Scouts for the cartel you say?

Fully refreshed I feel like more tracks, adventure! Dirt! Sweat and the machine!!!

So next is Batopilas, a four hour trip 77 miles. Sounds twisty if it takes that long.

BUT I've read about a shortcut...

I spoke with the staff at the hotel, much discussion. Finally I'm told it's a dangerous road... Yes yes I've read about it, dirt track, sheer precipitous cliff edges... More discussion from the local man... No, it's the harvest season he explains, the drug cartel is very nervous. It's dangerous time to be riding these mountains...

ohhhhhh

Now it all makes sense! Yesterday, those young 'street' looking lads, baseball caps... bling... walki-talkies, always on a high corner overlooking the roads... knowing where i was going... before I asked... seams obvious.

They're defiantly scouts looking out for them heavily armed cops in the valley. this is Sinaloa Cartel, land after all... They must be bemused by the radge bloke asking for Cerocahui at every junction...or -slowly - 'Sarah..Kaaa..Waiiii' ?

Right ho, change of plan, they were really nice drug cartel scout lads, but lets not take any chances.

Road it is - all started ok but it got steep...

throw some rocks in

big ones...

Riding around some of the corners the steep drop makes my stomach properly lurch...

down to one lane...

and ran out of battery here:

Finally Batapolis. Almost out of petrol I luck upon a guy who took me to the edge of town where they dissolve tourists. Turns out it was a tank of petrol in the back room.

Unfortunately no hotel... The guide book said there was but the lads at this, perhaps illegal gas station (he used his mouth to start the siphon) told me there was nothing here and that I should jolly well go back the way I came.