Getting Ready

It is always exciting to plan a trip to new places.  Our annual Mexico motorcycle trip is now a well established tradition.  This year we are going deep into the mountains of Michoacan.  Michoacan is known for its indigenous cultures, its food, its arts and crafts, and its amazing colonial architecture.  

The excitement and sense of wonder never ceases to amaze me when getting ready for one of these trips.  So far, we have been busy with: 

1. Route planning
2. Hotel selection and reservations
3. GPS route preparations
4. Motorcycle import permits
5. Motorcycle maintenance (tires, oil, tools)
6. Packing

This year we have 8 motorcycles - 3 single riders and 2 couples:

1. Rene and Pam Larrave
2. Keith and Tina Smith
3. Chuck Green and Cindy Shugrue
4. Andy and Alicia Scott
5. Joe and Sagy Reina
6. Mike Bernard
7. Charle Smyth
8. Richard Myers

And, here are the final instructions sent to the group today as everybody prepares for our Friday (Jan 10, 2020) departure. Except for Joe and Say, we are all trailering our bikes to Nuevo Laredo to avoid the long long boring straight ride there : )

1. Plan to be at the hotel in Nuevo Laredo no later than 4pm to unload, repack, park vehicles, etc. 
2. Do your immigration and customs paperwork as you cross the bridge and before going to the hotel (it is easier)
3. The Immigration and Customs office is literally on the road below the bridge on the Mexican side. Ask the bridge guard if you need directions. 
4. We will have a mandatory “all-hands meeting” at the hotel at 6pm to talk about protocols, procedures, rules, and the next day’s route. 
5. There is an ATM at the Immigration and Customs office, or at the hotel (sometimes it doesn’t work) so go ahead and change $200 USD into pesos before arriving to the hotel. 
6. Your bikes need to be full of gas when you get to the hotel for an early departure the next day. 
7. Don’t forget your passport!

We are all ready to party now!