Page 20 - Shining On Newsletter - Spring 2023.pdf

Before long we were at the town of San Joaquin up at 2400 metres
(7800 feet) and, instead of a what would have been a welcome coffee
stop, the twins raced off down the Machine House road. In the next
50 minutes and 20 miles we dropped 1650 metres (5400 feet, which
is over a mile!) as we headed for the river gorge. The views were
stunning, if you were brave enough to look. As expected the
temperature rose significantly and the vegetation in the lower valleys
became lusher. The continual steep gradient of the road was
incredible with regular warnings for vehicles to use low gears.
Eventually we entered a long tunnel that brought us into a huge
amphitheatre of mountains where a high viaduct crossed the
Moctezuma river.

After sandwiches and a play with Antonio’s drone, we decided to have a look at the hydroelectric project but the
guards with their machine guns put us off a bit. So we decided to return home – through the tunnel and back up
the steep road we had just come down. The mile-high climb back to San Joaquin was probably more fun on the
way up and the uphill bends less buttock-clenching. The barking dog that went for me as we passed through a
small settlement became a victim of Pete’s new metal foot pegs as we later discovered a small lump of Mexican
dog flesh on his right hand peg – something that attracted the attention of more local pooches when we later
stopped for a drink!

Once out of the mountains we headed for the highway and a steady, flat ride back to Tequisquiapan, forgetting
that back “down” at base we were still up at an altitude of 1900 metres! Following the trip Arturo and I had great
fun helping Pete buy a new Royal Enfield Himalayan, a bike well-suited for the huge range of trails and tracks that
this fascinating part of Mexico has to offer.
Twoshedspete

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