R&R in Acapulco

Pictures taken poolside at the Copacabana Beach Hotel and from the beach in front of the hotel.

We've been relaxing for the last 2 days in the concrete jungle called Acapulco. It was a well needed rest for we are only half way to our final destination, Lago De Yojoa, Honduras.
Where there were small, maybe 2 to 3 storey hotels, the giant hotels have taken over. Some smaller hotels do not even have a view of the ocean any longer and some are being torn down.
There is a Wal Mart, Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood and even a water park on the beach where you can swim with dolphins. 2 days has been enough for us. We are glad to have been here but it is time to move on. Not sure of our destination tomorrow but will ride until the numbness returns.

Ixtapa to Acapulco

We left our "cave" of a hotel room in Ixtapa early. For a resort town it was cheap, $50. Looking forward to arriving at our rest point for a few days off "work". Our job is to ride to Honduras and we need a few days off. Lots of stops today to rest our sore muscles. Even had a cramp today and no where to pull off the road safely. Hazards of riding. We were stopped by the military police as we entered Acapulco. This is the third time we have been stopped. The first time we were prepared with all paper work in hand. The officer did not want to see the paper. All he did was stare at us. Soon a non-military man was over to us with a large tray with peso coins in it. Todd pulled out a 50 peso bill ($5) and put it in the tray. The guy was excited because it was a bill and not coins. We were waved on. The second time we were stopped they officer had us open up the luggage pod and did a quick search. Chatted us up a bit. Asked where we were from and what our names were. Did not ask for paper work. The stop outside of Acapulco, the officer was a bit more serious. Checked both saddlebags and luggage pod. Stuck his hand in our backpack. Still just a "look", not really a search. Not chatting with him. We were sent on our way with no problem.

Arrived in Acapulco under the bullet ridden welcome sign. Made a wrong turn in rush hour traffic and ended up in downtown. Made our way back to the main ocean front street and found a McDonalds. We never thought we would enjoy a meal and McD's but this one we did. As we left the restaurant an older man (Francesco) waved us over. He works for a tour company and helped us find a hotel to stay in. He represented several hotels and we had our pick. We went 5 star after staying in the palapa on the beach and a "cave" the night after. Our hotel is huge (400 rooms +) and many more local tourists than gringos.

Punta Tizupan to Ixtapa

We were up early and on the road by 9:30 am. Road was more inland so we did not take many pictures. Lazaro Credenas had a huge dam and manufacturing plant. Highway was recently paved and straighter but many small towns to pass through and each one has at least 3 topes (speed bumps).

Wish all Pemex stations were located on the ocean. Met a Mexican man who spent years working the US to come back to his home town to build a hotel. Said he wants to buy a Harley one day. Everyone has been very friendly to us.

Manzanillo to Punta Tizupan

Our goal was to get from Manzanillo to Zihuatanejo but the road was slow going and the scenary breathtaking. We made many stops and when you thought the view couldn't get nicer it did. At one point we counted 11 hairpin curves in 2 kilometers. If we weren't leaning to the left we were leaning to the right. Many more fields of coconut palms, plantains and tomatos.

After 3 hours of riding, tired and thirsty we came upon an RV park along the ocean. They had a one room palapa for rent. $20 per night with a private bathroom. While deciding, we met a nice couple from Wisconsin (Kay and Tom) who have been RVing since 1998. There were only two other couples in the RV park, both from Canada.

We decided to spend the night and had a great evening swapping stories with Kay and Tom.

After a great supper of shrimp and the local catch of the day we went to bed listening to the waves from the Pacific.

Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo

Today we started out early. Not by choice. The hotel restaurant was not open when we needed our morning coffee. Todd rode up the cobblestone road alone because it was too uneven and not worth the risk.

The ride was cool, twisty and worrisome because we heard mixed messages about where the next gas station was.

At about half a tank we came across a Pemex and two others right after. Half a tank is only about 2 gallons. We really haven't been watching the price of gas up till now but prices are similar to Edmonton.

The landscape was beautiful. Fields and fields of tomato plants, plantains and mango groves.

On the way into Bara De Navidad the was a huge speed bump (topes). We lost the spring to the kickstand. By the time we found it someone had run over it. No problem. We pulled over and with our trusty pliers re-attached it. It works.

We had lunch in Bara De Navidad at a beach front restaurant. Not many bikes pass through here so people were stopping to look at our license plate to see where we were from. The gringos were more interested than the locals.

Soon a bike came by, stopped, looked at the plate, moved back and then parked. Doug, a Calgarian, working in Mexico for the last 10 years joined us for lunch. He works free lance computer work and says he only has to work 6 hours per week for one client to pay his bills here in Mexico. Swapped road stories, had lunch and said Adios.

Even though we had been riding for 3.5 hours, we were only 1 hour from Manzanillo and decided to go for it. Numb bums and all.

Pulled up beside a H-D Ford truck with B.C. license plates at a red light. Waved at him and it took him too long to open his window. Think the old guy was scared of us. Has the truck but has never had the bike. Finally he rolled down the window. Told him we were from Edmonton and asked him how many more hotels to expect along the road. He said many.

Found a good looking hotel soon after. Beach front with a private balcony for $55.

We were tired but could not sit any longer. Walked along the beach. There's no one here!!!

Met a couple from Michigan and a man from Edson. He drove here by himself and is staying here for 3 months. He does paving in the summer and vacations south all winter. Met a man from California who is here with his employer who wants to open a branch of his fork lift company. Says raw commercial land near the port is 1 million dollars per acre.

Pictures of the sunset do not do it justice. It was beautiful.