Day One: Mazatlan to Guadalajara - Seven LONG hours on the road, though most of the trip was on the cuota, the toll road with collection booths along the way.
As we planned our trip inland, we considered two choices:
Option A: East to Durango via "The Devil's Backbone" - a more direct route inland along narrow, steep, winding roads - a breathtaking, scenic, white-knuckle drive during which the driver has to manuever around oncoming big rigs that take up both lanes as they whip around the hairpin curves, while the navigator peers helplessly down the sheer drop just inches away (it seems) into the lush valleys FAR below;
Option B - South and East to Guadalajara; a longer, more tedious route, less interesting for sure, but a lot safer. Since we wanted this to be a relaxing trip, we opted for safe and tedious this time around. (You're welcome, Moms!)
The climb from the coastal region into the Sierra Madre Occidental range was fairly gradual, with manageable curves and nice vistas. Dry, brushy coastal terrain with some tomato fields and mango and papaya orchards along the way, turned into serious agave country as we approached the town of Tequila, with the hillsides taking on a blue-green color of the agave plants (see second picture above).
The temperature rose as we journeyed further inland, away from the cool coastal breezes.
With maps and journal notes from past years at the ready, we approached the Guadalajara periferico, the bypass road that rings the center of the city and provides access from other cities via highways from all directions that create a giant spoke-like pattern.
The climb from the coastal region into the Sierra Madre Occidental range was fairly gradual, with manageable curves and nice vistas. Dry, brushy coastal terrain with some tomato fields and mango and papaya orchards along the way, turned into serious agave country as we approached the town of Tequila, with the hillsides taking on a blue-green color of the agave plants (see second picture above).
The temperature rose as we journeyed further inland, away from the cool coastal breezes.
With maps and journal notes from past years at the ready, we approached the Guadalajara periferico, the bypass road that rings the center of the city and provides access from other cities via highways from all directions that create a giant spoke-like pattern.
We merged with the periferico traffic, a flowing river of beeping trucks, cars and scooters. Lanes were marked, but seemed to be largely ignored as the vehicles jockeyed for position. Drivers most often chose the horn over the brakes to establish their territory on the road.
San Jose del Tajo Trailer Park, located on the outskirts of the city on the southern "spoke", was a familiar and welcome sight after maneuvering through traffic. Andreis, the park manager, remembered us (no doubt, because of the RED truck).
San Jose del Tajo Trailer Park, located on the outskirts of the city on the southern "spoke", was a familiar and welcome sight after maneuvering through traffic. Andreis, the park manager, remembered us (no doubt, because of the RED truck).
Once settled into a shady space (see top picture above), we pulled out the camp chairs and enjoyed some cold cerbezas on our brick patio and prepared a tasty barbeque dinner. The camper bed beckoned to us soon after dinner , , ,
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