Running from the border

KS- Saturday

Waking up in Monterrey MX after a relaxed evening walking around the pedestrian area, was a nice way to start the weekend.  A light continental breakfast at the hotel,  which I had lost my ticket to, and ended up getting anyway. I guess the guy felt pity for me after my third lap through my pockets.  We retrieved our bikes from the parking area, proceeded to park them on the sidewalk in front of the hotel,  load up and roll out.  Quick gas stop to top off the tanks and we fought our way through the relatively light weekend traffic.  Just because the traffic is light,  doesn't make it any more courteous.  Once we left the city behind,  the air started to clear and the views were incredible.  Wide valleys of farmland, surrounded by tall jagged peaks that reminded me of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.   As par for the course when traveling,  I got pulled over by the police.  Chip pulled off as well and the cop came walking up as I smiled and gave him a hearty Spanish greeting. After my greeting, he realized I was American, somehow.  He asked where we were going,  and when I said Argentina,  his face broke out into a big smile, and he  shook my hand.  He asked how many days (I think) and I told him 3 months (I think).  He smiled and shook my hand again and said carry on (I think).  So we took off down the road, and he didn't chase us.   After a quick roadside taco stop,  we topped off our tanks once again and proceeded into downtown Matehuala.  We found a hotel,  and I managed to get us a room with two beds, and secure parking for the bikes on a gated patio, all for about $25.    My Spanish is getting better, but I have a long ways to go, luckily we have a long ways to go on our journey.  Second police encounter was after going the wrong way on a one way street, just before jumping the bikes up onto the sidewalk.   After the police realized we were staying at the hotel, he smiled, shook his head, and rode away.  Tonight will be another relaxed evening in town,  deciding where we are going to go tomorrow.   Talk of mountain towns, and beach town has been tossed around, maybe we'll have to visit both.  Whatever we do,  we'll be doing it in a south bound way. 

Downtown Monterrey MX,   where we started our day

One of the many views along the way today.

Secure parking for the night in Matehuala MX