Monday February 27, 2012
Tomorrow we will be packing up to head back to Mazatlan so today we took a last ride in this area for this year.
The ride.
So….we set off on the 200 toward Puerto Vallarta.
This is the most dangerous thing on the highway….a bus. They will pass anything and anyone at any opportunity and they get so close behind you that you could almost touch them. I gave this guy a dirty look and he moved back. When I turned around and took his picture he didn’t get close again!
When he finally passed us he was gone like a shot. This is along the highway from Los de Marcos to Puerto Vallarta. It doesn’t become two lanes until you reach the cut off towards the marina and Punta de Mita and before that it just a windy two lane road and it has to carry all the traffic south.
At the fourth stop light going through Bucerias heading south there is a left turn to the Valle de Banderas and that was our destination. You have to be in the lateral to make the turn and we couldn’t get down to it from the highway as it was too steep so we made a quick U turn at the Mega and turned around.
There was a bit of cobblestone on the first part of the road after we turned off the highway but then it opened out into a nice rural quiet road that was perfect for a ride.
A pretty estate along the way.
The area was very agricultural as we rode and we passed many small farms. Very pretty.
This is our ride. Up the Valle de Banderas through San Juan de Abajo area and down through San Vincente and back to the south end of Bucerias.
The first part of the highway ended in a small town that had no name and and that point we had to turn right toward San Juan de Abajo. From there on the road went through small towns that seemed to go on forever. As we road along I tried to snap pictures but of course I wasn’t sure where I was.
This fellow was riding a wheeled cart pulled by his donkey. He gave me a big smile but I didn’t snap fast enough and ended up with this roadside stand in the way.
San Juan de Abajo and some beautiful sculptures. It’s always amazing what you find when you ride. When I Googled this area later it appears it is a tourist destination from Puerto Vallarta and has quite a lot to see. Next time.
By this time we were getting tired and needed lunch and we were riding up and down streets, one way here, two way there, following small van taxis and other fast moving traffic and I said….What the heck are we in the barrio! Sure enough when I looked at the map later we were actually in “Barrio San Jose” at this point. Funny!
I didn’t know that Eric had looked over the route and actually knew where we were headed….I thought he was just winging it! It took a long time to wind our way through all the small Mexican streets before we finally made it through.
In the end we ended up back out on the main highway at the south end of Bucerious, hot, tired and ready for lunch. We decided to go back to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle which is the small Mexican town next to the Marina. We stopped at a small taco stand and had a great lunch. The owner spoke pretty good English and was interested in Big Red. He and Eric chatted a bit about the cost of the Harley and how expensive they are now compared to the “olden days!” He served us carne tacos which were actually filled with carnitas which is deep fried pork. Delicious. Two each with fresh salsa, salsa sauces and a pop. Cost…60 pesos or $4.80 for two people. A great lunch and it cost 1/10th of what it did to have lunch in Punta de Mita and I think it was a better lunch. I know Eric did.
Eric doesn’t look super happy here….but he is!
A nice little taco stand. While we were there the health inspectors came in and put up no smoking signs, health regulations and gave him iodine wash for vegetables and hand sanitizer packs to place at his sink. At his sink there was a sign advising customers to wash their hands before they ate. The owner who was cooking did not handle the money (dirty), his wife did. Even the small places are under scrutiny so you don’t get sick.
A good ride and a good lunch. We’ll do that ride again next year and have a little more information about the things to see in the area.
A good day!
This is the park worker Jose….Eric was getting ready to pump up his bicycle tire.
This is the palapa next to us where all the happy hours etc. take place. This one was a normal quiet happy hour that even I would have joined in with!
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