Miles today: 575
Total miles: 2,888
Time on road: 12 hours 30 minutes

Guanajuato, Guanajuato to Roma, Texas

Numerous heavy thunderstorms during the night. Next morning all of the cobblestone streets were nice and slick.

Started packing up the bike before sunrise. Walked down to the front entrance of the motel and found out how secure the parking was. The front gates were padlocked. No one around and no lights on in the office. Finished getting ready to leave and gates were still locked. Walked over to the office, no lights in the office. Knocked on the door and finally woke someone up that was inside. They came out, unlocked the gates and I was on my way.

Today's plan was to head east out of Guanajuato and cross the mountains. GPS's plan was to head west, north up to Leon, and then east. Never argue with a woman even if she is just a voice in a GPS.

Shortly after leaving the hotel I made a wrong turn. Right road, wrong direction. Heading west and the woman's voice in the GPS was laughing at me. The streets in Guanajuato and laid out something similar to a bowl of spaghetti. They crisscross each other, go over and under each other, and twist and turn in ever direction. The GPS only knows directions on 3 or 4 streets. Get off on a side road and you are on your own. All she will tell you is to "Drive to the highlighted route." Could not find a place to make a u-turn so I turned off of the main road. It started twisting and turning in every direction except the way that I wanted to go. Found a Pemex, stopped and got gas. Tried to figure out where I was at and where I needed to go. Can't get there from here. The GPS was laughing again.

Attempted to find the main road again and go east. Found the main road and I was headed west again. Once again I could not do a u-turn. Gave up and continued heading west. GPS was happy now.

Made it up to Leon and headed east through town. All of the streets were flooded out. Got to practice some water crossing techniques.

Back on the cuota and heading north toward Monterrey.

About 125 miles south of Monterrey I took Hwy 58 across the mountains over to Linaries. The map made the road look like it would run the valleys in the mountains and have some good views. Few miles after I headed east I was riding the valleys. Then the fun began. I was up in the mountains, may places has narrow shoulders and no guard rails. Great ride going across.

July 23, 2013

Made it across the mountains and turned north in Linares going toward Monterrey. During the last week +, the temperature had been between 45 and 75 degrees. The ride across the mountains had been mostly in the low 60s. Crossing the eastern section of the mountains, I went from 60* to 100*+ in less than two hours.

Hot trip up to and around Monterrey.

Planning on crossing the border at Ciudad Miguel Aleman / Roma. GPS said to use the Laredo crossing. Here we go again.

GPS and map show a cuota coming off of Hwy 85 and going north up to Cadereyta. Get to where the GPS is telling me to turn. There is a road there, but no way is it a main road. Go past it, turn back around and take it anyway. Interesting ride through narrow country back roads. Eventually I connect to Hwy 9 which is a main road going up to Cadereyta. GPS was laughing again.

Skirted Monterrey, and after a couple more disputes with the GPS, found Hwy 54 and headed east toward Aleman.

Arrived in Aleman. No wait going through the tool booth. No wait on the bridge crossing the border. About a 10 minute wait for US Customs. Another 10 minutes while he went through all of the bags on the bike. Another 20 minutes talking to another BP officer about bikes and riding in Mexico, and I was pass the border.

Was hoping to make it up to around Falfurrias, TX for the night, but I started paying the price for ignoring the heat earlier. It was 103 in Roma. I found a motel and ended the day.

July 24, 2013
Miles today: 711
Total miles: 3,599
Time on road: 11 hours 15 minutes

Roma, Texas to Hammond, LA

Got a slower start this morning than what I wanted to, but I was still on the road by 7:30.

Most of this morning was two lane roads. Not much traffic and was able to average close to 65mph. Soon turned into another hot day. Got through Houston and crossed the state line into Louisiana. Temperatures remained in the mid 90s and the humidity increased.

Lot of left lane hogs in LA. They would have the traffic backed up 1-2 miles behind them. Finally work your way around them, travel 3-5 miles, and then there would be another LLH blocking the traffic.

One of the more interesting sections on I-10.

Miles today: 530
Total miles: 4,129
Time on road: 6 hours 30 minutes

Hammond, LA to Woodstock, GA

Typical last day of a ride getting home via slab. Get on bike, ride, stop and get gas, rinse and repeat.