Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico: 10 kms (11958 kms)

Nothing could´ve taken my mind off the uncharacteristic loss of my passport better than the shennangians that have occured over the last four days. It has been true adventure motorcycling and the most amount of fun anyone can have on two wheels.

Matt and I rode into Parral last night with Black Yammy nursing a leaking waterpump, a bent brake leaver, a bent clutch lever, a chain, front and rear sprocket in need of replacing, a bike operating on 2.5 litres less oil than the 3.5 recommended in the manual and two extremely muddy XT660Rs. We decided that both bikes needed some tender loving care and that is exactly what they received at the hands of Moto Partes de Parral today. Muchas muchas gracias! Fantastico!!

The reason for the fun and frolics in Mexico has been the Barrance del Cobre, or the Copper Canyon. Quite why nobody has told me of this before is beyond me as it deserves a visit by all and sundry. Get there immediately. And I think the only way to see such a place is on a motorcycle. It takes two days to get in and another two days to get out but the journey is better than the destination, as you will come to realise. The roads in were twisty, long, made of gravel, tarmac, mud and littered with stones, sand, pot-holes, wild animals and livestock, all in equal measures. And lest I forget the scenery, which is more likely to throw a rider from his perch than anything on the road. The trip culminated on Sunday with an attempt to descend 1500 metres on a 70 km stretch of gravel to the town of Batopilas, at the heart of the Copper Canyon. However, Hurricane Norbert scuppered our chances. The road conditionas went from fun to absurd to completely ridiculous as three of five bikes ended up horizontal in the red mud. We were beaten, wet, cold, hungry but having the best time ever. We never made it (see picture, left). Batopilas will have to wait but if I never see it I will have still had the best riding experience ever. And thanks must go to Troy, Lee, Deryl and Mike from NZ, NZ, USA and UK respectively for making a good event a true classic.

Matt and I must now focus on riding south to collect my passport in Ciudad del Carmen next Monday 20th October. Both bikes are primed and ready for 3000 kms of perfect Mexican tarmac. The adventure continues.