We arrived in Morelia this evening after tackling Mil Cumbres (Thousand Peaks) in the downhill direction. This is a twisty bit of mountain road near Morelia that is one of the two most challenging in Mexico. (The other is La Bufa.) Tomorrow we drive it again in the easier uphill direction on our way to Aguascalientes.Morelia seems more cosmopolitan than other towns we've visited so far. We're staying in a Holiday Inn with a McDonalds, a Burger King and an Applebees within walking distance. Finding someone who speaks English is easier, too. The road we took into the main square is built on both sides of an old stone aquaduct that runs down the median. The cathedral is large and magnificent. There are better pictures of Morelia than I'll ever take at Soul of the Garden.
The repaired shock absorber mount held together all day, which raises the odds that it will hold up for the rest of the race. Car trouble and accidents continue to thin the ranks, although many problems are fixed overnight in hotel parking lots, including engine overhauls, transmission replacements and major body work. A Corvette went off the road yesterday, turned over, and burned. It was beyond repair. No one was hurt, though.
We're required to carry a lot of safety equipment, including five-point seat belts, helmets, gloves, roll cages, fire retardant suits and fuel cells. It's hot and uncomfortable in all that stuff on a hot afternoon, but worth it when you need it.
