October 3rd, 1997 — March 3rd, 1998

Santa Cruz, CA to Honduras

In 1997, Darren & Terry took a five month-8,000 mile motorcycle adventure from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Ocean.

In 1995, Darren purchased his first motorcycle. It was a Yamaha XT 350 enduro. His passion for adventure was bursting at the seams and was motivated to get a bigger motorcycle by the 1969 movie “Easy Rider”. Soon after his purchase in late 1996, he was conversing with an old friend Terry in Mountain View, California about a possible road trip. He convinced Darren to head south of the border with him October 3rd, 1997 to see pyramids.

There wil be a documentary film in the future with the original Kodachrome 64 ISO (k-14 slide film) and audio from the trip captured by 11 hours of mini cassette tapes. Unfortunately, he lost his camera, two rolls of film and his first audio cassette tape from the first part of his adventure.

In the meanwhile, here is half of the story of this trip through photos scanned from those Kodachrome slides.

Baja California

33 photographs · 1997

First day in MexicoRode about an hour south of Mexicali and stopped to take this photo.
First Evening in Baja
First morning in Baja
Rough ride to Puertocitos
Puertocitos. Keep your eyes openThe road can end at anytime!
Rock Garden in mid Baja
Mulege, Playa Santispac
Terry chilling on Playa Santispac
Playa Santispac Bay, Mulege
Mulege Playa Santispac Camp
The worst bathroom in MulegeJust ask Eric.
The 4 motos in MulegeBritish Gals, Eric & Terry.
The 4 motos in MulegeTerry, Terry, Darren & Eric.
Mulege... Cerveza BadMay cause a late night drive off the road.. and other stories.
La Paz or Bust
Hotel San Bernardinom, La Paz
Hotel San Bernardino, La Paz
Self Portrait, La PazFrom Hotel San Bernardino.
Leaving La Paz
Ready to roll out of La Paz
Between La Paz & Cabo San Lucas
Cabo Pulmo with new friends
Cabo Pulmo Beach Access
Cabo Pulmo Beach
Road to San Jose Del CaboOn the south east peninsula of Baja California, Sur.
Road to San Jose Del CaboTerry & I stopped for a break. My bike kept overheating.
Agua Claliente w/ Terry, Eric & Terry
Ferry to Mazatlan from La Paz
Ferry to Mazatlan from La Paz
Loading on the Ferry to Mazatlan
Ferry to Mazatlan in the Evening
Ferry to Mazatlan in the Evening II
Ferry to Mazatlan in the Morning

Pacific Coast, Mainland Mexico

50 photographs · 1997

Mazatlan at first sightIt was a long night with no food on the ferry from La Paz. Happy to arrive to the mainland.
Mazatlan Hotel accross from water
Mazatlan HotelThe view from inside.
Mazatlan HotelThe view from accross the street.
The Road to San Blas
The Road to San Blas II
San Blas Jungle Road
San Blas - Road to heaven
San Blas
El Centro San Blas
El Centro San Blas II
Hotel Posada in San Blas
San Blas day tripAction shot.
Darren at McDonalds in San Blas
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta Church
Christine & Terry in Puerto Vallarta
Darren in HUMID Puerto Vallarta
Election Day - Puerto VallartaWe learned the hard way that it's a dry 3 days during election.
Hotel Villa del Mar in Puerto Vallarta
Hotel Villa del Mar
Inside of the Hotel Villa del Mar
The on top of our hotel
Another evening view
Puerto Vallarta - Predator Jungle
Puerto Vallarta - Predator Jungle II
Puerto Vallarta - Predator Jungle III
Puerto Vallarta - Predator Jungle CopterIt was used in the film 'Predator'.
Puerto Vallarta - THE Real Predator
Puerto Vallarta - THE Predator II
Puerto Vallarta - A selfie in the jungle
Barra de Navidad
Playa AzulTerry recording his day on micro cassette after a long and dangerous ride.
The beautiful Michoacan Coast
Darren & the beautiful Michoacan Coast
Hotel Tres Maria's in Zihuatanejo
View from Hotel Tres Maria's
Zihuatanejo BayOur view from Hotel Tres Marias in Zihuatanejo.
Zihuatanejo BayOur view from Hotel Tres Marias in Zihuatanejo.
Bridge & BayAnother view from Hotel Tres Marias in Zihuatanejo.
Zihuatanejo BayOur view from Hotel Tres Marias in Zihuatanejo.
Our first night out in ZihuatanejoWith Roberto from Italy.
Ixtapa Beach
Ixtapa
Shot up by BandidosThis guy and his wife hit a Bandido roadblock and caught a few bullets when they escaped.
Bullet Holes
Day Trip South of Zihuatanejo
Terry enjoying his first Indio
Returning back to Zihuatanejo
Terry played Chicken on this roadWe didn't realize it, but there was two way traffic on this road.

