Day 1, 3/2/04, Austin to Saltillo, Coahuila 26,600 miles

Debbie and I left our shop at around 3pm, heading south with lots of ALTA Performance Parts to display at the 14th Annual Gathering of Classic Minis and New MINIS in Mexico. This meet is organized by a group of enthusiasts who, just like MINI drivers everywhere, exhibit tremendous love and excitement for their cars. We met the President of the Mexican MINI Club, Dr. Roberto Davalos, last year while we were in Mexico working La Carrera Panamericana. We also met Mexican MINI Club Founder Alejandro Jimenez and his family at the racetrack in Aguascalientes during the same event. So, this year we are very excited about visiting old friends AND seeing many, many MINIs along the way!

The trip to Laredo was uneventful-we reached there about 6pm and crossed without any difficulties at all. We have never taken parts across the border before, but it was easy this time. So on we drove to Saltillo for the night.

Day 2, 3/3/04, Saltillo to Real de Catorce, 27,050 miles

We went southeast on the Pan American Highway with a morning diversion up into the pine forested, snow capped mountains around the apple growing orchards of San Antonio de Alonzas. Sound idyllic? It was. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Lunched at a ski resort (!?!) at Monterreal and then back to the highway. (Really, there is an alpinesque resort with lifts, summer ski runs with white brushes instead of snow, roaring fireplaces, everything you would need to ski (except snow!))

So, on to Real de Catorce. You may remember this town from that (albeit terrible, IMHO) movie, The Mexican with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts-but in spite of the movie it is a magical place. Up the cobblestone road we go, through the 1-1/2 mile Ogarrio Tunnel, into Real de Catorce itself. We drove about, visiting favorite places that are old friends. We parked and spent sometime walking in the 9,000 ft air. Seems like it is easier for us to walk and breathe than it is for Lil Schmutzie to drive and breathe and get enough oxygen! Add that to the strain on the clutch trying to get up these rocky hills and the MINI is a definite compromise. Poor baby!

We meet our friend, Bridgette Alexander and her new baby while walking, said hello to Humberto Fernandez of the Hotel Real and made sure we had a room for the night, had supper at the Meson del Abunduncia, did a bit of shopping for Huichol Indian art, and then hit the sack. With the church bells ringing, and ringing, and ringing.

Real is a fascinating place, with incredible history…go to www.realdecatorce.net for a mini trip all your own.

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