beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
PROLOGUE: I want to thank mi buen amigo vectervp1 - Senor Arturo Montoya for his much needed assistance in helping out his Tio Chuy with the posting of these photographs to accompany the text of beemerdons. Muchas Gracias, Arte!!!
Months of preparation paid off with a fun and trouble free motorcycle trip to Mexico. Seven AZ Beemers went South: Don Stanley, Brian Boles, Melanie Boles, Matt Kas, Enrique Garza, Jordan Meschkow and Noel Campbell.
Friday, October 10: Four of us left a day early to avoid Hurricane Norbert. Good call by Brian “El Jefe” Boles! BB, Don, Henry and Noel were already ready to go with the Banjercito – Mexican Vehicle Import Permit attached to our bike’s windshields. All we had to do at the 21km Inspection Station was to obtain our Mexican Tourist cards. We stopped in the wonderful Sonoran village of Magdalena for lunch. I have always been impressed by Magdalena, a clean and handsome city populated with very happy citizens.
We AZ Beemers learned that Enrique “Henry” Garza’s mother was born in Magdalena. As many of you also know, AZ Beemer Martin “El Gobernador” Osete was born on a rancho outside Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
We hit an intense and blinding rainstorm between Santa Ana and Hermosillo at 4pm, but made the Hotel Armida in Guaymas by nightfall. We had a nice swim in the pool and fantastic steak dinner in the Armida’s fancy restaurant.
Saturday, October 11: Today’s ride felt the effects of Hurricane Norbert, as we encountered wind gusts up to 50mph; luckily they were mostly tailwinds.
We stopped at VIPS’s in Ciudad Obregon for breakfast; delicious desayuno!
The heat was intense and we had to stop many times for water breaks. We encountered toll booths approximately every 50 miles too and there’re slow.
The four of us spent the night at Hotel La Siesta at Olas Altas, in the old historic section of Mazatlan. We had incredible camarones at El Shrimp Bucket which is attached to the hotel; opened in 1963, the Bucket was the first of the international chain of Carlos Anderson restaurants. Don, aka “Chuy Medina–El Burrito Ballerina” really recommends: The Shrimp Boat.
Sunday, October 12: Another day was spent in Mazatlan at the Azteca Inn, right across the street from the Hotel Playa Mazatlan. On future trips we are not going to make any hotel reservations in advance, we hated the fact this limited our abilities to change plans on the run and enjoy new found hotels.
Monday, October 13: Rode to San Blas and arrived early enough to enjoy the pool and to explore La Playa. Had delicious fried fish on rice – pescado late lunch under a palapa on the sand looking out at the waves. AZ Beemer Jordan Meschkow flew into the Puerto Vallarta Airport at 4pm and picked up a rental BMW F650GS. After a long routing in a pounding rainstorm, AZ-J joined the AZ Beemers Group at 10pm. BB took him into town via taxi to get Jordan fed and our group was now up to five AZ Beemer riders.
Tuesday, October 14: Rode to Tapalpa via Tala and Santa Cruz de las Flores. We stopped for photos along the way at the beautiful valley….overlooking Laguna Sayula. The roads through the Sierra de Mascota mountain range reminded me of the roads in the Pyrenees that Stef, Hook, Mek, Caba, Orestes, Dr. Bob and I rode last May!
We stayed at the charming Casa de Maty.
We were also fortunate to be there for the Harvest Moon Festival Parade. The town was charming and the local school children were dressed up that day as harvest items, corn, squash, and apples and were cute ninos!
Wednesday, October 15: Let the BMW Mexico Moto Clubs International Convention Begin; FIESTA! Cinco amigos rode to the Guadalajara airport where we met Melanie Boles flying into the aeropuerto.
BB put Mel in a cab and the five bikes followed the taxi to the Fiesta Americana; base camp for the next two nights of the Rally. We boarded buses at 7pm with our newly found 700 amigos and rode to the Estado de Jalisco Cultural Cabanas.
At the hotel we were united with our seventh AZ Beemer – Mr. Matt Kas arrived. We also adopted an eighth AZ Beemer–Chuck Denison of Laramie, Wyoming became part of AZB and we’re now the Magnifico Ocho Amigos!
In the hotel was a parade of BMW motorcycles. In the fifth and sixth pictures is the BMW that started beemerdons on a forty year career of owning Beemers: 1966 BMW R60/2.
We were treated to a cocktail party, an excellent sit down dinner and hours of entertainment by Ballet Folclorico given by Secretaria de Cultura Jalisco. In the fourth picture the expression on my face was due to downing my sixth shot of Herradura Tequila Especial. When you are drinking $150 a bottle tequila for free, Drink Up Mi Amigos!
Thursday, October 16: Tequila, tequila y mas tequila! Rode the Tequila Express RR train to the Casa Herradura tequila distillery in Tequila, Jalisco.
