy and when they saw me stuck, they all came down and picked up the bike as if it was a feather and pushed started me and I was back on the road. I must confess that on those two hours I was kind of concerned since the sun was coming down and I didn't have a tent nor food or anything. The tenere is a heavy lady to pick by myself from a 2 feet tall wall stream.

I think, it's what makes it more challenging and exiting to travel part if not all of it alone. If not, what is the point on doing something that is 100% safe?. might as well stay home and watch tv.

p.

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So I might leave as early as Christmas day from Vancouver with bike on truck. Prolly gonna make to San Diego in 2 days of driving and cross the border on day 3...

When are you guys crossing the border approx?
Which border?

I believe there will be a total of three - two on KLR's and one on a KTM - it looks like TJ for sure...but ill know more as we get closer to that actual leave day...It looks like we're leaving the first or the second of jan and maybe it'll take one day to the border or more....ratman [This message has been edited by DWright (edited 05 December 2004).]

[This message has been edited by DWright (edited 16 December 2004).]

Hello.
Rode my "89gs to mexico and back the month of October. 7000 miles later and only good stories to tell.I crossed in Nogales, Az. no problem, faster than everyone else, just have all your paperwork ready. From there was Guymas, Mazatlan, Durango, Paral, Creel (and surrounding areas) and Hermosilo.Everyones is as curious as you are and i never felt threatened. Just make a point to be polite and you won't have any problems. All hotels i went to cost less than $20 and they all let me park my bike in the loby or securely out back. I never removed my panniers! I even broke down in a small town called Tomochic. Found a mechanic who was very accomidating and refused any payment for charging my batterie. I found 2 bottles of beer and a bag of cookies which i shared with my new friend http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif I speak only enough spanish to barely get a hotel or order food, and all i can think about is going back. Just don't be afraid, people pick up on that.
Good luck!

This is fri, the 7th of jan...my happy trails boxes are loaded up, tomorrow i leave the bay area for santa cruz, picking up my partner and heading south to san diego and then south through baja and over to the mainland --- the weather here couldn't be worse but we're going...see ya on the road...ratman