I am recharged. Woke up early.
There is another Cave and some historical building that I've marked. Creel is only 4 hours away. I've got enough to time check out one of the two. I go see that building. It's in downtown. Indeed it was a beauty. While I was wondering where to park, security guard points to a corner where it seem to be pedestrian walk way. I park. There is a well maintain classic looking Royal Enfield bike.
I immediately take a picture of it. I quickly assess if this is a
safe area to leave my bike as it is with Helmet and iPhone 6s attached to it. I
decided that it is. The building is so big that I couldn't capture a front shot
of the picture. It appears to be a museum. The two guards at the gate began
talking to me. We stood there and talk for a while. Until "Licensor"
came, who received respect from the guards. I go inside. There is a tour going
on. I some pictures. Then I begin to think about that open road, mountain road,
change in terrain from here to creel, I can't wait to get back on that bike and
keep riding.
As I was leaving the city, I missed my turn, went through tunnel then I see a billboard sign with Harley Davison marketing message on it. There is a Harley Davidson in town. Good. I need a new front tire. I get there by 9:30. It opens at 10am. Then I get that message again that I am out of data. WTF. I turned off everything!! What's going on??
I am in nice part of the town. Resembles big suburban road with shopping malls. I decided to get something to eat. Since I suffered high blood pressure symptom, might as well eat something healthy.
I pull into Thai restaurant parking lot. Before I turn off the engine, I leave this place because I saw Starbucks across the street. I ordered coffee and a Panini sandwich. Began using fast Wi-Fi. The couple sitting behind me began talking to me in American accent English. Ex-pat. Retired Army and his wife. Telling me stories of his motorcycle journey, how it was so cold and hot; how he didn’t' have gears like what I am wearing.
I will arrive in Creel too early. I am couch surfing today. A school teacher. We meet at 7pm. I will have too much time to spend. I check the route and time for Barrancas del Cobre. A famous copper mountain. Supposedly have beautiful scenic view to mountain carving with bike, permitting if the road is not too bumpy.
I've noticed that both Chihuahua and Torreon city roads are terrible although
they are nicely paved, there are no traction. Very slippery. I rear wheel kept
gliding while front fell slippery. Harley Davidson rep tells me the price. Something
in thousands of pesos. He looked at me if I would actually buy something that
expensive. Before I convert to dollar, he says they don't have it. Oh well. I
get on my way.
Indeed change in terrain was marvelous. I saw the desert change to forest very slowly. Began to show more and more trees, see mini streams, curvy roads. Curvy roads thankfully had good traction. By this time, road bumps are nothing to me but just to run over. I'm not worried. Beginning to realize how amazing my bike is, how it is equipped with top notch shocks. Good horse. Every day at the end of rough riding day, I tell my bike "Good job. You did well today".
I arrive at Creel. I noticed that there is a gas station. I relax. Buy a street burrito that this little girl is selling. The burrito she pulled out of the ice box, already wrapped had just tortilla and meat. It was tiny so I ordered another burrito. This one smelled sour, tasted sour. Ok, I'm not about to have major diarrhea. I stopped eating and I head toward Barrancas del Cobre. Indeed road leading to it was curvy, bumpy, exciting, beautiful, warm, and breezy, it was in some ways better than all mountains I've been on in the Southern US.
I get to Barrancas del Cobre by 3:30pm. Ok. It took me 1.5 hours. Sunset is at 5pm. technically I have to go now. But you can't say no to this sheer beauty of mesmerizing view that leaves you completely speechless. Canyon like Grand Canyon except with more trees and it's in Mexico. Gate guard didn't charge when I said I just want to take pictures. So even took a selfie. Walked all points of view areas available. Time to go before it gets dark. It's 4pm. I better hurry. I hurried. Going over 110mph at straight shots, sharper lean angle. A white pick-up truck followed me close, I got little bit worried. Nobody around just me and this truck who is driving very close and carving the mountain like me.
