I only spent one night in Zihuatenejo, “Zihua”.
That morning started out with the smell of gas. At first I thought it was coming from a car I was following, then I thought it was just my imagination as I hadn’t noticed any leaks or mechanical problems and then, after many hours of riding with this smell I realized that I had a leak. Somewhere.
So that was what was on my most of the night as I walked around Zihua trying to get a feel for it. I was distracted. I had no idea where I was staying and so, as is my M.O., I rode to the center and then started looking from there. About a quarter mile from the center I saw a place with ground level rooms where I could park my bike out front. Not the warmest family running this place but it was 500 pesos and it was getting dark. And, I had my first mechanical issue on the trip other than the slow leak in my front tire.
I found a taco pastor place in the center and ate there. For a place I’ve never heard of prior to this trip, it seemed to have a good number of American tourists milling about. It was odd seeing Americans in a place called Zihua.
This was an interesting place near my hotel.
Zihua had plenty of places in the town’s center that offered fresh seafood - “Mariscos - fresco del dia”.
Zihua was colorful.
In the morning, an entire family took over my hotel and the pool. As I loaded my bike I spotted a thin stream of gas coming out of one of my fuel lines. This was what caused the gas smell and terrible gas mileage from the day before.
Upon entering Zihua I had seen a moped repair shop so after loading my bike I headed over there. I helped this guy cut the bad part of the fuel line and reattach it. I paid him 100 pesos for this that he reluctantly accepted.
I was on my way to Acapulco.