North From Uruapan

From Uruapan north through say Sahuayo is smack dead eye center in the middle of CJNG cartel land. Murders, kidnappings, carjacking, highway robbery. I will go to Patzcuaro, or Morelia and maybe the new cutoff from Patz to Mex 15-D but I would not deviate if I were riding in a Checker (cab) dressed as Jed Clampett.

I must have, and mean REALLY have done something wrong the three times I was forced to deviate through Morelia from Tecoman. Whatever I did wrong forced the clocks to jump ahead more than two hours and levered the sun toward the horizon. From 14-D north to my pueblito is little more than an hour. From the entronque of 14-D to Zihatanejo how much time is involved? I sure would like to know where that time went. I truly dislike choosing whether I take the periferico west or east through Morelia. The Patz.-Mex 15-D shortcut sure sounds good.

Two issues on the coast road: From Maruata to the northern of the 3 "X" pueblos there are about a dozen topes carefully positioned in the shade of trees. I say carefully because both sides of the highway have shade trees (you didn't want them to do all that hot asphalt work in the sun, did you?)

Also your map route does not utilize the toll road from the entronque of Mex 14-D and 200. Take the exit. Get on the toll road southbound (toward the ocean). That will shave more than a half hour off posted travel time. Tolls are like 80 pesos.

Also SCT has softened a lot of curves on Mex 200 between Las Varas and Tepic. Widened the roadway in places to accommodate a shoulder for a semi-passing lane. You've got to remember Mex 14-D is mostly 2-lane and the PFP does not want passing con raya continua. I've seen a lot of flashing red and blue lights because someone didn't believe the signs. You get stuck behind a 40 kh truck with a PFP behind you and it's a s-l-o-w climb to Zirahuen.

But the second point on the coast road is beware of traylors de varilla. Flat bed trucks hauling rebar cut curves so 2 oncoming vehicles cutting curves are bound to have an impending coincidence.

Also, entering Puerto Vallarta from the south, suicide taxis are bound to roar from hotel entrances (exits) fifty feet in front of you. Use care coming down that arroyo grandote.

There is no alternative to missing highly risky driving adventure on this route. Or any other. My advice is to leave early and beware. It's not robbers or Norman Bates' Mexican brother-in-law you should worry about. Rather an eight foot tall shiny KenMex grille.