Well, I took off long ways when I did that 110mph straight shot. Adios muchachos. Although they tried again and again. Could never keep up. At one point, I even waited. Love this bike's power, agility and torque. I feel in full control of the road, my speed and go to points. Rumble of the Twin Cam engine vibration, deep exhaust explosion whenever I pull the throttle regardless of which gear. Calm yet rough rumbles at idle. It sounds like a very mean horse who is barely tamed telling me come on let's run again, let's keep running.
It likes to thrive at 3.5 to 5,000 rpm. Even with that immense 110 cubic inch, it doesn't like to play in low rpm. It lets me know, "come on either shift down or give it a gas!” By the time I came back to Creel it was 5pm. I came half an hour too early. I pulled into this gravel road and take a look at this giant rock. Yes. I've gotten very used to that gravel road now.
One thing this trip. Gravel road and slippery road are bit more comfortable for me.
As it was getting dark, I needed to find a place where I can park my bike and stay indoor to keep myself warm. Preferably somewhere with Wi-fi. I went to downtown asked the local. It was a Mexico version of internet cafe. I couldn't look over my bike which has my luggage on. So I left and decided to chill at the Western style decorated with bar, restaurant, brewery, Best Western Hotel. Majority were all decorated with log cabin style.
Although night gets to 50 degrees, wearing my Alpinestars New Land Gore Tex kept me so warm since it is built for cold winter riding with cold wind constantly hitting me, sitting still was very warm. I had couple beers and finally put the iPad into a good use of writing this blog.
At exactly 7pm. I called Monica, my couchsurfing host. Although she is the only real couchsurfer in this town, I decided to write her because of her choice to leave the city to be with simple life hippie style. She answered the phone. Sent me her address. It was dark. Cold. Paved road became a gravel road. Once I found her, she lived on a hill, it was too rocky and sandy along with too steep to take my bike to her doorstep. So I left it by the gate.
As soon as I unpacked. We walked to the Best Western Hotel and ordered couple pizza and beer. We shared meaningful conversation, shared each others histories and came back to her house. There we continued our conversation about our passion and future plans. I asked to see her school and she gladly accepted When we got tired, she showed me how to turn on the broiler to heat the water for shower.
I slept like a baby under thick blankets.
There is another Cave and some historical building that I've marked. Creel is only 4 hours away. I've got enough to time check out one of the two. I go see that building. It's in downtown. Indeed it was a beauty. While I was wondering where to park, security guard points to a corner where it seem to be pedestrian walk way. I park. There is a well maintain classic looking Royal Enfield bike.
I immediately take a picture of it. I quickly assess if this is a
safe area to leave my bike as it is with Helmet and iPhone 6s attached to it. I
decided that it is. The building is so big that I couldn't capture a front shot
of the picture. It appears to be a museum. The two guards at the gate began
talking to me. We stood there and talk for a while. Until "Licensor"
came, who received respect from the guards. I go inside. There is a tour going
on. I some pictures. Then I begin to think about that open road, mountain road,
change in terrain from here to creel, I can't wait to get back on that bike and
keep riding.
As I was leaving the city, I missed my turn, went through tunnel then I see a billboard sign with Harley Davison marketing message on it. There is a Harley Davidson in town. Good. I need a new front tire. I get there by 9:30. It opens at 10am. Then I get that message again that I am out of data. WTF. I turned off everything!! What's going on??
I am in nice part of the town. Resembles big suburban road with shopping malls. I decided to get something to eat. Since I suffered high blood pressure symptom, might as well eat something healthy.
I pull into Thai restaurant parking lot. Before I turn off the engine, I leave this place because I saw Starbucks across the street. I ordered coffee and a Panini sandwich. Began using fast Wi-Fi. The couple sitting behind me began talking to me in American accent English. Ex-pat. Retired Army and his wife. Telling me stories of his motorcycle journey, how it was so cold and hot; how he didn’t' have gears like what I am wearing.
