Pilgrimage to Talpa, Jal. Day 3 & 4
- V.Gray
- Dec 19, 2024
- 10 min read
After two earlier morning departures, we got up late and took our time getting ready on the third day. We had enough time to have a sit down breakfast with Paul, who'd been driving our truck, then lazily pack up and get our horses ready.
Photo Credit: Paul C.
At this point all the cowboys and the other women were now joking around and talking with us. We had made some awesome friends with some amazing stories and experiences.
Photo Credit: Paul C.
This was the big day, the final stretch of the ride into Talpa. With our deposit we had gotten in on matching shirts with everyone and that day everyone dressed a little bit nicer (clean jeans and shirts). We took a few extra minutes at the campsite, taking some group pictures and then we were off for the final 3 hours into Talpa.
We started down the road, joining other larger groups making our way down the side of the highway and then stopping at the first corner store for a round of drinks. Some sections of this part of the ride were easier as they were down the side of the highway, however this is very nerve wrecking having transport trucks fly by within feet of you on a winding road.
Photo Credit: V. Gray
Then down the trail between the mountains we went crossing small rivers, then twisting and turning our way up to the top. As we crested up over the top of a section of rock we came into a parking lot and just like that we were at the "Talpa" sign. Just like dropping marbles on the floor all the boys scattered in different directions, all returning with beverages and snacks.
Photo Credit: V. Gray
Everyone meeting back at one point, the Talpa sign. We stood as a group and took pictures laughing and smiling, then started the ride down the mountain. This was the easiest part of the entire ride over the course of the 3 days, a nice wide, easy to navigate trail down. Don't get me wrong there was still a tone of people walking down and lots of other groups of people on horseback, but compared to the rest of the ride we had done this was hands down the best way to end off.
Photo Credit: R. Cowie
Photo Credit: Unknown
The view coming down to the town of Talpa is stunning. You can see everything!
As we came into the town the music started flooding our ears and a huge sense of accomplishment waved over me. I was so proud of both of us, I honestly could not believe that we had just done this 3 day pilgrimage. There was a man at the gate, snapping pictures of everyone as they came through and of course for a fee you could have your picture.
Photo Credit: V. Gray
Now this is where the real fun began! We found a wide open field, tied off the horses, grabbed some beers and started to celebrate. Someone disappeared on their horse and when they reappeared they had brought a band back. As we watched other groups enter Talpa to go into town to the church, we realized you're supposed to hire the band and make a grand entrance.
Photo Credit: Unknown
Photo Credit: Unknown
We ended up renting the band for 2 hours. The ride into town was maybe 30 minutes, so we sat in the field drinking, dancing with each other and horseback. All while watching other groups enter the town, there were cowboys on horses, mules, donkeys, on long horns and groups of people walking in too. Then it was our turn to enter the town, if you have never been near a mariachi band let me know warn you they are LOUD. However the upbeat, enchanting music they play really did make the entrance.
Photo Credit: V. Gray
If you remember from Day 1, I was one of 4 women in this group of 28 cowboys. Along with Ryan and I being the only "gringo's" on the ride. We thought we would sneak into the middle of the group and go unnoticed, we were very wrong. As we entered the town the looks and waves were constant, we stood out. We stuck close to Triny or as close as her stallion would allow without any issues. It was such an overwhelming response from everyone, it was something really cool to be part of.
We were nose to bum and shoulder to shoulder the entire way into Talpa, people started spacing out a bit more allowing the horse to start dancing. When this started the news crews came over and started talking to everyone, including myself and Ryan. This was nothing short of comical because our spanish is not good enough for TV interactions. Then mix in all the noise and trying to keep up with our group, it was a hilarious mess of us saying nonsense at the camera man (this was not the last we would see of them).
Photo Credit: Rhonda M.C
We continued right up the main street, through Centro Talpa right to the church's front steps. We tied all the horses off to the center island on the road and walked into church as a group. Once we were on the church’s steps, the band left us. The line was long and it took a little bit before we made our way to the front of the church to pray.
Photo Credit: V. Gray
We followed along with our group, we kneeled at the front and honestly the inside of this church was stunning. It took me a few minutes to get over all the colours, artwork and statues. Once we had said prayers, we waited for the group out by the horses. Once everyone was back together we all mounted and rode back down to centro.
Photo Credit: V. Gray
Photo Credit: V. Gray
As we entered Centro Talpa, we heard the screaming of our Canadian friends who had made the road trip to Talpa to party with us that night. With massive smiles, air kisses and high fives we said a quick “hello”, before carrying on to the rodeo ring. We were keeping the horses here overnight, as Ryan and I had been at the last minute in joining. We did not get a hotel room like everyone else did, we were camping with the horses.
Photo Credit: V. Gray
At this point Paul had joined up with our friends and left our truck at the rodeo ring for us. We got settled in the ring then gave Triny and the kids a ride to their hotel. Where they let us use their shower before we headed out for the night.
