It was in 2002. I crossed in New Mexico. I traveled in Chihuahua then headed west towards the Pacific. I crossed the mountains through Durango, MEX. Then down along the Gold coast including Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, and a bunch of smaller towns like Playa Azul. Puerto Escondido was still cheap with just the first fancy-pancy condos going up.

The truck-drivers in MEX and Central America are insane. I had all lanes on a four lane highway full of 18 wheelers coming at me so many times.

Iguana are dead all over the roads. And huge, dumb, slow buzzards eat them on the road. When they see you coming they jump start fly up and fly in the same direction that you are traveling.

I was literally swatting buzzards off of my helmet.

Everyone that walks on the side of the road has a machete.

Eventually I lashed one to the side of the bike with a suvionior grade sheath.

Many Mexicans are rather sick of dealing the US Americans. If you are Danish, or German, or Aussie (some folks I traveled here and there with) they love you.

Most other Central Americans love you even if you are US American.

Travel on motorcycle is the biggest laugh you ever have. You get off the bike NOT BELIEVING you are still alive.

I mean ... I didn't tell you about the border crossing fun. Or dealing with take the bike apart looks for armas. Or the plank ferry operated by a yamaha 125 on the other side. Or the Mayan temples I saw from Return of the Jedi.

That was only the first few weeks. That trip lasted about 11 months.