July 20, 2013

Morelia, Michoacán

Pain, rain, mountains, taffic, curves, - cheers and tears.

We had sent out 104 bikes and were waiting on their return. Just to keep the ride interesting, major rain storms had started to welcome the pilotos back.

Mexico is like a temperamental senorita. She can be kind and caring in one moment, and in the next moment she can be spiteful and revengeful. The pilotos would get to experience both sides of Mexico. They would experience the spectacular beauty of the country side, and then they would be punished with harsh rain, wind, mud and rocks in the roads, fatigue, and the challenge to navigate the secrets of her roads.

Around 12:30 the pilotos started arriving to the cheers of the awaiting crowds. The pilotos were beat, exhausted, and dripping wet. Each one had a large smile on his face. Some were in tears. Despite their mental and physical fatigue, they were excited from the challenge and the fact that they were able to overcome all of the obstacles that they were faced with. They were now among the best of the best. They were now Rat Riders.

Those who have never ridden Mexico will never understand the challenges that these pilotos endured. To know Mexico, you have to embrace her.

Shortly after 5:00 am, the last piloto arrive. Of the 104 pilotos that started, only 48 returned. Nine of the returning pilotos did not return within their allotted 24 hours and will not be certified.

The returning pilotos who were DNF (did not finish) were talking about how great the ride was. Mexico had given them some of her best. The spectacular beauty of her mountains and the challenge of the curves made it all worth it. Many are already planning for their next attempt.

Our last returning piloto arrived around 5:00 am. This gave us time to get a few hours of sleep before starting again.

Another staff meeting, another press conference, and then a review of all paper work that had been submitted by the pilotos. 41 pilotos survived the final review and earned their certification. 114 stared the ride. 41 were certified and are now known as "Rat Riders". 4 Stroms had started, 3 were certified.

Awards and riders certifications were given out at the closing ceremony. What had taken a year to prepare for, was now at an end.

Many pilotos began leaving the area while a few still hung around. Staff was now free to relax. A few of us went to the cathedral in Centro to watch the light show but got there too late.

We continued to walk around Centro and met a few of the newly certified pilotos. Met one of the new "Rat Riders" and his wife who had a table next to the sidewalk. Joined them for a drink and continued to hang around until the rain decided that it was time to get a taxi and head back to the hotel. Another drink or two with the pilotos who were still at the hotel bar. An hour or so talking about the events of the ride and it was time for us old people to call it a night.

Morelia, Michoacán

Last night Marco and I decided to use today as a chill day and leave on Tuesday.

Juan has been a major contributor to the Rally. He also owns the hotel that we are staying in. And he owns "THE" number 1 race track in Mexico.

Juan invited us to go with him for brunch. He drove us through Morelia using the tourist route. The center of Centro is closed on Sunday and it is either walking or bicycle. We went past many of the places that I had already been to so I am not re-posting those pictures. With downtown closed, we had to wind our way through some of the back streets.

Following photos were taken while riding in a cage.

After leaving Morelia, he drove us to "THE" number 1 most exclusive golf community in all of Mexico.

Brunch was fantastic and Juan paid for all of us.

The houses on the mountains in the distance are part of the golf community.

This photo got washed out because of the light coming in from the window. According to the instructions from the wife, I am to list names from now on and give more descriptions on the picture.

As a side note. The wife has a good friend in Oklahoma City, OK. They are so much alike, and both are equally correcting me, that I often refer to them as my two wifes. However, I have received instructions from OK that from now on I will refer to them as my "American Cuties"

Do not want to get into any more trouble, so, from left to right:

Luis, Eric, and I do not remember the third person's name. On the right, me, Marco, and our host, Juan.

Food porn:

OK, here we go again (to keep my American Cuties happy)

From left to right around the table:

Juan (our host), Luis, Tere is hiding behind Luis, Eric, Victor, me, don't know, don't know, and Marco.

After brunch, I was given a new name

"Ta Ta Biker" From what they told me, locally it means Papa. Generally in the rest of Mexico it means Grandfather. So my new name means either Papa Biker or Grandfather Biker. Not sure that I trust them on this one. They may have given me the name because they know that I really like ta tas.

The pool, what you see in the back ground is part of the community.

Juan took us on a trip of the clubhouse. Seemed about like a 5 mile hike. I would need a GPS if I had to find my way around by myself.

The ride back to Morelia

We stopped at a spectacular cathedral on the inside. No pics other than the front door as they were holding service.

Mexican snow cone.

Marco - somehow there is sometning seriously wrong with the picture.

Went back to the hotel and started getting ready for tomorrow's departure. Once again, we going to try to make it into the mountains.

Miles today: 201
Total miles: 2,313
Time on road: 8 hours

Morelia, Michoacan to Guanajuato, Guanajuato

After almost a week of Mexican Desire sitting in the lobby of the hotel, she finally gets to come out and play.

Marco, Eric and I had planned a slow day and a ride in the mountains to the east of Morelia.

Making our way east out of town.

The mountains are calling us.

Just an example of some of the harzards that the pilotos had to deal with on the road while doing the Rat Ride challenge.

Safetly passed the cows and getting into the mountains

We took an extended lunch stop.

You don't find them much cuter than this.

Getting time for lunch.

Food porn

They make them the old fashion way, by hand and on a fire stove.

Even up in the mountains, in the middle of nowhere........

Soon it is time to get back on the road. The mountains start to come to an end and we head back west then north as we began the ride back toward home.

After an couple of hours of riding, Marco and Eric continued north toward Aguascalientes. I turned to the east toward Guanajuata where I would be spending the night.

Less than $40 US and I had a home for the night.

A short walk in search of dinner then back to the hotel for the night.