I had a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing drive, tooling along at about 50 mph most of the time, and stopping numerous times to take a photo, enjoy a view, check the trailer, etc. I decided to take route 54 straight south, a different path than the rest of the group the day before, who took the larger pay highway which is usually faster. About 30 km south of the city I stopped at an archaeological site called “La Quemada” recommended by Mark. It’s a good hike to the top and you could spend hours hiking and climbing around the site. I learned that the peoples who built these structures actually did extensive mining in the area, just as it continues today. The pillars where you see me standing are actually roof supports and that structure they say is the largest known supported roof structure among the early civilizations. You can read for yourself some of the details from the placard.

Route 54 is an enjoyable route, arrow straight in many sections, but winds through the beautiful Michoacan mountains so the route curves up and down the hillsides when necessary. Going south, I noticed the climate slowly change from dry high desert to a more green agricultural environment, as the altitude dropped from Zacatecas’ 8000 or so feet to around 4000 – 5000 feet. Change from cactus and joshua trees to grasses and leaf trees. Towns full of pick-up trucks and tractor/agricultural implement dealers and feed mills. Also I began to see fields of agave plants, especially when I crossed into the state of Jalisco where the agave plant appears on the license plate. And you know what that means – Tequila!

Here in the Michoacan mountains, I began to see very familiar landscapes and vegetation (at first glance). Is this photo taken in northern Pennsylvania or central Mexico?

I’ll try this video – forgive me if it doesn’t work! Some of my awesome digital camera cinematography – hear the 6-cylinder subaru growl up a mountain grade in third, complete with large bug splatter on the windshield!

michoacan-drive.wmv

Getting near Guadalajara, the drive through the mountains got ever steeper and hairier until on the final grade we were crawling uphill at 20 mph behind several trucks. Until we got a clear shot and several of us made a break for it! Driving with the 230 horsepower 6-cylinder subaru is really a joy, especially in situations like this. It makes short work of whatever grade you throw at it, and lets you pass with authority even with a heavy syncro pulling a trailer at 5000 feet altitude. Zacatecas at 8000 feet began to really noticeably take the wind out of its sails, but still it has plenty of kick to get the van moving.
Toward Guadalajara the terrain flattened out and I began to concentrate on directions since I would have to leave route 54. Mark is a true master at giving directions. I had no real map and four lines of scribbled notes on a sheet of paper, and I navigated the bypass around Guadalajara and found my way straight to the village of Villa Corona with no wrong turns or difficulties. Mark knew exactly the details needed at every turn! I did have a computer map with just a few major roads, and a GPS but it was horribly wrong in most cases and it just gave me some reassurance that I was going basically in the right direction. Thanks Mark!
I joined the rest of the group at the campground in Villa Corona around 5 in the evening.

-Hans

Posted on December 13th, 2007 by hansachter
Filed under: Hans and Nellie