Laredo
We spent a lot of time staring at our phones today.
First off, we’re not sure what, if anything, is along the road between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey. Google Maps doesn’t show anything for the first 80 miles.
What does that mean? 80 miles with no water might be tough. 80 miles with no food would definitely be tough. No camping. No hotels. No nothing might be tough.
Then again, Google Maps doesn’t show half the amenities that we see in Laredo. Which, by the way, already feels like Mexico. All these little taco places that make Midwestern Ma and Pa shops look sophisticated. My theory is that they don’t show up on Google because they don’t exist on the web. Undoubtedly the proprietors barely know what Google is – they don’t exactly pay to have their search position optimized . . .
But who knows? Until we get there we feel like we should probably be prepared.
Oh, and one of our friends sent us something about how people crossing at Laredo can get shaken down for cash. So our plan is to get through the border and get out of Neuvo Laredo as quickly as possible. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200. And definitely don’t give the shakedown people $200 – unless they ask. Because if they ask we’re going to opt for giving the $200.
Anyway, because of our Do Not Pass Go plan, combined with the unknown after that, we decided to buy stuff for dinner and breakfast the next day now. We’re going to Mexico – so Spanish rice, beans, chorizo – that type of stuff.
Kind of a bummer to carry all that the whole time we’re riding tomorrow – we usually don’t buy groceries until the end of the day. And keeping it cold is not that easy – but at least the heat has moderated . . .
The real bummer is water. Yes, we have the Steripen and it has batteries now (after out trip to Walmart we have the batteries and other supplies that we were after). But if there are truly no services at all for 80 miles – and we end up camping somewhere out there along a road or under a bridge or something – then maybe we won’t be able to get any water that we can sterilize.
That’s why we now have well over a gallon of water ready to go along with us in the morning. All this food and water means we won’t exactly be traveling light . . .
The states? Too much nervous energy today. The Dr. Diana Liu Award of Excellence ceremony has been indefinitely delayed.
Next post? Well, we don’t exactly know. We don’t know if we’ll have water. We don’t know where we’re staying. We definitely don’t know if we’ll have wi-fi.
But bon voyage. Woops, wrong language . . .
Adiós Amigos! How’s that?
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Diana & John's Biking Adventures 
SAFE travels!
Sent from my iPhone
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so far so good! 😁
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Safe travels!
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Excited to see what’s next! Doug
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Good to hear from you Doug. Lots to report…😁
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Good luck! Can’t wait to hear about your adventures. Stay safe and enjoy the journey!
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Thanks. Some writing coming soon… 😁
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Maybe Bienvenido a Mexico! Hope you find water easily…Stay safe!
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HAPPY TRAILS!Happy Trails (2015 Remaster)youtu.be Cheers! Charlie Maternus Sent from my iPhone
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Gracias John! Report coming soon…
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Definitely done Happy Trails. Report coming soon!
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Some
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we’re with you looking forward to next update!
Stay safe and well!!!
Dave from the Lou 😎
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Coming soon!
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¡Buena suerte amigos!
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An 80 mile stretch of highway would most likely have towns and villages along the way. You might want to ask a trucker or car driver for advice on this matter.
Koresh
Have a safe trip journey!
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Good to hear from you Koresh. We had been told there was no services. Report coming soon…
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I think Arkansas will win. Beautiful country, great presidential library, and quite the accent all add to stateside mystique!
Susan B
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Good points. To much excitement not but we’ll get back to the competition soon…
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Thx a million! I look fwd to your note every day. I’ll pay special attention tomorrow as you navigate the unknown way to Monterey!! (Effort at pun intended 😎)
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Funny. Report coming soon…😁
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que aventura amigos!
GOOD LUCK BEST BUNKIES! Good thing Diana has been studying spanish!😅💯and no swimming in rivers!
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Thanks Bunkie! Definitely an adventure of a first day. Heading back via bus to get visas figured it now… 😁
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That’s what you signed up for, and I am sure that you’ll embrace it. My first missions trip was to the country of Haiti, (not a tourist stop), and this won’t be either. But ,oh, the stories that will come from this. Ride on, safe travels, and use all of these experiences to tell your and Diane’s story to the grandkids someday.
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Will definitely be done good stories… 😁
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Remember, it’s not an adventure if you know what’s going to happen!
Just say “hola!” to everyone and keep the rubber side down.
Safe travels.
Dallas
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Definitely getting good at hola. And the bikes have been great so far.. 😁
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I am so impressed by what you two have covered so far… all the biking, the interesting encounters… encapsulated in great writing after long days.
All the best in this next phase. Aimée
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Thanks Aimee (can’t make it do the accent 😳). Great to hear from you. How’s Casey doing in Singapore?
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