A total of 3 months from San Diego to El Salvador. Our return was a short 7 weeks but one that cost us.
The first leg of this trip was from San Diego, leaving in December of 1999. We rode with two friends down Baja to La Paz. From there we took off on our own for the mainland of Mexico. We decided to take the ferry across and that became an adventure of its own. We had tried this before so we were ready to be told all the wrong information and find a way around it. First we needed tickets and we wanted a cabin. Tickets yes, cabin no. We tried to discuss just when there might be a cabin but that got us no where. This was at the La Paz ticket office where we met a nice lady who told us to come out to the ferry landing and she would do what she could.
The next day we went out to see her and a phone call later we had the cabin. We thought that this was great to know the truly powerful. While out there we decided to get our Visa for the bike and our tourist cards. We need them for the mainland of Mexico. At the office of the Customs at the ferry, we were told that we first needed our tourist cards and no they do not do that there. So back to town, 10 miles of very scenic road and to the Tourist Office. There you get to fill in the paperwork and then you have to go to the bank to pay your fee and return with the receipt to then get issued the tourist card. At the bank there was a line long enough and must be often enough because there were seats for those waiting to relax in. I thought this is crazy so i left Sue there and wandered to one of the other banks where the was no one waiting. i asked and was told they could also take our money for the tourist card.
Once we got our tourist card we headed back to the customs office at the ferry dock. We were given papers to fill out and have them duplicated. Of course they had no copier. So back to town and got copies of all of our papers, passport, drivers license, title and such. Then back again to the ferry dock. When I got the visa for the bike, after all of that, it was only good for three months. I had not noticed that the tourist visa was for just 3 months and they give the vehicle permit for the same length. This was not the first time for us to be traveling in Mexico so you would think i would have caught that.
We got to the Ferry, hours a head of time as we were told to do, just to get stuck waiting to be the last ones loaded with the other bikes. Once on board we met a couple that had been planning to take the ferry the next day but the ferry was not running that day. I said something about them not being able to get a cabin and was informed that they were able to get one at the downtown ticket office that day.
We took the La Paz to Mazatlan ferry and arrive well feed and well rested in Mazatlan. We stopped to do the email thing at a web cafe. My GSM mobile phone does not work in Mexico. They decided to keep the competition out but going to a 800 digital that is used by no other place but Aregentina. and you can see what a mess that country is.
We headed south through a fantastic jungle region of Mexico. The last time we were through here the road was blocked by an onion truck going off the road. The road splits and becomes the highway to Guataljara and Mexico City or you go south, as we did, to Purta Varallta. This split also began a new adventure for us. So far we had been on roads and in areas that we had ridden before, now we were on our way on roads that were new and areas that if i had been in, it had been a very long time.
