Day Nine - Monday July 9 - Mazatlan to Puerto Vallarta - 288 miles

9:00 am:  We will leave Mazatlan after having a heartful breakfast and move on without ever going through the hearty city of Mazatlan.  We will save this for our homebound.

11:20 pm:  Tuxpan about 112 miles from Mazatlan for our lunch.

12:30 pm:  We must keep an eye for San Blas (20 miles from Tuxpan) to make a right turn onto Route 54 or 11 and continue to San Blas in about half an hour on a good 22-mile, paved road past thatched huts, small streams and dense jungle unlike anything else you will see on the coastal route.

12:50 pm:  We will arrive San Blas, a peaceful, quiet, picturesque destination for travelers who shun the luxuries of more tourist-oriented towns.  It is not only this but we will visit a historical site on the crest of a small hill overlooking the newer section of town is old San Blas, built during the reign of the Spaniards.

2:30 pm:  By this time we will be ready to leave for Puerto Vallarta via the backroad countryside through Santa Cruz and Las Varas on Nay 161.  

5:30 pm:  By time we arrive Puerto Vallarta, we will have to move our time to an hour ahead (Central Time Zone).  When we see the bullfight ring on the left side, there is a stop light but you must make your left turn from the lateral lane on the right so watch carefully ahead for the Sam's Club and Wal-Mart on the left side (Exit Pitillal).  Once you make the turn toward El Pitillal the Tacho's Trailer Park is half mile ahead on the left.

6:30 pm:  After we are settled down by this time, we can go on to Puerto Vallarta downtown by city bus.  It is hard to find space to park your motorcycle anywhere in downtown so the manager of this park will give you information on bus schedule.  The bus stop is within the park distance.  You will no doubt enjoy your evening along the malecon toward the old town at the end.