Up at 6AM and check outside for the weather. Parking lot and cars are damp, but it's not raining. Relief. The Weather Channel still suggests 30-50 percent chance f rain through the day on our route. After packing we're off to the hotel cafeteria area for a buffet breakfast, make mine raisin bran, yogurt, OJ & coffee.
It's going to be a long transit day and am hopeful the roads will not be wet. Note that the asphalt roads in Mexico seem to be especially greasy, caused by whatever oil mix they use in the asphalt. A couple days ago, before Real de Catorce, there was light rain and a certain right hand turn gave everyone the willies as we wiggled around it. Just hoping today won't bring more of the same. The area of most concern is in the city, before the open road. Another note. Most highways go the the cities and villages on route. There are very few that actually bypass the settled areas. Mexico City is one of the few areas a bypass toll road does exist.
Out of the room at 8:15AM and dressed for rain, the parking lot is drying and the weather hasn't worsened, so things are really looking up for traction. Out onto the city thoroughfare and all becomes well. Out onto the open highway and we do a couple of 90 mile stints between gas stops when the weather lifts and blue sky replaces the now lifting, low clouds. I love it when The Weather Channel screws up the rain forecast...
We stop for a quick lunch-cart meal, Mexican style. Everyone, but me, enjoys what I a giant shrimp cocktail and I, not a huge shrimp fan, go next door for a couple of beef tacos. Mine are OK. The cocktails are proclaimed a huge success, and no one gets any unwanted pathogens to spoil their afternoon, so good on us all.
The rest of the way to Chihuahua is uneventful until the city, where it becomes a bit hectic on the city highways, but we're(most of us anyway) used to the pace and the flow of it by now, so glide through the hecticity to a gas stop just beyond the hotel, fill up and back track to the Ramada Encore Hotel. This would be my wife Kath's favorite stay. Frank Lloyd modern rooms with modern chrome(OK, so she likes satin stainless better) fixtures and a fabulous view from the 5th floor of part of the thriving city of Chihuahua.
Roger comes by and delivers the good news that there's a free breakfast tomorrow and tonight, free beer in the dining area from 6 to 8. We'll just have to take advantage of that.
After a bit, we meet for free beer and snacks for an hour then migrate to a seafood restaurant next door, where more shrimp await us. Mine were breaded and fied and very good. Others enjoyed various shrimp recipes, including the ever popular, Shrimp Diabla. Very nice meal.
Back to the hotel rooms and a shower, then reading, writing and checking The Weather Channel. They still predicted showers the next day on our route to the border, but looking at their moving, interactive weather map showed all of the storm clouds had moved out of the area, by 2PM the previous day. Hmmm, Never seen rain without clouds, but someone seems to think it's possible..
A good sleep, thinking no rain will spoil our last ride..
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