Starting off the month on a 22 hour ferry ride sounds like some sort of hell, right? Actually quite the contrary! It was a start to an amazing month, and a really great way to share stories with fellow travelers. October has been a truly settling and amazing month. I couldn’t be happier about it. Here is My October ’19 Report Card!
Bon Voyage!
I bought my ferry ticket to leave La Paz and arrive in Mazatlan. The locals told me it would be a quick 12 hours, but upon arrival, they informed me I was in for much more than that. I got to the ship, and saw these huge tractor trailers being loaded to an even HUGER (yes, huger) boat! Seemed pretty daunting if you ask me. I mean, they can fit these trucks, they’re certainly going to fit my tiny motorcycle.
There were so many people directing traffic. Telling us how to enter the boat with our vehicles, and where to continue when we got on. I figured I would go up the ramp, and just park my bike there. Sounds reasonable, right? Well, these people had other plans for me. They opened up this hatch that went straight to the very bottom of the ship! I had to drive DOWN even more!
A steep ramp led me to more people telling me where to park, but a nice surprise came about. I noticed two other bikes loaded down with tons of stuff as well. We all strapped our bikes down and headed for the passenger area. I was told it was freezing on the boat at night, so I brought my sleeping bag with me.
A total mystery…
The ferry ride ended up being much more than expected. What I thought would be a simple transportation became an adventure in itself. Meeting fellow travelers, sharing stories, and watching the most incredible sunsets from the deck of the ship. The 22-hour journey gave me time to reflect on my travels so far and anticipate what mainland Mexico had in store for me.
The road to Durango
The mainland roads in Mexico are absolutely incredible. I couldn’t believe how well maintained they were, and how many people were working on them. Road crews everywhere, fixing any problems that may have popped up.
“These people deserve a round of applause for keeping these roads maintained for travelers of all types.”
Keeping these roads maintained for travelers of all types, these people deserve a round of applause. About a 5 hour drive from Mazatlan (considering my recent change in driving habits), I made it to Durango. A very old city that has much to offer.
El Saltito
In a lot of places, mountains mean rivers, and rivers mean waterfalls. Just outside of Durango was exactly this. El Saltito offered an amazing view right from the parking lot. I head down to get a different view. As I am sitting there enjoying the waterfall, I couldn’t help but notice this bicycle parked next to the water with no one around. I figured someone went on a walk or something, and just as I was thinking where they could have gone, this guy pops his head out behind the rocks next to the water!
Let’s go fishing
I couldn’t help but spark up a conversation with the fisherman. Having fished from a little kid with my grandfather, hearing new stories from other fishermen is always something I crave nostalgically. I finished my time in Durango with this amazing view, and felt it was time to move forward to my next spot, Zacatecas.
Historic views
Zacatecas is a very historic place. Apparently, the city was built back in the 1500’s to mine various metals out of the mountain with indigenous slaves. Aside from the slavery part, this place seemed pretty cool. Huge, old, historic buildings all over the place. It just had this old feel to it. With men walking around in cowboy attire, it made it feel like I was living in a western movie.
One really cool thing about this place? I decided to walk the road up to the Gondola. This gives people the view of the whole city from above. Now, because I am doing this trip as cheap as possible, the gondola was not in my plans. The view, however, the view was definitely in my plans. Once I got to the top, I noticed a guy on a trial dirt bike. I waved him down, and we started talking about motorcycles. But can you believe…
He let me ride the trial bike!
When he asked me if I wanted to take it for a ride around the street, I could barely contain my excitement. I mean, how could he trust some stranger with a bike? I rode it for a couple laps up and down the street, and realized just how light this bike was. He could pick it up like it was a mountain bicycle! I swear, the locals on this trip are really making me feel welcomed everywhere I go.
Guadalajara
Ok, this is a big one in terms of feeling welcomed. I met my friend Karen back at the hostel in Cabo San Lucas. She told me she was from Guadalajara and she would show me around her city when I arrived! The time had come, and I arrived in Guadalajara. To be honest, when I showed up at the hostel, I didn’t think I was going to stay more than two days. Like I said, I’m more of a mountain person! Well, yet again, I was quite wrong about this. It is nearly impossible to predict what comes in the future.
I’m going to save this content for a future blog post. Guadalajara was a place with people who made me feel welcome from the moment I arrived. The things I experienced made me feel truly at home for the first time on this trip.
Sayulita
A five hour rainy drive that was FULL of scary, deep potholes led me to Sayulita. This was probably the first drive in Mexico where the condition of the road made me pretty nervous. Regardless of rain and potholes, I made it to the GREENEST place I have ever seen. This was definitely jungle territory, and Sayulita was in a place of paradise. Beach on one side, jungle everywhere else.
The sunsets in Sayulita were absolutely breathtaking. Every evening brought a new masterpiece painted across the sky, with the lighthouse standing as a sentinel against the dramatic backdrop. This coastal paradise offered the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure that I had been craving.
What made Sayulita truly special were the people I met along the way. From fellow travelers to local residents like Irma, everyone had a story to share and wisdom to offer. These connections reminded me that travel is as much about the people you meet as the places you visit.
October has been an incredible month of discovery, friendship, and adventure. From the ferry crossing that started it all to the jungle paradise of Sayulita, every day brought new experiences and deeper connections with the people and places of Mexico.
‘Til next time,
Pete – A Traveling Teacher