That’s right bitches, I built a door, cause that’s what you do when in Mexico. Actually, one of the 1st things I asked my friends when I finally arrived after weeks of telling them I was on my way, was what work needed to be done, as I like a little manual labor now and then, and sitting in hotels was making me soft.

Ok so I mostly watched as my friends build the door, but I built a door damnit. And we built a fence, drilled some stuff, you get the idea. But you can’t build a door without material, so we hiked out to find the reeds, breaking them with our bare hands. We then tied the bundle up and used the bike as a wheelbarrow pushing them home. We then had to cut the reed to size, before we could slap that bad boy together with cordage. And of course none of this is done with electric tools. Before getting the reed we asked permission to take them as you cannot even take wood from the ground here, it is no different than stealing someone’s lamb, respect is extremely important in order to avoid problems.  Who knew building a door was so complicated.

Desert life is always exciting, one of the evenings we were sitting out in the yard discussing how the rooster had just called out to his girlfriend that he found food. We waited 30 seconds, and suddenly she emerged around the corner from the backyard, paused and looked around a bit in confusion, so he called out his locating to her again. She then made her way over to the cage, but got stuck on the wrong side. She was on the outside of the cage, but the food was on the inside, can you believe it?? She paced back and forth for about a minute, I gave up any hope she would find the entrance to cage long before despite it being 1 foot away. Suddenly, she popped around the wall and was inside to be rewarded with her food and our cheers. Yes, this is life in the desert…and I think I like it.

We went on walks several evenings, but damn the desert got cold so we decided to put that to a stop. I ate some delicious food every meal, and we went and watched the local volleyball match in the plaza. There was a dance Saturday night in the puebla, but my friend wanted no part of it. I had assumed she was asking if I wanted to go because her and her husband were going, but no she was just being polite in case I wanted to go, yeah not this time I think I am good. While I assume it would be a hilarious spectacle in this town where nothing happens, I fear I will draw more attention that I want. And then of course as previously mentioned we worked, which was just what I needed after this vacationing thing that I pretend is adventuring, but really I know the difference.

Turns out my friends are as bad at planning as I am, because we all decided to go for a picnic on one of the coldest of all the days I was there. We packed up the Volkswagen and hit dirt roads perfect for churro and I. I felt guilty for leaving the guy behind, but sometimes a Mexican adventure requires a beetle, and this one was up to the challenge. The road was perfect, rough at times, giant rocks, lots of cows, along with wild horses, and a few burrows. We passed a couple Lagunas prior to getting to the dry lakebed where we had planned to stop, but pushed on looking for shelter from the wind. We found it, had a picnic, and walked around. I already told you not much happens in the desert. This time I am actually glad, as the whole family has seen rattlesnakes on various occasions, and I am not looking for that kind of adventure.

I am only 4 or so hours from Real de Catorce, and having never been reluctantly headed North, I already know it is not for me. During my trip I stopped for a pic at the tropic of cancer, thinking to myself why even stop, I have crossed this several times, plus driven across the equator, but hey it’s a reason for a pic. Well, I put the kickstand down and let churro settle in, only to watch the kickstand sink into loose sand as he fell over….damnit. Churro is a heavy bitch, so as I was removing a bag to lighten the load to lift him, 2 national guard cars stop and ask if I need help. After helping me lift it they ask a bunch of questions on the trip, wish me luck, and get back in the car. I then start snapping pics of churro, so 1 of them jumps out of his car and asks if I want pics with my bike, which of course I do. The national guard has had bad headlines lately over in Baja, giving out a lot of tickets to people driving in their cars without their masks on, but this would be 1 of 2 instances I have had that have shown they can also be fantastic. Appreciate the help guys!
These are all on the way to Real de Catorce

Real was nice enough, but an hour or two and you have seen what you need to. The entire place is being reconstructed, there was work being done everywhere you looked, it is far from the Real de Catorce of old days. It felt like there were about 30 hotels already with plenty more being built, it’s going to end up just like Sapa in Vietnam, a place I didn’t love. The hotels are over priced, but I eventually found one for 350 pesos or so, though many only have street parking, especially the cheaper ones.  Ok Churro, your back on the streets, sorry buddy.  Churro wasn’t the only one sacrificing though, the hotel was extremely cold, and that winter storm was still causing havoc even in Mexico…plus my door once again lacked privacy, but provided a nice night light to see in the dark when I got up to go to the bathroom.  

This door was shut and locked!

I figured I should make it count so Churro and I hit the jeep trail, I never did see the tunnel as we took the same way back out, but that was fine I have seen tunnels before. I head back to my desert friends for a few more days, and while I enjoyed my time there, leaving was not difficult as the cold finally pushed me back South, this time headed to Dolores Hidalgo.