In March 2006, Mr. and Mrs. Knobby set off from Moraga, California, on their Kawasaki KLR 650 motorcycles for an adventurous ride into Mexico and back, charting a course through deserts, mountains, and remote villages. The journey kicked off with a ride through California’s Tehachapi and Blythe, the KLRs humming across arid highways before crossing into Arizona at Nogales. From there, they plunged into Mexico, reaching Sahuaripa and San Juanito, where dusty roads and warm hospitality greeted them. The rugged terrain tested their skills, but the bikes handled it with ease, carrying them deeper into the Sierra Madre Occidental.

The heart of the trip unfolded around Creel and Divisadero, where they marveled at the Copper Canyon’s vastness, a breathtaking expanse that dwarfed anything they’d seen stateside. They ventured down to Batopilas, a steep, winding descent into a colonial town nestled in the canyon’s depths, the KLRs navigating rocky switchbacks with grit. Climbing back out, they rolled through Yecora and Arizpe, soaking in Mexico’s wild beauty—jagged peaks, pine forests, and quiet plazas—before crossing back into the U.S. at Globe, Arizona. Each overnight stop offered a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration, the rhythm of the ride syncing with the pulse of the land.

The return leg took them through Bullhead City, Nevada, and Lake Isabella, California, the familiar desert scrub and mountain passes of the Southwest easing them back toward home. By the time they rolled into Moraga, the KLRs were caked in dust and stories, having carried them through a border-crossing loop of stark contrasts and unforgettable vistas. From California’s highways to Mexico’s backroads, Mr. and Mrs. Knobby had forged a path of discovery, proving once again that their trusty Kawasakis—and their own tenacity—could conquer any route they dared to dream up.