We first toured the expansive and very beautiful grounds of Exhacienda San Jose del Refugio, where premier Herradura tequila is made. Then as we entered the courtyard we each had a fired clay cup on a ribbon put around our necks. We then proceeded to find Pedro, the little burro with two casks of especial Herradura tequila on his back, just open up the tap and pour your drink. Mi amigo Pedro the burro and I became so close; what a great burro!!
What a great Fiesta! Under the shade of many trees, tables with white linen were spread out and we all enjoyed a fine sumptuous buffet; all you can eat. Entertainment was la Charreria y Folclore and hours of Fiesta del Mariachi!
Friday, October 17: 700 bikes lined up at the Plaza Minerva fountain and after 3 laps of the Circle Fountain we were off on a 320 kilometer ride West. The scenery was jungle like fantastic and the riding pace was so muy rapido!
Our route was Guadalajara, Ameca, Mascota and arriving in Puerto Vallarta.
We all stopped in Mascota for lunch in the town square – El Zocalo y El Jardin. Local schoolchildren had booths selling delicious luncheon goodies and local mariachi bands were playing up a storm. Mas photos opportunity.
Even the children of Mascota were happy to have us there.
We registered at the Hotel Sheraton Bugambilias and prepared for the party.
The dinner dance was held in the Jardines and once again delicious food, unlimited drinks and absolutely splendid entertainment going until midnight.
The highlight of the evening was when one of the lucky crowd from Chiapas won the Rally Raffle Prize of a brand new red BMW R1200GS Adventure!
Saturday, October 18: The ocho amigos toured old town Puerto Vallarta this morning. Noel was a US Customs Agent stationed in PV for many years and found a great restaurant for posole next to oldest cathedral in P.V..
In the afternoon we were treated to another four hours of entertainment and food. All you can eat shrimp with all of the traditional Mexican food sides.
Unlimited drinks and non stop music! Presentations were made by the Rally Officials; and Tampico was announced for 2009 and Chiapas for Rally 2010.
If you’ve never been to a BMW Moto Clubs of Mexico International Rally, you are missing out on being in the company of some of the warmest and finest motorcycling friends that you could ever meet. Many thanks amigos!
Sunday, October 19: Sadly, this wonderful experience had to come to an end – Que lastima! Brian, Don, Matt and Chuck headed northward to spend the night in Navojoa. Jordan and Melanie got on the plane and flew back to Phoenix. Noel and Enrique decided to take 4 days to ride home via Durango. On Monday, Chuck peeled off at Imura and headed to Aqua Prieta and on to Wyoming; we arrived at our homes that night. Noel’s bike broke down with a bad fuel pump in Mazatlan and Henry rode home by himself. Noel replaced his fuel pump and made his Prescott home by Friday evening.
Months of preparation paid off with a fun and trouble free motorcycle trip to Mexico. Seven AZ Beemers went South: Don Stanley, Brian Boles, Melanie Boles, Matt Kas, Enrique Garza, Jordan Meschkow and Noel Campbell.
Friday, October 10: Four of us left a day early to avoid Hurricane Norbert. Good call by Brian “El Jefe” Boles! BB, Don, Henry and Noel were already ready to go with the Banjercito – Mexican Vehicle Import Permit attached to our bike’s windshields. All we had to do at the 21km Inspection Station was to obtain our Mexican Tourist cards. We stopped in the wonderful Sonoran village of Magdalena for lunch. I have always been impressed by Magdalena, a clean and handsome city populated with very happy citizens.
We AZ Beemers learned that Enrique “Henry” Garza’s mother was born in Magdalena. As many of you also know, AZ Beemer Martin “El Gobernador” Osete was born on a rancho outside Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
We hit an intense and blinding rainstorm between Santa Ana and Hermosillo at 4pm, but made the Hotel Armida in Guaymas by nightfall. We had a nice swim in the pool and fantastic steak dinner in the Armida’s fancy restaurant.
Saturday, October 11: Today’s ride felt the effects of Hurricane Norbert, as we encountered wind gusts up to 50mph; luckily they were mostly tailwinds.
We stopped at VIPS’s in Ciudad Obregon for breakfast; delicious desayuno!
The heat was intense and we had to stop many times for water breaks. We encountered toll booths approximately every 50 miles too and there’re slow.
The four of us spent the night at Hotel La Siesta at Olas Altas, in the old historic section of Mazatlan. We had incredible camarones at El Shrimp Bucket which is attached to the hotel; opened in 1963, the Bucket was the first of the international chain of Carlos Anderson restaurants. Don, aka “Chuy Medina–El Burrito Ballerina” really recommends: The Shrimp Boat.
Sunday, October 12: Another day was spent in Mazatlan at the Azteca Inn, right across the street from the Hotel Playa Mazatlan. On future trips we are not going to make any hotel reservations in advance, we hated the fact this limited our abilities to change plans on the run and enjoy new found hotels.
