30 miles south of Tecoman, Colima to Colotlan, Jalisco

Miles 304 -- Total miles: 3,467

Not a lot new to report about today. Just another great riding day. I got an early start and after about thirty miles I turned inland and was heading north. It was long until I had left the heat and humidity of the coast behind me. The dry cool air of the mountains felt really good.

I stayed on the libre road for about half of the way up to Guadalajara and got some pictures of another volcano.

Later I moved over to the cuota road so that I could get a few miles behind me. I actually got through Guadalajara without a lot of problem. It was not the route that I had planned on but I still went straight through without going in circles for a while. North of Guadalajara I either missed a turn to Hwy 23 or either the road dumped me into Tesistan. It went from traffic lights and a 6 lane road immediately into a narrow cobble stone road. There was a right turn in the middle of town to get back to Hwy 23 but that was a well guarded secret.

Back into the mountains again with lots of twisties. Later the ups and downs began to level out and the curves started to become fewer and fewer. Again this road did not have a lot of towns and villages. The towns that I did go through did not have as many topes as the ones did a few days ago.

There was also fewer towns with hotels. I came across a good hotel and restaurant in Colotlan and decided to go ahead and make an early stop instead of risking not being able to find a hotel before dark. It was a possibility of another 3-4 hours more up the road before I would come across another hotel.

Colotlan, Jalisc to José Mariano Jiménez, Chihuahua

484 miles -- Total miles: 3,951

Today's ride starting out reminded me of riding out west. Wide open spaces, rolling hills, a few curves here and there, and views of the road extending for 2-5 miles. There was a gradual decrease in the elevation and every so often I would cross over a mountain ridge. By the time that I got north of Torreon the mountains were once again in the background until they almost completely disappeared and were replaced by flat arid terrain.

By late this afternoon the winds picked up and the temperature rose to 100+ degrees. I got close enough to the border so that I could be able to easily make it across tomorrow and saved the heat for another day.

The bike has figured out that she is headed for the barn and from this point on it is just making miles.

Jiménez, Chihuahua to Sweetwater, TX

571 miles -- Total miles: 4,522

I started riding this morning just as there was enough daylight to allow me to do so. I rode about 45 miles north to Santa Rosalía de Camargo. I topped of the bike as the next gas would be 160 miles up Hwy 67 in Manuel Ojinaga at the border.

I was expecting Hwy 67 to be a flat and boring ride. As it turned out it was a mixture of hills, crossing mountain ranges, and riding in the valleys between the mountain ranges. There was very little traffic and I thought thought that it was a very good ride.

Around 3 hours later I was in Manuel Ojinaga and trying to find where I needed to have my visa and vehicle import permit canceled. I finally found both places, got all of the paper work done and headed toward the border.

There was about a 45 minute wait at the customs to cross the border into Presidio, TX. There was a slight down hill to customs so I was able to leave the bike turned off and duck walk it forward one car length at a time. Duck walk, wait 1-3 minutes, repeat. While we were in the waiting phase and all cars were stopped, my bike got bumped by the car behind me. The woman behind me said that she had fallen asleep and seem to think that it was humorous. I guess that I do not have a sense of humor because I did not share her sentiment. No apparent damage to the bike.

Another good ride up Hwy 67 and Hwy 17 into Pecos, TX. Highway signs! Just follow them and you will get to where you are wanting to go. Great to see them again.

Turned east onto I-20 in Pecos. End of the ride. Just got to get home now and it will be all slab for the next two days.

Sweetwater, TX to Tullula, LA

571 miles -- Total miles: 5,093

The day did not start off quite like I expected it to. Thunderstorms, strong wind, rain and cold. The temperature was in the low 40's. This pattern continued on and off for the next 4-5 hours. Just east of Dallas I caught up with the leading edge of the front. An hour later and the sun was out, the winds not as strong, the rain gone, and in the 80's. Not sure if I got far enough east so that the front will catch me again tonight but I will find out in the morning.

Just a travel day getting home.

Tullula, LA to Woodstock, GA

474 miles -- Total miles: 5,567

This morning was partly cloudy, warm, no rain, no wind. The front was still about 80 miles behind me to the west. I went slab, slab, slab all the way home.