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The Mountain Recon

All right...all right...all right!

If compliments are flying.

Meeltone, you're a great photographer too!

Pink
 
Go for it guys!

Safety in Mexico is a very common concern for so many Americans for quite some time. I have never had a very bad experience in Mexico in the last 30 years of travel there for both business and pleasure. Off course, there have been some transitos to whom I had to give "their bite". I was speeding (well who would not be when the speed limit is 30KPH). I did make an illegal UTurn trying to get to the soccer field (But afterward got a police motorcycle escort straight to the field, with the cop stopping traffic for us to make illegal left turns). Then that one time years ago when I completely forgot about a certain insect in the ashtray at a military checkpoint. These and many more events in my Mexico travels all were very cheap. $5-$10 and some patient conversation time resolved the "problema". Talking is very important to Mexicans. They live for the human interaction. They want you to bargain with them in the marketplace whether for a small trinket or expensive one. Whether it be a small traffic infraction or a more serious one. If you don't spend the time negotiating they will think of you as a fool.

During the major devaluation of 1982, with the subsequent nationalization of the banking system, I had no choice but to carry hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash on collection trips to the southern border of Mexico and Baja.
Not a problem. At that time, I barely spoke Spanish. I agree with Meeltone.
Mexico is just Mexico. The system works great for Mexico. It will never change. I don't think most Mexicans throughout the socioeconmic strata even use the terms "liberal" or "conservative". Most probably never even heard the words, except in terms of proper nouns. ie political party names.
I don't think they lack education not knowing those words. Actually, I think their mandatory education system, up to "Secundaria" (13 years), puts out a person with better reading and math skills than high school here. And some of those "Secundarias" use a television as the teacher.

There are words that Mexicans do use "tradition", "family", and off course
"God".

Several years ago I found an excellent book that was so fun to read. Some friends and I spent many evenings reading out loud to each other on our Mexico trips, accompanied by the national beverage. I guarantee that anyone with interest will absolutely love this book. "NTC's Dictionary of Mexican Cultural Code Words" by Boye Lafayette de Mente. Buy it!

Pinklloyd
 
I have ridden Mexico numerous times. Slept on the ground. People are wonderful. Those that fear MX probably have never spent much time there.

I am not going to get into all the L-word and C-word stuff, because most who throw those words around do not even know their true meanings. But I do have a question - forgive if it was posted in the body of the thread. I did not read it all.

Here it goes, and it is really important...

Is there a GPS track log available?
 
Is there a GPS track log available?

Sort of.

I wrote a 48 page dual sport ride guide for that area that has 12 different recommended routes with directions, ratings, notes, etc for each route. The guide also comes with 3 topo maps of the area and gps routes for each of the 12 routes. The guide, topo maps, and gps routes go out to all riders who register for MexTrek (the mountain recon is now a yearly event called MexTrek). It is available for $25 for those who can't attend MexTrek.
 
Folks,

This is a ride report and is for discussion pertinent to this ride.

Please take other discussions - such as political discussion - to an appropriate thread.

Thanks,
 
So, If I register for the upcoming ride and add $25 for this info pack, you can hook me up with both? Including what GPS files you have?

That would be great, because I tend to like my DRZ 250 for DS stuff, and lotsa riders find it too slow for the road parts of stuff. So I find myself going with another buddy with a small bike instead of joining big groups where I just slow folks down a lot. The F650GS is great on long distance stuff, but those pictures of the ruts that ate the Strom would have been no fun on the BMW. But it woulda been the buzz for the DRZ.

Guess you can't have it all.
 
gahboo,

PM sent.


Also, if you are interested and haven't seen it here is the 2008 ride report for the same event - MexTrek 2008
 
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I have heard recently on radio, though, that the violence is drug related problems and police corruption has become a big problem. The government is trying to regain control its supposedly pretty bad. It may have been OK in past but I don't know now!
 
It may have been OK in past but I don't know now!
Don't go then. End of story.

I'll admit, the reports I've read recently scare me too. But everytime I go down there all the fear is all so distant. Our media does a tremedous job at hype.

On the other hand, who wants to be kidnapped? I'd hate to be the one who talked you into going and then something bad happened. Which is the inherent risk of a ride like this. Don't think I haven't pondered the subject.

And again... (Speaking of kidnapping), how is it that Glen H., the Viking guy, is still living in Mexico, by choice, if it were so bad? Huh?

Anyway, I'll still be down there next chance I get. March? Sooner?
 
Another thought on the violence in Mexico.

I am aware of 2 kidnappings of persons I know on the Mexican side of the border in 2008.

The first case occurred sometime in March. The son of a customer of mine was kidnapped and held until settlement was reached (approx $20k). It seems that the parents had been mistaken for not paying the normal business expenses. In border mercantile businesss, the most lucrative merchandise is the illegal merchandise. Drugs going North, Guns, and in this case used clothing going south. Apparently there was a clerical error and even though the boys parents were in the system (yes, the Mafia uses portable computers with wireless internet), ie paying "the man", Junior was apprehended. Once he was in custody, some payment had to be arranged.
The original ransom was $40K.

The second case was the owner of a casa de cambio (money exchange house) in Matamoros. I just discovered yesterday that his businesses are now closed because he was kidnapped 2 weeks ago. This one will cost alot more (they are asking for a $1M). I expect some settlement will be reached eventually.


None of these cases will reach the media or officially the police.
You see these are not random occurances. The organization knows who they want and how much they might get. An American riding a motorcycle, although enviable in lifestyle, is still an American. He or she probable doesn't have $20-30K in cash, forget a million. That's a waste of time for the mafia.

Whenever you leave stateside there are no guarantees. My nephew was kidnapped in India for a week during 2007. Google "scams in India" and you will see what happened to him. He was living in Asia for 3 years already. He was not wet the behind the ear. It just happened.

Keep a low profile, try not to get drunk in public, and avoid any contact with those who might be involved in illegal drugs. Beware of the frigates flying around those plazas. Before long, someone might approach you (lets face it, we are Americans) and offer drugs,etc...Turn and shut that door. The only thing entering your life will be increased risk.

Pinklloyd
 
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