Ride to Copala

Last week we were supposed to go on a ride with Frank and Sandi but they had Jeep problems and had to bail at the last minute.  This week the Jeep is fixed (new battery) and off we went to Copala.  For a few years it was hard to find anywhere to eat there as Daniel’s Restaurant (now in El Quelite) had closed.  After reading Carol’s blog and her recent post about Copala we knew that Alejandro’s restaurant was now open in a new location just off the square.



We followed the vegetable truck out of the park and up the street to where he pulled off at a roadside restaurant.

Getting fuel and then onward.

This week the Jeep is right behind us with my usual shot of the Riu in the background.

On the Mazatlan bypass.

More repairs on a brand new road….

We pay 23 pesos at the toll booth.

We leave the bypass at Villa Union and head east towards Concordia and then Copala.

Usually you see Mexicans with machetes slashing the edge of the road but this is upscale….a tractor with a brush mower.

This very nicely restored Ford truck was right ahead of us and he had a tank of water on the back.  He pulled off into a small field where he had young trees to water.

Don’t you just love the colorful buses?

Lots of nice green crops out this way.

Alright burro….take me to town and….make it snappy!

One of the numerous pottery shops just before Concordia.  Why do they paint the frogs bright green and put happy faces on them and who would buy them?

Eric pointed out the furniture shop and I said I like the furniture in Mesillas where it’s very pricey there and very nice!

On the left Concordia and the big church steeple. 

Anyone need a watermelon?  This guy has lots.

We sit in the sun and the locals use an umbrella to get out of it.   Bet her skin looks better than mine!

If you turn right here and go under the Durango cuota you will come to Mesillas….a whole town in the middle of no where making, importing and selling high end furniture.  Always fun to look but….another time.

The road to Copala climbs and it is very twisty and turny.  Eric has to really pay attention and keep his eye on the road.  He doesn’t get to sight see like me!

Up above the new toll highway to Durango.  This new highway has opened up an easy route for people to come to Mazatlan from the interior of Mexico.  That’s why building in Mazatlan has just exploded over the last couple of years.

Mountains in the distance.  We are on the old highway to Durango and when you get past Copala you would travel on what is known as the Devil’s Spine.  

There were lots of leafless trees with big white flowers on….I wonder what they are.  Magnolias flower before they leaf out but I doubt that is what they are.

Coming into Chupaderos…

No water in that river.

Even the tiniest town has a beer store!

Turn right for Copala.

The “lovely” cobblestone road.  It is awful!  So rough it just about bounces us off the bike and loosens the fillings in your teeth.   The last time we were up this way we took the paved cut off to the right and as we came up the hill there was a big pile of sand in the middle of the road and we ended up dropping the bike.  Loose sand on a hill is not a good thing for a big Harley.  Today we stayed on the cobblestones to be safe.

A pretty little town with not much going on.

Heading towards the square.

Rough cobblestone road the whole way.

The square and up ahead the Iglesia church built in the 1600’s.

The bike is parked and we are in one piece.

Frank and Sandi are parked in front of Alejandro’s Restaurant.

The pretty square.

An old mural that has seen better days. 

Alejandro used to run his restaurant over the bank down behind the square.  Now that there are more tourists returning to Copala he needed more room and opened a bigger facility right next to the square. 

Very nicely done with enough seating for a tour bus.  We were told there was one coming at 1pm so we hustled to our seats and ordered before everyone got there.

Eric’s camarones rancheros.

Frank’s beef machaca.

Sandi had camarones empanizado.

I had camarones relleno or shrimp with cheese wrapped in bacon and grilled.  Very rich and I couldn’t eat the whole meal but….

I did have enough room for a piece of banana cream pie.  This used to be served at Daniel’s restaurant and now it’s served here.  Good!

Eric….quite hogging all the tortillas!  

After lunch we walked across to Alejandro’s studio where he sells leather masks, different carvings and jewellry.  He said business has been much better in Copala over the last couple of years since the cruise ships have come back to Mazatlan.  This means that people from the cruise ships are now coming to Copala on tour buses and business is good.

Lovely masks and we already have one that we bought at Daniel’s restaurant a few years ago.  However I really did like the purple one on the top left!

Back to the square and I saw this horse and dog patiently waiting for their owner.

Time to have a quick look at the church.

We toured this area many times in the past but it’s always worth another look.

That is one of the nicest bougainvillea’s I’ve ever seen.

A peek inside the church. 

Lots of work and money needed to restore it to it’s former glory.  Too much for a small poor town. 

Isn’t that beautiful.

Grass is growing out of the steeple.

And now for the return trip on the cobblestone road. 

The big old tree at the bottom with it’s roots in the air.  Doesn’t seem to mind at all.

Back to the pavement and heading home.

About 40 miles to Mazatlan.

Onto the bypass.

Lots of green crops near Villa Union because of the water from the river.

More road repair on a new bridge.

Tell tale sign that we are almost home….the Riu.

Just next to the park on the north side….trucks heading in with loads of fill and….lots of dust.  The park is just a stone’s throw to the right. 

So a really good ride and a tasty lunch with friends ....what more can you ask for.