Monday, October 13: Rode to San Blas and arrived early enough to enjoy the pool and to explore La Playa. Had delicious fried fish on rice – pescado late lunch under a palapa on the sand looking out at the waves. AZ Beemer Jordan Meschkow flew into the Puerto Vallarta Airport at 4pm and picked up a rental BMW F650GS. After a long routing in a pounding rainstorm, AZ-J joined the AZ Beemers Group at 10pm. BB took him into town via taxi to get Jordan fed and our group was now up to five AZ Beemer riders.
Tuesday, October 14: Rode to Tapalpa via Tala and Santa Cruz de las Flores. We stopped for photos along the way at the beautiful valley….overlooking Laguna Sayula. The roads through the Sierra de Mascota mountain range reminded me of the roads in the Pyrenees that Stef, Hook, Mek, Caba, Orestes, Dr. Bob and I rode last May!
We stayed at the charming Casa de Maty.
We were also fortunate to be there for the Harvest Moon Festival Parade. The town was charming and the local school children were dressed up that day as harvest items, corn, squash, and apples and were cute ninos!
Wednesday, October 15: Let the BMW Mexico Moto Clubs International Convention Begin; FIESTA! Cinco amigos rode to the Guadalajara airport where we met Melanie Boles flying into the aeropuerto.
BB put Mel in a cab and the five bikes followed the taxi to the Fiesta Americana; base camp for the next two nights of the Rally. We boarded buses at 7pm with our newly found 700 amigos and rode to the Estado de Jalisco Cultural Cabanas.
At the hotel we were united with our seventh AZ Beemer – Mr. Matt Kas arrived. We also adopted an eighth AZ Beemer–Chuck Denison of Laramie, Wyoming became part of AZB and we’re now the Magnifico Ocho Amigos!
In the hotel was a parade of BMW motorcycles. In the fifth and sixth pictures is the BMW that started beemerdons on a forty year career of owning Beemers: 1966 BMW R60/2.
We were treated to a cocktail party, an excellent sit down dinner and hours of entertainment by Ballet Folclorico given by Secretaria de Cultura Jalisco. In the fourth picture the expression on my face was due to downing my sixth shot of Herradura Tequila Especial. When you are drinking $150 a bottle tequila for free, Drink Up Mi Amigos!
Thursday, October 16: Tequila, tequila y mas tequila! Rode the Tequila Express RR train to the Casa Herradura tequila distillery in Tequila, Jalisco.
We first toured the expansive and very beautiful grounds of Exhacienda San Jose del Refugio, where premier Herradura tequila is made. Then as we entered the courtyard we each had a fired clay cup on a ribbon put around our necks. We then proceeded to find Pedro, the little burro with two casks of especial Herradura tequila on his back, just open up the tap and pour your drink. Mi amigo Pedro the burro and I became so close; what a great burro!!
What a great Fiesta! Under the shade of many trees, tables with white linen were spread out and we all enjoyed a fine sumptuous buffet; all you can eat. Entertainment was la Charreria y Folclore and hours of Fiesta del Mariachi!
Friday, October 17: 700 bikes lined up at the Plaza Minerva fountain and after 3 laps of the Circle Fountain we were off on a 320 kilometer ride West. The scenery was jungle like fantastic and the riding pace was so muy rapido!
Our route was Guadalajara, Ameca, Mascota and arriving in Puerto Vallarta.
We all stopped in Mascota for lunch in the town square – El Zocalo y El Jardin. Local schoolchildren had booths selling delicious luncheon goodies and local mariachi bands were playing up a storm. Mas photos opportunity.
Even the children of Mascota were happy to have us there.
We registered at the Hotel Sheraton Bugambilias and prepared for the party.
The dinner dance was held in the Jardines and once again delicious food, unlimited drinks and absolutely splendid entertainment going until midnight.
The highlight of the evening was when one of the lucky crowd from Chiapas won the Rally Raffle Prize of a brand new red BMW R1200GS Adventure!
Saturday, October 18: The ocho amigos toured old town Puerto Vallarta this morning. Noel was a US Customs Agent stationed in PV for many years and found a great restaurant for posole next to oldest cathedral in P.V..
In the afternoon we were treated to another four hours of entertainment and food. All you can eat shrimp with all of the traditional Mexican food sides.
Unlimited drinks and non stop music! Presentations were made by the Rally Officials; and Tampico was announced for 2009 and Chiapas for Rally 2010.
If you’ve never been to a BMW Moto Clubs of Mexico International Rally, you are missing out on being in the company of some of the warmest and finest motorcycling friends that you could ever meet. Many thanks amigos!
Sunday, October 19: Sadly, this wonderful experience had to come to an end – Que lastima! Brian, Don, Matt and Chuck headed northward to spend the night in Navojoa. Jordan and Melanie got on the plane and flew back to Phoenix. Noel and Enrique decided to take 4 days to ride home via Durango. On Monday, Chuck peeled off at Imura and headed to Aqua Prieta and on to Wyoming; we arrived at our homes that night. Noel’s bike broke down with a bad fuel pump in Mazatlan and Henry rode home by himself. Noel replaced his fuel pump and made his Prescott home by Friday evening.