Inland Mexico

44 photographs · 1997

Taxco - VW Bug
Santa Prisca de Taxco
Santa Prisca de Taxco II
Cobble Street in Taxco
Cobble Street in Taxco II
Elevated view of Taxco
Sleeping on the job in Taxco
Parade in Taxco
Cobble stone streets of Taxco
Santa Prisca de Taxco at night
One of many Plata stores in Taxco
The ride to Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc II
An armed welcome to CuauhtémocThese kids chased us through the streets and would pretend to shoot at Terry and I.
Statue of Ixcateopan
Statue of Ixcateopan II
Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
Remains of Aztec Emperor Cuauhtémoc
Remains of Aztec Emperor Cuauhtémoc II
Parish Church of Ixcateopan
The streets fill up with festivitiesAs soon as we returned to the town square, we found ourselves in the middle of the party!
Marble cobble stone town square
Zócalo of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
Zócalo of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
The party begins
A panorama of the town square
Terry under the gazebo
The boys lined up
They're happy to have us there
Oh... shoot
Little soldier
Stick your hands up!
The girls of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
The girls of Ixcateopan
The boys of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
Kids of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
My favorite shot of the dayI love the look on this girls face.
Land & LIberty
Portraits of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
Portraits of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
Portraits of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
Portraits of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc
Portraits of Ixcateopan de Cuauhtémoc

Mexico City

63 photographs · 1997

Our first attempt to PopocatépetlTurns out that motorcycles don't handle well in the snow. We'll have to try El Popo another time. See Terry in my mirror?
Mexico City Zócalo
Mexico City Zócalo in November
Mexico City Mural
The face of a building being restored
Mexico City building
Mexico City Ruins behind the Zócalo
Mexico City Ruins behind the Zócalo
Our view from Hotel IsabelWe stayed here for about 5 days during our Mexico City adventure.
A poor mans hotel lavandaria
Our Mexico City tour guide
Mexico City streetsThey sell soap, shampoo, lotion and etc by the barrel. Literally.
The streets of Mexico CityMore soap, shampoo and lotions for sale by the barrel.
Teotihuacan Avenue of the Dead
An early morning view of Teotihuacan
A step back view of Teotihuacan
A view from the Pyramid of the Moon
Terry on top of the Pyramid of the MoonTeotihuacan
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan's polluted view of Mexico City
From one pyramid to another
Darren on the Avenue of the DeadWe arrived early to Teotihuacan which allowed us to get a few shots before the massive crowds came.
Pyramid of the Sun
Teotihuacan ruins
Jade - Teotihuacan Museum
Los Muertos - Teotihuacan Museum
Sculpture - Teotihuacan Museum
Painting - Teotihuacan Museum
Painting - Teotihuacan Museum
Sculpture - Teotihuacan Museum
Pyramid close ups
More pyramids
More pyramid close ups
Pyramids - a small step back
Petrogliph
About to leave TeotihuacanHad to get a shot of the bikes and the pyramid before we left.
Popocatépetl VolcanoAn active 17,802 foot high volcano just outside of Mexico City blowing smoke. Oh, that's why locals said not to come up here. Probably why the town has been evacuated too.
Darren & PopoA view of the volcano on our way up the mountain.
Terry & PopoA view of the volcano on our way up the mountain.
The only place of business openSince the town had been evacuated, this was the only place we could have Thanksgiving dinner. She also offered magic mushrooms.
The view from the mushroom shackA view of Popocatépetl from the mushroom shack.
Cloud covered PopoWith the bikes at 13,000 feet.
IztaccíhuatlA dormant volcano by El Popo.
Popocatépetl Volcano warning sign
At 13,000 ft - Bikes & Popocatépetl
Thanksgiving accommodationsI believe we paid $1 each to stay at this communication tower Thanksgiving eve,
Terry unpacking
Sunrise during our hikeWe climbed Iztaccíhuatl to about 15,500 feet before Terry got elevation sickness.
Terry & Iztaccíhuatl
Popocatepetl & IztaccíhuatlThe Legend of Popocatepetl & Iztaccíhuatl A Love Story
Terry climbingEach step was getting harder and harder at 15,000 feet.
Early view of Popocatepetl
View over Mexico DF
'97 Selfie
Way up high...Far above the tree line with Terry catching up.
Up above it all
High Selfie
Darren & El Popo
Art Selfie
Back down the mountain
Ready to pack upTerry suffered altitude sickness and I had to get is bike packed up so that we could get down to lower elevation.
11,111 miles
Sunset to OaxacaA beautiful sunset on our way to Oaxaca City.