Photo Credit: Terri
We parked the truck back with the horses, then we headed into centro by foot. We stopped at a corner store, grabbed some beers. Then joining the crowds of people walking, dancing and celebrating their walk or ride into Talpa. There were bands EVERYWHERE, people, horses, mules, cows you made it all shoulder to shoulder still slowly moving into Centro.
We were still dressed in our red shirts and found our group pretty easily because of this. Everyone being dressed the same and helped us stand out in the crowds of people. Then with huge smiles, hugs and laughter we found our Canadian friends too. Rhonda, Laura, Nathan and Terri had made the drive to spend the night with us celebrating.
I love Mexican culture, the music does not stop. If one band took a break another started up right away or they were all playing different songs at the same time. Food is EVERYWHERE and delicious. Drinking is the name of the game, if someone buys the tequila, someone else buys a mix, someone else buys ice and cups into the middle of the group it goes and everyone shares.
I had been so on edge the first day I didn’t have any beers. The second day I had a beer with dinner, this last night was our night. The cowboys had been bugging me the entire ride to drink with them and I had politely declined all offers.
Now all the cowboys were talking to us, laughing, mixing us drinks, sharing food, taking pictures and dancing. I personally am an awful dancer and this was not my first attempt at dancing their way but this time I got it a bit better. It may have also helped that as soon as I thought I was done dancing with one of our friends another would spin me around and we would start again or maybe it was the tequila. Whatever it was, I was dancing a little bit better.
Photo Credit: V. Gray
The TV news crew we ran into coming into town, you bet they found our group later in the night. Again they tried to talk to Ryan and I and again we looked silly. This time however we had Enriquue and Irvining who stepped in to say “These are our friends from Canada. They just did the ride with us and they speak no Spanish”, was the jist of it. We stood with our friends as they talked to the report and took pictures as a group with them.
Photo Credit: Unknown
We have both talked about it since the trip, neither one of us have any idea when we actually left the party. We both know we left laughing, the cowboys chirping at us for leaving "earlier" which I am pretty sure it was almost 1 am. Our Canadian friends had already gone home, as we walked we found an awesome taco stand and had a snack before going to bed. We did a quick lap around the ring too, checking on all the horses making sure everyone was still tied tight.
We were told that we were to meet at the front gate where we celebrated at for 11:30 am. We got up early to feed and watered the horses, packed up our tent and truck and then went for a walk to find breakfast. We took our time and then headed back for 10 to tack up.
Something we have come to expect was a miscommunication. Some people thought we were meeting at 11 at the gate and some 11:30, this was to load and be on the road by noon. When we got back some of the horses were already gone and a few remained. The best part of it all was that when we arrived at the gate the truck and trailer were there waiting for us. However the driver thought we were coming at 10 am and when no one showed up he locked up and went into the town to eat.
Photo Credit: V. Gray
Everyone tied off in the field looking at the truck waiting for the driver to show up and unlock the gate. While we were waiting people had gone for beers, snacks and fuelled up the trucks knowing we had a 5 hour drive ahead of us to get home. Around 3 pm the driver came back to the truck, unlocked the gate and we started to load up.
When we left the first day of our trip it was Paul, Ryan and I in our truck and then 8 or 9 people crammed into Napo's SUV. As we were all getting ready to leave, Ryan and I mentioned that it was just us in the pickup. All of sudden we saw a few of the cowboys running for seats to claim more leg room. With Ryan driving, me in the back and Enriquue in the front we started our drive home.
This was one of the most entertaining road trips we have ever had. Enriquue's English is better than our Spanish but not by much. We were going through the mountains, so cell phone service was spotty, meaning google translate was out and charades was in! We talked about hunting, travelling, family, food, you name it we covered it on our drive home. By the end of our drive Enriquue and Ryan were swearing they were going to work on their languages and I was looking for the bathroom.
We rolled into Napo's ranch around 9:30 pm, unloaded then quickly loaded everyone into our pick up to go into centro to meet the truck with the horses. We unloaded the horses, tied a few off to one another so Napo, Triny, Emily and Ryan could pony them back to the Ranch. I took the truck with Napo's younger daughter and we all made our way back to the ranch.
It was around 10:30 pm when everyone got back to the ranch for the second time. We de-tacked, fed and watered everyone, then we said our goodbyes to Napo's girls. This would be the last time we see them on this trip, their mother was taking them the next day to walk to Talpa.
We did not make it home until after midnight that evening. A stop at a taco stand was in order as we were both starving. As we sat at the taco stand, a sense of accomplishment washed over me. Originally I did not think I would be able to do that ride. Now that it was over and we had done it, I couldn't help but smile. It was one of the best trips we had done to date.
If you have the time when you visit Mexico, visit Talpa it is a very cute little town. Also if you get the opportunity to go for a horse back ride, even for a few hours through the mountains or towns take it! It is a completely different perspective of Mexico. If you want to feel like a local in this area, this is a great way to do it.
Cheers!
**Please note that all opinions and views expressed in this post are my own, from my own experiences. If you would like to see more pictures follow me on Instagram @vikki.gray **
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