Day 66 Sunday June 30, 2013

Saturday June 29, 2013

It is 8:30AM, I am drinking coffee under a thatch roof with the Pacific waves rolling onto the beach about 20 feet from my feet. So far the Pacific coast is much different that the Gulf coast of Mexico. It is 10/15 degrees cooler and it is not humid…this is the way it should be at the beach. I am told that there is to be a surfing competition here today on this beach. The surf must be coming in, a big wave just blew about 10 feet past where I'm sitting.

It is now 9:30PM, the electricity has been off for several hours and came back on a few minutes ago. I have done nothing but hang out and rest. After lunch I had a massage on the beach, went into the surf for about 30 minutes (that is a workout) and laid out and took in some rays.

I have not made up my mind yet, but I may head to Puerto Angel tomorrow. My GPS says it is 458 km and will take 7:35…that will take me no less than 10 hours for me.

Saturday at the beach!

Sunday June 30, 2013

It is now 8:40PM, I have eaten a plato of scrimp and had a grande bowl of yogurt and blue berries…I am full. I rode the bike for 8:30 hours straight, stoping only for fuel…through both rain and heat. I ended up stopping at Playa (playa is beach in espanol)  Zicatela, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.  This is the second beach I checked out, the first would not do. This appears to be a surfer beach that is frequented by California surfer dudes because the streets are full of them. I noticed at the hotel where I am staying there are two ATMs, one dispenses pecos the other US dollars. From what I can tell so far the prices are reasonable and the area is first class. As always more will be revealed.

Well I am putting on some rain gear about now!

I am getting gasalina about now!

This is a shot down the street in front of my hotel.

I am about to eat about now!

Day 64 Friday June 28, 2013

Thursday June 27, 2013

Today was my first day of travel since beginning the kidney infection last Wednesday. I left Tasco planning to go to Acapulco but about 3PM I was lost somewhere in the mountains. My GPS had led me to a dead end…to a river with no bridge and no more road ahead. Oh well it is time to backtrack so I turn around and head back to Teloloapan…I arrived there and had a nice hotel about 7PM. I did see some beautiful country today. I was also in the saddle for 8/9 hours and felt fine. I will take a different route to Acapulco in the morning and should be there in under three hours. More will be revealed...

Some photos from todays wonderings.

It is very common to encounter cattle, horses and burros grazing on the roads....and there are the pot holes....you must stay focused on what you are doing and never get in a hurry!

I was told about this town while in Tasco....all it's streets are paved in white marble.

Friday June 28, 2013

I was up early this morning in Teloloapan hoping to get an early start and maybe get a room and be off the bike in Acapulco by early afternoon before it gets so hot down here at sea level. But the fog was as thick as pea soup in Teloloapan and I did not get on the road until 10AM. After yesterday and my experence with the Garmin Zumo 650 GPS's software I should have known that it had not righted itself overnight....but I did not. Teloloapan is not a larger town and it was 11:30 before I finally got straightened out and headed toward Acapulco. The Mexican army had a roadblock at one end of town and the first couple of times I passed they waved me through....but I kept coming back...finally both sides (both coming and going) waved me to the side and gave me a good search. I finally figured out that the software in the GPS was completely upside down. I wrote the name of the town where I wanted to go down on a sheet of paper and asked the army "which way?". At 12:15PM I passed the point, where yesterday as about the same time, the GPS told me to go right and I should have gone left. Hours later I came to a sign that said "Acapulco 230 km"...at the same time my GPS said Acapulco was 646 km in the other direction....??? When I finally arrived in Acapulco it was 5PM and the traffic was mad...I made one pass through town and said the heck with this. I hit the beach and headed south until I was out of that madness. I have a room in Barra Vieja....on the beach above a nice restaurant and may stay for a few days.

Some shots from todays ride.

This is where I'm staying at Barra Vieja.

Day 62 Wednesday June 26, 2013

Tuesday, June 25

Today has been my best day in Taxco since arriving last Wednesday. I feel better each day and today is no exception…that is #1. I returned to the doctor this morning and he told me that the antibiotic regiment I am on is an eight day cycle, so I said let me do the other three days…make sure I am over this infection…that is #2. At 3:00PM I had an appointment to have an ultrasound done to see what was going on in this kidney and a stone was discovered that had almost reached the bladder…that was #3. Upon returning to the hotel at 5:30PM the stone passed…and that is the 4th good thing to happen today. I will see the doctor in the morning and probably be cleared to travel Thursday.

It appears, provided there are no additional complications, that from beginning to end this kidney issue has lasted 8 1/2 days. I have been to five doctors, had nine injections, been to the pharmacy twice, and had a couple taxi fares. My out of pocket expense will be just under $130 US.

Wednesday, June 26

I went the the doctor this morning and was given a clean bill of health. I have no more stones in my left kidney and my right kidney is also clear. He recommended that I have an ultrasound once a year to check on any development of future stones.

I now plan to travel to Acapulco tomorrow and check it out. It is about a four ride from here....I am told.

This is the church on the plaza.

 Some general photos of Taxco.

This is a photo of Frida Kahlo, she was a very famous Mexican painter. She owned a home here in Taxco and ofter stayed and worked here. You may remember that Frida was the wife of Diego Rivera whose home is a museum and I toured in Guanajuato.  There is a movie available on Netflex named "Frida" starring Salma Hayek as Frida that I very much enjoyed.