Curvosa Peligrosa
Trip Start
Oct 20, 2008
1
7
41
Trip End
Feb 28, 2009
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Alvarado,
Mexico
Thursday, October 30, 2008
I had another exciting day. We left the motel around 7:00, we had to find some breakfast. We stopped at a different hotel and as luck would have it they had a buffet breakfast.As we left Ciudad Victoria we drove through the market.Traffic was hectic... it´s to the point were I find it almost humorous. The rule is this, as a Mexican driver, you must disobey every traffic sign, signal and warning. We are starting to understand the system and us gringos can control the traffic. Driving here is like a jolt of instant testosterone. Every man for himself. Once out of the city we headed towards Tampico we were greeted by the foothills of the mountains.. sweet curves..some of them were 90 degree turns with 75´ drop and no guard rails. During one of these turns we crossed the Tropic of Cancer. High Fives all around, it was an unexpected surprise and I am ecstatic. The road continued it´s upward assent for several kilometers with twisties all the way then we had the same going down. We took a turn onto what we thought was a good road. It was great to start with but about 20 kilometers in the asphalt was gone. We are driving through mud in a town out in the middle of nowhere. As we make our way through huge puddles, rocks protruding from the road the road dropping left to right and back again we rounded a ¨blind¨ corner. There they were the ¨ Provinciala Policia¨This is not a good situation there are 4 of them drinking, out in the middle of nowhere and due to their location hidden by tall sugar cane no one could see us. They stopped us and started asking us questions ........ we played dumb. I noted the glasses sitting on the side of the pick-up truck and a very distinct smell from their breath. They kept asking us questions, hovering over us like vultures to fresh roadkill.We continued to play dumb..... finally the sergeant says in English ¨money for coffee¨. Again we ignored his words....¨money for coffee¨ at this point I´m ready to bolt for it. Tension is very high I´m trying to think how we are going to get out of this before they get any more aggressive. Suddenly from the opposite direction a car comes around the corner. They suddenly backed off and without the slightest hesitation we were out of there. We continued on the road for several kilometers in a state of disrepair and suddenly the road was back to asphalt.We got back to a main highway and had a good chuckle and counted our blessings. As we drove down the new highway we watched a plane dust cropping. Mexican pilots are as crazy as it's drivers as I´m sure he was performing for the snow birds. We stopped by the roadside for some naranjas, very sweet and mouth watering. We found a room at a hotel with secure parking but, it charges by the hour. Yuck very seedy, but we needed the secure parking and it was almost dark. Our number 1 rule is no driving at night.
Comments
THE GALVANIZER
GREAT STUFF YOU MUST BE SLEEPING WITH 1 EYE OPEN''' KEEP WRITING GREAT STUFF''GOOD LUCK''
Journals
Hi Guys:
I thoroughly enjoy reading your adventure.
It is becoming an addiction to me every morning, just like my coffee. I even send them home for Bryan to read. What an exciting journal you are making and I hope your spouses are printing every one of these. Yes, the police in Mexico are not to tangle with, and you were fortunate.
Drive carefully and keep the journals coming.
Shirley