I will arrive in Creel too early. I am couch surfing today. A school teacher. We meet at 7pm. I will have too much time to spend. I check the route and time for Barrancas del Cobre. A famous copper mountain. Supposedly have beautiful scenic view to mountain carving with bike, permitting if the road is not too bumpy.
Indeed change in terrain was marvelous. I saw the desert change to forest very slowly. Began to show more and more trees, see mini streams, curvy roads. Curvy roads thankfully had good traction. By this time, road bumps are nothing to me but just to run over. I'm not worried. Beginning to realize how amazing my bike is, how it is equipped with top notch shocks. Good horse. Every day at the end of rough riding day, I tell my bike "Good job. You did well today".
I arrive at Creel. I noticed that there is a gas station. I relax. Buy a street burrito that this little girl is selling. The burrito she pulled out of the ice box, already wrapped had just tortilla and meat. It was tiny so I ordered another burrito. This one smelled sour, tasted sour. Ok, I'm not about to have major diarrhea. I stopped eating and I head toward Barrancas del Cobre. Indeed road leading to it was curvy, bumpy, exciting, beautiful, warm, and breezy, it was in some ways better than all mountains I've been on in the Southern US.
I get to Barrancas del Cobre by 3:30pm. Ok. It took me 1.5 hours. Sunset is at 5pm. technically I have to go now. But you can't say no to this sheer beauty of mesmerizing view that leaves you completely speechless. Canyon like Grand Canyon except with more trees and it's in Mexico. Gate guard didn't charge when I said I just want to take pictures. So even took a selfie. Walked all points of view areas available. Time to go before it gets dark. It's 4pm. I better hurry. I hurried. Going over 110mph at straight shots, sharper lean angle. A white pick-up truck followed me close, I got little bit worried. Nobody around just me and this truck who is driving very close and carving the mountain like me.
Well, I took off long ways when I did that 110mph straight shot. Adios muchachos. Although they tried again and again. Could never keep up. At one point, I even waited. Love this bike's power, agility and torque. I feel in full control of the road, my speed and go to points. Rumble of the Twin Cam engine vibration, deep exhaust explosion whenever I pull the throttle regardless of which gear. Calm yet rough rumbles at idle. It sounds like a very mean horse who is barely tamed telling me come on let's run again, let's keep running.
It likes to thrive at 3.5 to 5,000 rpm. Even with that immense 110 cubic inch, it doesn't like to play in low rpm. It lets me know, "come on either shift down or give it a gas!” By the time I came back to Creel it was 5pm. I came half an hour too early. I pulled into this gravel road and take a look at this giant rock. Yes. I've gotten very used to that gravel road now.
One thing this trip. Gravel road and slippery road are bit more comfortable for me.
As it was getting dark, I needed to find a place where I can park my bike and stay indoor to keep myself warm. Preferably somewhere with Wi-fi. I went to downtown asked the local. It was a Mexico version of internet cafe. I couldn't look over my bike which has my luggage on. So I left and decided to chill at the Western style decorated with bar, restaurant, brewery, Best Western Hotel. Majority were all decorated with log cabin style.
Although night gets to 50 degrees, wearing my Alpinestars New Land Gore Tex kept me so warm since it is built for cold winter riding with cold wind constantly hitting me, sitting still was very warm. I had couple beers and finally put the iPad into a good use of writing this blog.
At exactly 7pm. I called Monica, my couchsurfing host. Although she is the only real couchsurfer in this town, I decided to write her because of her choice to leave the city to be with simple life hippie style. She answered the phone. Sent me her address. It was dark. Cold. Paved road became a gravel road. Once I found her, she lived on a hill, it was too rocky and sandy along with too steep to take my bike to her doorstep. So I left it by the gate.
As soon as I unpacked. We walked to the Best Western Hotel and ordered couple pizza and beer. We shared meaningful conversation, shared each others histories and came back to her house. There we continued our conversation about our passion and future plans. I asked to see her school and she gladly accepted When we got tired, she showed me how to turn on the broiler to heat the water for shower.
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