I had been looking forward to heading down to help the boys with their racing at Sonora. A couple of months out, Jim told me that they had decided to “travel light” this time. I wasn’t sure just what he was trying to tell me at first. He also said I should check out this new class that they were doing. Called Adventure Raid. So later that night I looked it up. Below is the partial description from the website.
New Adventure Raid class:
The new Adventure Raid class replaces last year’s Safari Class. Adventure Raid is intended as an introduction to navigation rally without the stresses of racing and most extreme terrain. It is a guided trip, designed for street legal 4 wheel drive vehicles (Raptors, Jeeps and Overlander vehicles) and adventure motorcycles (BMW GS, KTM 950, etc.). You will be running paved and dirt roads mostly parallel to the race course, with occasional intersections with the race course to provide opportunities to watch the action. You will not be running at race speeds or scored in results. Navigation is by following the guide and following provided GPS tracks. The trip will be at an easy pace to enjoying the scenery and the unique Sonora Rally experience, at points along the course and in the bivouac. 5 day guided trip that parallels the Sonora Rally. Includes Sonora Rally Adventure Raid decals. Includes Bivouac Pass with bivouac meals and awards party dinner. Includes 4 nights in hotel. Camping 2 nights at remote dirt bivouacs (right in there with the competitors) using your own camping gear. A SPOT or InReach tracking device is required.
What can I say it sounded just amazing to me, so I signed up right away. It was afterward I thought maybe I should talk with Jim a bit more about it. I mean that time of year could mean any kind of weather. I might have to ride down there and back in a snowstorm. Not, my idea of fun. So I begged for some space in their trailer. I mean if they were traveling light, there should be room, right? Come to find out that was Jim speak for not taking any women with them. Aha. I still begged for room if the weather was crap. He and David, of course said they would help me out if I needed it. Not to mention they were fine with hauling my gear around so I could travel light on the Tiger. They really are great friends! Now, had I really thought it all through, I would have done a few things differently. The biggest thing was that I wouldn’t wait until the night before I left to pack up everything. This lead to me not packing my dirt gear, but instead planning on using my Adventure gear. Poor planning on my part. Along with forgetting a few key items, like phone charger, empty SD card in the Sena.
The ride down to San Luis Rio was uneventful and a tad on the boring side. Since there had been storms rolling across NM and AZ. I didn’t feel that it was wise to try any of the routes that went through more interesting terrain, I wasn’t keen on riding in snow. I arrived the Saturday before things really got rolling. I beat Jim and John to the hotel, mainly because they had to wait in traffic for the border crossing and I just rode right on by it all to jump to the front of the line. I do like being able to ride around the traffic at border crossings. All I had to do was get to the hotel and check in. The next day was just tech and check in. I hung out with the guys at tech. I didn’t have much to do to the bike.
The first two days the Rally takes the racers into the Giant Dunes just outside of San Luis Rio. Being on a large bike instead of a cage, the plan was that I would take a dirt road out to the Dunes and meet up with the others there. I didn’t make it. The dirt road was a great deal of deep sand. I wasn’t able to get on top of it and get the bike going. It stalled just climbing out of the ditch, then it didn’t want to start. This happened a few more times, not sure what the deal was with the not starting. I haven’t done anything with the battery and it’s running fine. I am thinking that it thought the sand was a bad idea and it was trying to tell me to give it up and go back to the pavement. I got about a mile in, when the clutch became more of an issue. So I decided I should quit while I was ahead. One of the guys with me thought it was a good idea and that we should tow the bike out so that I could save what was left of my clutch. Great idea, just too late. It was toast.
Being towed on a 500lb bike in deep sand it quite an experience. I’m hoping that I don’t ever have to do it again. I’m also bummed that the helmet camera didn’t get any of it. Since I wasn’t hurt, the getting towed to the point of tipping over and being pulled along for a bit it pretty funny. We got the bike to the road, I loaded back up with gear. As I pulled away, it became pretty obvious that the bike wasn’t going to make it to the bivouac. So I went the gas stop on the way, I called the guys with the Roamer to come pick me up. I’m glad they got the msg before they reached the bivouac. We waited around at the fueling spot. Filled up all guys.
I got some good video clips of racers coming in. It was then on to the bivouac for the night.
I ended up getting lucky that night at the bivouac, (get your mind outta the gutter) David and Jim offered me their spare bike to ride for the rest the trip. 
Sand…. and more Sand!
I do this ride again, it was that much fun. The days are a bit long, two of the four days with the group I ended up getting back to the bivouac after dark. I even missed out on dinner one of the nights. I didn’t care about food by that point. I was just beat and wanted to shower and go to sleep. The food at all the places was amazing. The Sonora rally is really a first class operation.
I’d love to be able to narrate the photos, but really had no idea where I was most of the time.
Great views from my room in Puerto Pennasco, the room was really nice too!
Yeah, riding the tiger in this would have been anything but fun.
I didn’t have any issue getting the bike in or out of the wash…. just sayin’
I’m just waiting for everyone to get back in their vehicles….
Looks are deceiving with this terrain.
There were a number of deep cuts across the tracks. Easy enough for the bike, but a few of them were also just as wide as the front tire.
The first three days were mostly sand, than there was this:
Oh, there was more sand dunes as well.
I really loved hanging out on the beach in the morning.
It was fun to watch the bikes start off and to catch them at other parts of the route.
There were some issues with vehicles along the way, but they were quickly handled.
I got to ride on the beach again. Rode down for a mile or so, there wasn’t any way the trucks were going to make it. There was one spot were I wasn’t sure that I was going to make it.
It was stunning riding along the coast line.
Another great hotel.
Have you ever seen so many pelicans?????
I have never had tortillas like I have had in MX. OMG, they are good!
The wrap up dinner was great. The location was really cool.
I was lucky that the boys had room for me in the trailer. So I rode home with Jim and John. I’m still working off the international transport fee for the bike and myself.