Day 7 – Guachochic to Hidalgo del Parral

A late start got us to breakfast at 8AM at last night's Cafe Cappucino. Eggs and choice of meat(mine ham) worked for the group.

We lounged a bit until 10AM, didling with the bikes and took off for Hidalgo del Parral. The road took us on a roller coaster ride of twisties thru first scrub forest then just scrub, but colorful rock formations all around. A very pretty and entertaining ride.

We eventually stopped in a little town about 80 miles into the ride, and after a quick word with the army guys at the military checkpoint, we stopped at a little restaurant they recommended, we each ordered a lunch of a burrito and juice. The burritos here are much smaller, about an inch in circumference using an 8” flour taco and mine filled with beans, beef and mild chile.

Back on the road, we banzai-ed the last 25 miles to Hidalgo del Parral. Weaving through the traffic of this rather mixed city(commercial on the street, with very colorfully painted dwelling boxes in back, on the hillsides), we made our way to the local Hojos(Howard Johnson’s for the younger crowd). After check-in, we were going to relax by the pool, but 40 degree water, with debris and no working pool pump changed our minds. No problem, it was in the low 80s and the rooms were cool.



Howard Johnsons in Del Parral

Roger and Ken made a Wal Mart run for supplies and Mexican suds which were conservatively sipped until 5 o'clock and dinner at Jim Long's, a nice Chinese restaurant about a half mile walk away from the hotel. We all ordered a different entree and had a great time sharing all the different tastes.

We're hunkered down in the room, online for the first time in several days and will be up at 7AM for breakfast at 8AM to be ready for a 9AM departure for El Salto, a 312 mile day...