After 14 hours on the ferry, it is hard to believe that we are here in mainland Mexico starting the next phase of our adventure. We decided we weren’t interested in the busy Pacific Coast beach life. Instead, we decided to take the less travelled Mex 40 straight inland and then drop down toward Mexico City.
But, first we had to make our way out of the port area which was busy with ferry traffic and cruise ship turísticos who were all boarding buses and small tour trucks along the busy, narrow street.And then navigate the back streets of Mazatlan.Out to the busy main road out of town. Darrin and the Wee Rover did a great job, but I think it was my navigating that really made it a breeze to find our way through the busy streets:)We found Mex Route 40 and started up, and up, and up. That is our road behind us.Mex Route 40 was the first road to connect the two coasts of Mexico. It was a huge feat to complete and was the main transportation and trucking route until just a few years ago when Mex Route 40D was completed. It is also known as The Devil’s Backbone because of the many twists & turns and massive elevation gain (sea level to around 9,000 ft). They say it would be jammed with traffic for hours while trucks tried to jockey by each other. We only met a few trucks since most traffic now uses the new road.The road was soooo twisty that before we reached the top, my stomach gave up the ghost and I projectile vomited out the poor Wee Rover’s window. Darrin being a smart man didn’t take any pictures.The views were spectacular, but by the time we reached 8,000 ft, the rain had moved in and the temperature had fallen to 45 degrees. We moved right along to stay ahead of the storm.The storm truly caught up with us as we neared el Salto. We quickly found a small motel with hot showers, a fireplace for heat and a nice warm bed. Darrin made good use of the pine pitch we collected months ago to get a roaring fire going. We quickly made friends with the wood guy by giving him a nice tip.
So, in 24 hours we went from Baja to mainland, sea level to 9,000 ft, and 75 and sunny to 38 and cold rain. Time to settle in and enjoy the fire while we wait out the storm. The next adventure will just have to wait.
Sweet dreams everyone.
And then it snowed!Gorgeous snow (since we were staying in a little hotel with a fireplace and not camping).It snowed enough that they shutdown the road. There were miles and miles of trucks, buses and cars waiting overnight to head down the mountain. We wondered why our quiet little mountain hotel filled up right at dark. I think every room was taken by families heading home from New Year’s. Quite the loud hopping place!
Tidbit: Turns out motion sicknes wasn’t the culprit. D and I both had our first run in with the Mexican stomach. A few days of feeling under the weather and we are right as rain.
Thanks so much for another wonderful post. I am relearning some geography and gaining appreciation of the different lifestyles through your many posts.
This trip has been an amazing eye opener. There are a lot of things I will see in a whole different light when we are home. We are so glad our path crossed yours and so glad you are following along. We are actually in the Yucatan right now and starting to contimplate our turn north…unfortunately, it won’t take us through Ponca😥
Thanks so much for another wonderful post. I am relearning some geography and gaining appreciation of the different lifestyles through your many posts.
This trip has been an amazing eye opener. There are a lot of things I will see in a whole different light when we are home. We are so glad our path crossed yours and so glad you are following along. We are actually in the Yucatan right now and starting to contimplate our turn north…unfortunately, it won’t take us through Ponca😥