Parral to Gomez Palacio
Saturday July 12th, 2014

The road to Durango

I left Parral early and rode south toward Durango on the broad red line I saw on my map. The sky threatened rain and the highway turned to a dirt construction site, then some pavement. It started to rain hard. The next highway improvement was 10km of slick mud. I dumped the bike three times in the first kilometer. Each time, a guy in the truck behind me got out to help me pick it up. For a while he was walking behind me holding the rack as we both tried to walk the bike forward. Cars and trucks began to get stuck. Everyone turned around and headed back north. I cut over to Gomez Palacio on a great narrow road through the desert.

Still looks dry but that bus up ahead is stuck

Clay dust + water = zero traction!

I learned later that Hwy 23 connects through
from El Zape to Canutillto

Gomez Palacio to Zacatecas
Sunday July 13th, 2014

Autopista and lots of straight road, all paved, between Gomez Palacio and Zacatecas. Arrived before the rain started and in time to clean yesterday's mud off my boots.

Terrasse Hotel Zacatecas

View from the terrace

Aimless in Zacatecas
Monday July 14th, 2014

Santa Nino de Atocha, Plateros
Tuesday July 15th, 2014

Rode an hour north of Zacatecas to the pilgramidge church of Plateros. Site of a 16th century silver mine and a miracle working statue of Santo Nino de Atocha. Here the colonnade and part of an interior courtyard are covered with paintings depicting some misfortune or other, and asking for help. In each painting the Nino de Atocha is usually hovering nearby. Lots of food stalls and milagro sellers surround the church.

Aimless in Zacatecas 2
Wednesday July 16th, 2014

Zacatecas to Real de Catorce

Friday July 18th

I left Zacatecas after a lost day spent in the hotel while the bacteria in my stomach were battling, and presumably loosing to, some new arrivals.

The road to Real de Catorce is mostly straight and well paved untill the cobble stone stretch which leads to the town. Thanks to RW66's advice I ignored my GPS and didn't turn on the road marked, I think, Est Real de Catorce. This has led many riders along the rutted dirt back road into town. Fun on an appropriate bike, I'm sure. I waited untill after crossing the train tracks to turn on the cobble stone road. Lots of shaking and rattling but the stones are set tightly together so no problem. The views are good as the road winds over the mountain and finallly through a long, damp, mine tunnel into the narrow valley where Real de Catorce sits.

Road through the mountains to Real de Catorce

Long, damp, tunnel into town

The streets of Real de Catorce

Hard work on a big bike

The bright yellow line